Rachel Harrington: News

We're thrilled to report that Rachel was a winner in Merlefest's 2011 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, placing her alongside prior winners like Gillian Welch and Tift Merritt.  Rachel spent a total of four days at the prestigious Merlefest, wandering around backstage awestruck, dumbstruck, and lovestruck, rubbing elbows with many of her heroes.  Lyle Lovett.  Randy Travis.  The 88-year-old legend that is Doc Watson.  In fact, Rachel came back so reinvigorated and inspired that she's eager to get back in saddle and make another new album this fall.  Please visit the Pitch In! tab for more information and details about how you can help. 

Thanks, y'all!

Lots to report!

Rachel Harrington & The Do Right Boys (Evan Brubaker and Colby Sander) are just back from their first-ever European tour as a trio. Dates included several sell-out gigs and a good time was had by all.

Rachel's new record, CELILO FALLS, is now in its 5th consecutive week in the Top-40 on the Americana chart in the US. It is currently #9 on the Roots chart, #16 on the Freeform chart, and #5 on the Folk chart - making it the 5th most-played album on folk radio in the US right now.

This just out: a new music video for You'll Do (from Celilo Falls), featuring Supersuckers frontman and fellow Seattle-ite Eddie Spaghetti: http://youtu.be/aK2CPfXH3Sc
And lastly, we recently got word that Rachel is one of 12 finalists in this year's Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, which means she's headed to play Merlefest at the end of April. Previous winners include Tift Merritt and Gillian Welch.

The song that's been called out for the contest is on Celilo Falls, and is available as a single download here:

He Started Building My Mansion In Heaven Today

http://www.amazon.com/Started-Building-Mansion-Heaven-Today/dp/B004OM2L8Y/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1303240863&sr=1-14

This just in - Celilo Falls is in the top-5 most-added new records to Americana radio in the US this week, along with new releases from Lucinda Williams and Drive-By Truckers.

The new record, Celilo Falls, is all packed up and shipping out today to over 600 radio and press contacts in the US.

Rachel will be supporting Iris Dement for her two northwest shows next month: March 11 at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon, and March 12 at the Triple Door in Seattle, Washington.

Stay tuned for Celilo Falls CD Release shows ...

We just heard that Rachel's new record, Celilo Falls, is getting 4 stars reviews in the February issues of both Mojo and Q magazines!

Howdy Folks,

Thanks for stopping by. Rachel has just finished a big 3-month European tour, accompanied by Lindisfarne founder Rod Clements. Rachel and Rod covered about 8,500 miles in that time and played over 60 gigs, many of them sold-out, including appearances at the esteemed Summertyne Americana Festival and the Perth Southern Fried Festival. This was Rachel's 4th tour overseas. She's been touring there 3 months a year for the past three years, as one reporter put it: "the hardest working woman in Americana." Rachel's now taking some time off, gearing up for the early 2011 release of her newest record, Celilo Falls. Advance copies are available to purchase through CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rachelh5

Sign up on the monthly mailing list while you're here, so we can keep in touch and let you know when Rachel's back out on the road. http://www.skinnydennis.com/?section=home

Thanks, and happy wintering!
Sandy

Rachel has just signed a deal with Rounder Europe/CRS for Celilo Falls. The new record will be in stores throughout mainland Europe beginning November 22, 2010. UK release is January 17, 2011 through Proper Distribution.

The team is shopping for a deal in the US. Barring that, we'll release it ourselves on SkinnyDennis with distribution from Burnside in Jan/Feb 2011.

Thank you so much for your suport!

Great news - Rachel's new record, Celilo Falls, just debuted at #3 on the Euro Americana Chart, behind Justin Townes Earle and Richard Thompson. Good company indeed!

Howdy folks,

Great news! My brand new record is almost out. It'll officially release Nov 8 in Europe and the UK, and February 1 in the US. Until then, you can download and/or pre-order it here: http://rachelharrington.bandcamp.com/
I hope you enjoy!

Many thanks for your support,
Rachel

Howdy!

I am currently writing and recording my new record. You can follow along behind the scenes at rachelsnewrecord.tumblr.com

And, you can help the new project by donating at http://www.skinnydennis.com/products.html
Thank you so much for your support!

Happy Holidays!

I hope this note finds you and your family well.

New news on my end:

VOTE WITH ONE CLICK: I've been nominated for Best Overseas Artist in the Spiral Earth awards. With just one click, you can vote. I'd really appreciate your help if you can spread the word! http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/spirals2010/overseas.asp
FAR WEST SHOWCASE: I was selected to perform an official showcase at this year's western regional division of the International Folk Alliance. That was in November (last month) in LA, California and was a lot of fun - even though I didn't stay down south long enough to use the hotel pool or get much sunshine.

