Music
Press
Formed just a week before UNC’s student-run Vinyl Records closed a competition to find its first three acts last September, Lafcadio scored a record deal with its first live performance and its three songs... They’ve since played to a packed Local 506 for the release of its strong five-track EP, landed a slot at Shakori Hills and nearly won another competition—the Duke vs. UNC Battle of the Bands—in the subsequent seven months. Working on its full-length follow-up, the four students will take a well-deserved summer break following this show.
Don’t expect that to stop them, though: Lafcadio has been winning over audiences with its lively blend of rock and Americana, voiced by Liz Ross’ soulful pipes and earworm melodies, which Dowdy follows in lockstep harmony. And it’s good enough to keep just doing that. With The Whiskey Smugglers. 10 p.m. —Spencer Griffith - The Independent Weekly
Another standout performance came from semi-finalist Lafcadio, a UNC band represented by Vinyl Records. The band’s sultry, twangy and soulful sound was reminiscent of rocking alt-country singer Neko Case, with lead singer Liz Ross wooing the tired audience. “I liked Lafcadio best,” said Caroline Fisher, a UNC junior. “I feel like they masterfully blend a lot of music. They switch genres effortlessly.” - Daily TarHeel
Liz's band Lafcadio voted Chapel Hill’s best local band by Chapel Hill residents - Daily TarHeel
Lafcadio opened the night, delivering a handful of songs that channeled the greats of folk and rock ‘n’ roll… The four-piece has finally gotten to the life force of its heroes as it delivered vibrant readings of Dylan’s speed-fueled blues and the soft country of such greats as Loretta Lynn. And singer Liz Ross has the pipes to do it all. Owning the stage like she’d been touring for years, she belted it out with enough power to, at times, allow Lafcadio to seem like a polished collection of local veterans. - The Daily TarHeel
Liz Ross is as sultry and powerful a singer as you will ever hear and can go from a swinging dance number with playful trills to a mellow southwestern samba without batting an eye. - Vinyl Press
Singer Liz Ross has a voice that will melt your heart, I promise... Beautiful stuff. This Chapel Hill trio was one of the first three artists signed on UNC's Vinyl Records after finishing tied for second in the September Showcase battle of the bands. The crazy thing is that they have only been together for a couple of months.... - The Noise Bazaar
"I was utterly blown away... Truly original songwriting, and the heart-bursting siren call of singer Liz Ross combined for something that I felt I had been waiting for my entire life. Ross' voice has a soulful, swelling quality reminiscent of Fiona Apple…"
-Raleigh Weekend in Review - Raleigh Weekend in Review
Discography
Lafcadio Self-Titled EP, released January 2009
Photos
Bio
The lights come on, and this blonde kid with a guitar steps up to the microphone. She smiles and says hello, and you have absolutely no clue what is about to hit you. In five minutes you’ll be Lizzy’s newest fan, and you’ll find yourself humming her songs long after the show is over. Don’t worry, it’s ok, it happens to almost everyone!
Lizzy was born and raised in Annapolis, MD but her performing talent really began to shine while she studied music and philosophy at UNC-Chapel Hill. At the beginning of her junior year she and two other UNC students hooked up as “Lafcadio” to enter a band competition hosted by Vinyl Records. They won the competition and began performing regularly at local venues, building a fan base around the University and beyond. Their self-titled EP “Lafcadio” was released in January, 2009 and quickly sold out. The band has been featured on both WRAL-TV and WXYC radio. Critics are consistently positive, and often glowing.
After her success with Lafcadio, Lizzy decided to extend into solo performance. Her fans praise her songwriting as insightful beyond her twenty-one years, and are always struck by the intensity and passion of her live performance. She is known for blending the flavors of singers like Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell to create a smooth, strong, and soulful sound. “My parents always laughed and said I was the loudest child ever born,” says Lizzy, “but they knew I loved music from the very beginning. Music wasn’t really a choice for me, it has always been there.”
Through all the excitement in music, Lizzy has also maintained Honors grades in school and plans to graduate in December, 2009. After graduation she expects to complete her first solo album and will be performing on tour in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles.
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