Caroline Aiken
Atlanta-born and Georgia-raised musician Caroline Aiken began her career in 1968, performing with a rock band called Fathertime in Long Island, NY. She honed her skills as a songwriter and solo artist during the late 70’s, moving from busking the streets of Seattle to opening for well known acts such as Doc Watson, Bonnie Raitt, David Bromberg, Muddy Waters, and later, Little Feat, Randy Newman, John Prine, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Derek Trucks and many more.
After years of touring throughout the US, South America and Europe, she moved back to Atlanta in the mid 80’s where her bluesy voice, masterful finger picking guitar style, and hypnotizing stage presence anchored the city’s acoustic and folk scene and influenced up and coming artists like the Indigo Girls and Shawn Mullins.
Caroline Aiken has released 9 albums to date, with the first one, 1988’s ”Line Of Vision”, featuring Bonnie Raitt on guitars and vocals on 2 tracks. Her 7th recording, ”Are We There Yet, Mama?”, released in 2005, garnered a first draft ballot nomination for a Grammy Award, and as an artist she received 2 New South CocaCola Awards Nominations, for Best Vocalist and Best Acoustic Guitarist. She has headlined Kerrville, 14 times since 1995, and in 2010 with The Indigo Girls, Falcon Ridge and High Sierra festivals, played Bumbershoot, Music Midtown, the GA Music Hall Of Fame mainstage (with the B52’s and Mother’s Finest) and Otis Redding Songwriting Camp. Caroline has also coheadlined The Mendocino Music Festival along with Ruthie Foster, and is a regular attendee at the annual Folk Alliance Conference, as a performer, presenter and educator. When she’s not touring or recording, Caroline also teaches her workshop 'Zen & The Art Of Performance' at music camps nationally and internationally.
A perpetual touring artist, Caroline continues to play shows regularly throughout the US, Europe, South America and the UK, including numerous charitable events for at risk children, animals, and environmental awareness. She’s been called an 'underground legend' (Santa Cruz Goodtimes), and 'the real deal' (Performing Songwriter Magazine), but perhaps the most accurate quote ever uttered was given by Artichoke Music in Portland, OR, 'Spending time with Caroline is as unforgettable as it is inspirational. She’s truly at the heart of America’s folk roots movement and has the skills along with life experience we all desire as entertainers'.