CELTIC CONNECTIONS: I am honored that I'll be playing a one-off performance on a triple bill ticket in one of the UK's largest music festivals, Celtic Connections, on January 30th, 2010. Also on the bill are Diana Jones and Karine Polwart. I will be playing as a trio, joined by Paul Elliott on fiddle and David Keenan on mandolin. Tickets are available here: http://www.celticconnections.com/whatson/event/90257-Grace,-Hewat-&-Polwart-&-Diana-Jones-&-Rachel-Harrington
INTERNATIONAL FOLK ALLIANCE: After many years of applying, I have at last been invited to perform an official showcase at the 2010 International Folk Alliance conference in Memphis Tennessee this February.

MARCH 2010 TOURING in the NORTHWEST: I'll be doing a co-bill tour will California based singer-songwriter Rita Hosking. I've been really enjoying her record and I think you might too. Look her up and tell her I sent you! http://ritahosking.com/

Thank you so very much for your support this year! All the touring and gigs, the live cd, and the cds before that. I couldn't be a full-time musician without you and I want to make sure you know how much that means to me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

All the best wishes to you this season and in the coming new year. May it be the best yet for us all!

With love,
Rachel

I am finally back at home.

This spring/summer of three straight months of touring was wonderful, incredible, taxing, miserable, lonely, exhilarating, exhausting, life-changing and blessed. Touring is always a carnival ride filled with amazing twists and turns that leave you just happy to be alive. I love it.

This whole year, in fact, has been quite a ride. In the past twelve months, I headlined at some really big festivals: Bluewaters Bluegrass festival (WA), Naked Song Festival (Netherlands), Glasgow Americana Festival (Scotland), Southern Fried Festival (Scotland), Maverick Festival (England) ... Humbled and honored!

And so ... I got back home a couple of weeks ago, did some serious r and r with my family, and now I am headed back to Seattle where I'll be mostly songwriting and recording and hibernating for the winter.

In addition to a new record, I have a few other projects I'll be working on this coming year. I am writing an e-book for musicians about booking and promotion as an independent artist; That will be available by fall. I have started a radio and press mailing service for musicians, called EAR; You can read more about that at www.EmergingArtistResources.com. And I've decided to make my first foray into teaching guitar, voice, songwriting, and performing, giving private lessons from my home in West Seattle. If you'd like more information on any of the above, you can write me directly at rachel(at)skinnydennis(dot)com

Thanks so much for listening and for buying the records and coming out to the gigs. Your support is what enables me to do what I love to do and for that, you have my eternal gratitude.

Love,
Rachel

All things considered, life is grand. I am on tour throughout Europe for April, May and June, returning home in mid-July. Many radio shows, interviews, and plenty of wonderful gigs abound. I really feel blessed right now. You can stay up to date and get behind the scenes at the Travelogue at rachelsrambles.tumblr.com Thanks so much to all the folks who are coming out to the shows and helping spread the word - it's working and it's so great! Thank you!! More tour photos to come soon. And a new cd is brewing underneath. I'll hope to be recording soon.  I am really looking forward to hearing what will come next, and which direction it will go. Thank you for taking the ride with me. All the best, Rachel

We're in full swing here getting ready to head out for three straight months of overseas touring through England, Scotland, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Belgium.

Next month, Rachel releases a barebones live record called In The Woods ... more on that soon.

Check out the REVIEWS page for new reviews from:

Utne Reader
Sound NW magazine
Performing Songwriter
Penny Black Music
Village Records
Rambles
VH1/Barnes & Noble
Wear the Trousers
and others ...

The new cd, City of Refuge, is now available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and iTunes, among others.

Happy holidays from the RH crew!

Rachel's sophomore record, City of Refuge, continues to get regular airplay at Starbucks stores throughout the US. The disc is #29 on the September Folk Album Chart, between Crooked Still and Emmylou Harris, and is now in its 4th straight month on the Euro-Americana Chart. Thank you, DJs!

SkinnyDennis Records has just entered into deals with Burnside and Proper for distribution in the US and UK respectively. Soon, you'll be able to pick up a copy of City of Refuge in a store near you.

CD Release parties in the northwest US are coming soon - have a look at the SHOWS link - we'd love to have you there!

Currently at #11 on the Roots Music Report Chart, #66 on the Americana Music Association Chart, #25 on the Folk DJ Chart, #25 on the Freeform American Roots Chart and #7 on the Euro-Americana Chart.

THANK YOU DJs! WE LOVE YOU!!

Q, the UKs largest music magazine, gvies City of Refuge FOUR STARS! "Gothic tracks on an inspiringly original album ... Q recommends!"

The Irish Times gives City of Refuge FOUR STARS: "Rachel Harrington's The Bootlegger's Daughter was one of the more impressive albums of 2007 and certainly among the best debuts; City of Refuge moves the Oregon-bred singer-songwriter to a new level."

City of Refuge is currently #25 on the RMR Chart, #87 on the AMA Chart, and still hanging on strong at #7 on the Euro-Americana Chart, three months after its debut there at #2! Many thanks to all those DJs, both at home and abroad!!

