Triumph Unplugged Music Series

"Carsie Blanton is a rare talent as a modern songwriter. Her sly wit and urbane imagery reminds me of a folky, female Cole Porter. I'm really happy to know that classic songwriting is in good hands with Carsie Blanton." - Singer/Songwriter John Oates (of Hall & Oates)

Carsie is a young singer-songwriter who grew up in rural Virginia and landed in Philadelphia in fall of 2006. Since then, her soulful, playful, intelligent music has earned her national respect. In her brief time as a performing songwriter, Carsie has shared the stage with nationally hailed acts Amos Lee, Nellie McKay, John Oates and Leon Redbone, and frequented noteworthy venues from The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA) to the Hotel Café (Los Angeles, CA). In 2008, Carsie toured with Loudon Wainwright III, and with Blue Note recording artists The Wood Brothers.

In July of 2009, Carsie released her second album, Buoy, produced by pop/rock mogul Pete Donnelly. While Carsie’s songs tend to be personal and lyrically rich, this release strays from the folk tradition to bring out the soulfulness, passion, and pop sensibility in her work.

SUZIE BROWN – might be a common name, but there’s nothing common about this rising talent. Having started writing songs in June 2008, Brown has already taken the circuit in and around Philadelphia by storm, selling out popular area music venues such as the Tin Angel, and opening for the likes of Livingston Taylor and Lyle Lovett. While media outlets have seized on her unusual bio — Brown is a practicing cardiologist who has set aside a promising research career to focus on music — audiences and promoters have focused on Brown’s engaging performances and her intimate songs. The easy familiarity of her melodies harkens back to Carole King’s folk-pop creations, while the yearning sweetness in her voice recalls the down-home intimacy of Patty Griffin. Brown’s songwriting is remarkably mature, combining subtle progressions with memorable turns of phrase, in the best tradition of Nashville-style songwriting. This summer, Brown has reached new audiences with successful shows at Bethlehem Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA, Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, and Club Passim and Johnny D’s in Boston. She will continue touring this fall in support of her recently completed EP, Side Streets, produced by Ross Bellenoit at Turtle Studios in Philadelphia.