Austinist Preview ACL: Kara Grainger, Kevin McKinney, One Mississippi
Kara Grainger got her start as vocalist and lead guitarist of the Sydney blues combo Papa Lips, but has recently branched out into a solo career as a singer-songwriter and slide guitar player. Following impressive showcases at the 2006 and 2007 SXSW conferences, as well as stints opening for guitarist Eric Johnson and renaissance man Russell Crowe, Grainger was asked to perform at ACL in anticipation of her upcoming album Grand And Green River.
Kara Grainger
Sydney, Australia
Latest Release: Grand And Green River, forthcoming
Sun Sept 16h, 12pm, BMI Stage
A founding member of now-defunct Austin rockers Soulhat, Kevin McKinney is widely considered to be one of the leading lights of the Keep Austin Weird movement, not to mention an immensely talented songwriter. McKinney approaches his solo career as individually as humanly possible, writing, recording, producing, and distributing all of his songs through his Shat label. He'll be appearing Friday afternoon on, appropriately enough, the Keep Austin Weird stage.
Kevin McKinney
Austin, TX
Latest Release: Talking To Plants, date n/a
Fri Sept 14, 12:45pm, Keep Austin Weird stage
Not much is known about Austin's One Mississippi, other than the fact that they've performed as Daniel Johnson's band on at least one occasion and that their forthcoming album, Fe Fi Fo, is set to be released "sometime." Sounds like a pretty casual operation; we can, however, say with some authority that the handful of tracks on their MySpace rock hard enough to warrant attention. They have a pretty good slot too, playing on Friday at 8pm, so they must have something going on.
One Mississippi
Austin, TX
Latest Release: Fe Fi Fo, date n/a
Sat Sept 15, 8pm