The brand new album, City of Refuge, just released to US radio and is at #105 on the AMA chart. We'll see how far she climbs ...

The record went all the way to #2 on the Euro-Americana Chart, and is now #4 on the national chart in The Netherlands:

Americana & Roots
based on sales and airplay
September 2008

1 All I Intended To Be
Emmylou Harris (Nonesuch)

2 I, Flathead
Ry Cooder (Nonesuch)

3 Harps and Angels
Randy Newman (Nonesuch)

4 City of Refuge
Rachel Harrington (Skinny Dennis)

Autographed copies of Rachel's forthcoming record, City of Refuge are now available for pre-order. Please see www.rachelharrington.net/products.hmtl
And at last, the music video for Summer's Gone, a song off Rachel's debut cd, The Bootlegger's Daughter, is now available to view. Please go to the homepage here at the website and scroll down a bit.

And photos from the big 2008 European Tour are finally up - see the slide show on the homepage.

Our sincere thanks for your support!

This week we finish up the two and half months of overseas touring, with a grand finale at the Perth Americana Festival with Allen Toussaint, The Wilders, and Nanci Griffith.

Tracks from the soon to be released City of Refuge will soon be playing at a Starbucks store near you.

Also stay tuned to the website for forthcoming reviews.

The new cd, City of Refuge, officially releases August 18 in the UK and September 30 in the US.

Rock and roll for life!

City of Refuge debuts this month at # 2 on the Euro-Americana Chart, and UK radio is getting the cd as we type.

Overseas touring is going very well and plans already underway for a return trip in April/May 2009.

A quick note from Torquay, England. Have fully adjusted to life on the road and having a terrific time. Looking forward to all the new folks we'll meet as well as the familiar faces.

Three sold-out shows so far and the weather couldn't be nicer.

City of Refuge is being mailed out to donors this week and will be available in the UK in another week or two ... hope you enjoy.

take care, and hope to see you soon,
r

My sincere thanks to the following folks who donated to the new cd, City of Refuge. Your help is very needed and most appreciated!!!!!!

Executive Producers:
Sandra & Wayne Anderson
David Prescott

City of Refuge Patrons:
Steven Cray
Marie Dodds
Colin Green
Simon Holderness
Mary Lisbeth D'amico
Kelly Rydlund
Dave Thorpe
David Rodgers
Douglas Alvarez
Tony Hickman
Joseph Tonner
Adele Edwards
David Barlow
Robert Bracewell
John Schnabel
Michael Barrett
Heidi Herman
Michelle Harrington
John Stevenson
Craig Steward
Ryan & (the other) Rachel Harrington
Dan Pickard & Beth Young
Ted Polkinghorn
Richard Leach
Steve Whiting
Frazer Gillies
Fergus Gillies
James Davies-Shuck
Kim Mericle
Gary Folkman
Stephen Schneider
Gayle Parsons
Brad Creel
Gary Benny
Apollo Zogas
Andrew Hardy
Chris 'the hat' Thomas
Mike & Jan Hollen @ Hill Country West
Eric Brodeur
Jacob Orfman
Mike Swanberg
Pete Colton
Les Bright
Brian Cousins
Liam Greenbank
Emerson Heald
Karen Kiley
Keith Belcher
Tom Enlow
Jon Bruce
Gary Rejsek
Richard Parkinson
Cathy Morgan
Christina Villiott
Kathryn "Lexi" Kamcheff
Nicole & Matt Brown
Hans York
Don Lorimer
Markus Rill
Alex Farrell
Donald Macdonald
Toby Wood
Craig Redfern
Dietmar Leibecke


THANK YOU so very much for your support!!

http://www.skinnydennis.com/products.html

Jon Hamar on bass, Mike Grigoni on dobro and pedal steel, Zak Borden
on mandolin - all their parts are done.

And as of last week, we now have Tim O'Brien's fabulous fiddle laid
down on five tracks, as well as him singing back-ups on a couple of
songs.

Tim's work led to us connecting with an engineer in Nashville, David
"Fergie" Ferguson. Fergie has done a lot of wonderful work, including
engineering and mixing two of the Johnny Cash American Recordings cds
with Rick Rubin. As it so happens, Fergie has time in his schedule
and was interested in mixing City of Refuge - so he's gonna do that
May 6 & 7. Then the cd goes to Boulder Colorado, where it'll be
mastered by David Glasser on May 12 (David's work includes over 50
grammy nominated projects).

So it's looking like we'll get the cd back from manufacturing at the
end of May or early June.

I'm in the studio tomorrow, finishing up vocals. And Monday and
Tuesday, Zak, with my very good friend Holly O'Reilly, will be in the
studio to do back-up vocals.

And then, at that point, on one hand my work is done. And on
another, it just begins.

At any rate, that's the update from Lake Wobegone.

~R