Beth Whitney

" Whitney and bassist Aaron Fishburn have created a musical bond that transcends instrumental and vocal collaboration. Beth Whitney demonstrates why it is so important to be here now. And her debut couldn't be more timely: the world needs a reminder to just slow down - bring our voice and our vision of love and light wherever we tread. And remember to leave our shoes. --" - Barbie-Danielle DeCarlo, World and Pop Music Director, KBCS 91.3 FM

The Boiler Room is a youth oriented and community supported drug and alcohol free coffee house in Port Townsend, WA. It is a small venue that showcases some of the best and brightest talent in music, art, poetry, and whatever else happens to grace their stage. I’ve been to several concerts and I’m always blown away by the high quality of talent basking in their tiny spotlight. This last concert was no exception.

Singer/songwriter Beth Whitney is a real treasure. Deliberate and pure, her voice is pleasantly lyrical with a bit of street-smarts lilting through her breathy splendor. A superbly original voice revealing such a luscious wisp of angst that you’ll believe she’s singing from the lips of blissful angels.

When Beth Whitney sings her delightfully intimate songs you’ll deem that you are her one and only true admirer. That she is singing just for you, as if you are her best friend or a family member that has encouraged her talents all of her life. And for that sublime concert in Port Townsend by the sea, I thought I was. I thought I knew her an eternity, and that her words of faith, love, and tiny sufferings were ours to share behind closed doors. She transported me to my secret garden where I go to escape the fanatical life swirling all around me. Songs such as her haunting Wayfaring Stranger or the equally powerful Miss Misery are a testament to her heart worn upon a sturdy yet fragile sleeve while other tunes such as Mary Lou and Broken Beauty are raindrops weeping down a frosty window pane. They reveal a deeply spiritual soul that takes her gifts, wraps them in tender orchestrations to hand-deliver her tiny portrait of the world.

Aaron Fishburn, her bassist and significant other, is equally as talented as he accompanies her as if they are indeed one heart beating. While the sound they create together is truly symphonic, there is still a scrumptious originality to Aaron’s style that peeks through her musical splendor winking like the sun. It knows it cannot compete with the rainbow we are in awe of nor needs to because it has helped create the colors cascading across the sky. Together they are the pot of gold.

There wasn’t a song that I didn’t like or another to upstage the one before. Everything Beth Whitney graciously offered was consistently first-rate. This was a performance as seasoned as any singer/songwriter I’ve ever seen our heard before. No fear, no uncertainty, just an easy breezy desire to express her happiness at being able to perform. In that simple act of self expression I was quite enchanted because I have only experienced that sort of poise a few precious times before. Once was at a concert presented by the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. 60’s icon Janis Ian was in the spotlight. She was beginning her signature Grammy-award winning song At Seventeen while I smiled from my cabaret table in the front row. Janis sang her classic for the pure joy of it. It is that type of musical grace and affecting dedication that Beth Whitney displays with each and every song. Another reason to suppose she is on a sweet and tender path to certain stardom, and is quite truly a talent to behold. - R.O'Donnell - Static Multimedia

Icicle Arts Festival 2010 featuring the Icicle Prize in Songwriting (sponsored by the Icicle Fund) took place September 10-12 in Leavenworth. 46 student and adult residents of Chelan, Douglas, Okanagon, and Grant counties submitted their original songs for the chance to win cash prizes and a performance opportunity.

Guest judges Andre Feriante (internationally-acclaimed flamenco guitar player / songwriter from Seattle), Dan Maher (host of NWPR’s “Inland Folk” from Pullman), Aimee Mell (choral director and Tacoma Arts Commissioner from Seattle), Andrew T. Miller (Sony Masterworks & Steinway artist from Milton), Linda Waterfall (music faculty at Cornish College of the Arts from Seattle), and Wes Weddell (host of Tumbleweed Music Festival from Seattle) gave feedback to performers throughout the live Main Stage performance which was attended by over 100 people from all over the state.

Judges rated each original song on originality, musicality, and style. Scores were added up at the conclusion to determine the winners: Beth Whitney of Leavenworth (first place), Brian McMahon of Leavenworth (second place), and Sandy Vaughn of Tonasket (third place). The audience cast their votes for an “Audience Choice” award, which went to Margee Peterson of Leavenworth.
- Icicle Arts

It’s a shame there’s only 7 songs here, because they’re all fascinating in different ways. Stylistically, there’s something for everyone: the jaunty opener of “Fallin” is followed by “Let's Pretend” which reminds me of something from the gauzy summer daze of the late 60s. There’s some loungey music and other more of a traditional country fare, while the closing track is sweet and innocent, with a bowed upright bass and simply lovely harmonies that are gone way too soon. However, this isn’t just an experiment in throwing everything against the wall and seeing what will stick; Beth has a wonderful singing voice and this EP features the brilliant production talents of Brandon Bee, a talented artist in his own right. With clean, crisp mixing, and plenty of unexpected auditory pleasures, such as the subtle violin, saxophone, or trumpet that sneak into the songs, there’s 7 wonderfully distinct songs here and lots to love within each of them. This is rich music that you’ll want to keep on “repeat”. - CD Baby Editor - Peter

Every once in a while, I stumble across a record that I immediately want to share with the world. The Music Gardener’s September “Pick of The Month”, Beth Whitney “Yellow”, is just that kind of record. Beth is one iTunes commercial away from being a household name, but for now, she remains a secret musical jewel of Snohomish, WA. Beth and her husband/stand-up bass player, Aaron Fishburn, travel the Northwestern US playing their folk branded pop at coffee houses, state fairs, farmers’ markets and any other audience willing to give them a listen. There is a simple honesty in Beth’s lyrics that makes one yearn to be sitting on the porch of a cabin in the woods, sipping coffee and living a life far away from the stresses of the big city. My first listen to “Yellow” brought back memories of when I discovered the music of Corrine Baily Rae, Mindy Smith and Sarah Masen. Beautifully produced by Tacoma’s Brandon Bee, “Yellow” is a record the begs to be heard by the masses. I hope you enjoy discovering Beth Whitney! - Keith Stancil, Music Gardener