Reared among the Pentecostal pines of Oregon, Rachel Harrington has been doing things in the wrong order for quite some time. She'd had extensive radio play before performing her live show, and she was opening for Grammy winners and nominees before releasing her first record. Now, hot on the heels of her critically acclaimed 2007 debut, The Bootlegger's Daughter, Rachel presents CITY OF REFUGE. Her backing band on the recording is TIM O'BRIEN (fiddle), Mike Grigoni (dobro), Zak Borden (mandolin), and Jon Hamar (upright), with Holly O'Reilly and Pieta Brown on backing vocals.
Now, hot on the heels of her critically acclaimed 2007 debut, The Bootlegger's Daughter, Rachel presents CITY OF REFUGE. Her backing band on the recording is TIM O'BRIEN (fiddle), Mike Grigoni (dobro), Zak Borden (mandolin), and Jon Hamar (upright), with Holly O'Reilly and Pieta Brown on backing vocals.
Peopled with characters seeking respite, escape or salvation, CITY OF REFUGE farms personal and mythical stories from the American West, including tales inspired by the memoirs of prostitutes during the Alaska Gold Rush, the cantankerous Harry Truman of Mt. St. Helens, and short story writer (and fellow Oregonian) Raymond Carver. The album is produced by Evan Brubaker and mixed by David Ferguson (Johnny Cash's American Recordings III & IV), released on Rachel's own SkinnyDennis Records. Several tracks from City of Refuge have already been selected for in-store airplay by Starbucks.
Fresh off a three month European tour, Rachel is currently touring behind the record as a duo, joined by multi-instrumentalist ZAK BORDEN (Willy Mason).
FOR CURRENT NEWS AND TOUR DATES: http://www.skinnydennis.com
NOW PLAYING: ?I am absolutely enchanted with this record! A brilliant debut ... already a leading contender for Album of the Year in my opinion!? ~ Bob Harris, BBC Radio
Q: "FOUR STARS! Gothic tracks on an inspiringly original album ... Q Recommends"
Top 12 DIY Pick: "Rachel's voice has just the right combination of temerity and twang" ~ Performing Songwriter
?IT'S A CRACKER! The challenge is finding only one area to highlight. ? ~ Miles of Music
"FOUR STARS!"
~ Mojo
~ The Irish Times
~ The London Sun
?A top-drawer Americana debut .? ~ Smart Choice Music, UK
Caitlin Cary 5
Freakwater 7
Gillian Welch 15
Iris DeMent 8
Jolie Holland 9
Kathleen Edwards 11
Laura Cantrell 11
Nanci Griffith 29
Neko Case 18
Rachel Ries 3
The Be Good Tanyas 5
Victoria Williams 5
Amy LaVere 7
Dar Williams 14
Emmylou Harris 67
Frank Fairfield 3
Hurray For The Riff Raff 11
Joan Baez 58
Maria Mckee 11
Mary-Chapin Carpenter 1
Patty Griffin 19
Phil Cook 7
Shawn Colvin 23
Sloan Wainwright 7
Suzanne Vega 36
The Dixie Bee-Liners 1
Tift Merritt 11
Brandi Shearer 3
Dolly Parton 147
Guy Clark 22
Kris Kristofferson 59
Lucy Wainwright Roche 5
Mara Carlyle 2
Norman Blake 13
Old Man Luedecke 6
Ramblin' Jack Elliott 17
Richard Buckner 9
Steve Earle 40
Carolina Chocolate Drops 7
the everybodyfields 3
The Lovell Sisters 2
Townes Van Zandt 50
Charlie Parr 16
Doc Watson 21
The Black Twig Pickers 7
The Tallest Man On Earth 16
Holly Williams 3