Rachel Harrington

FOURS STARS! "ancient-sounding country noir” Bury Me Close: #34 on Q’s 50 Essential Tracks To Download [Celilo Falls]

FOUR STARS! "... Gothic tracks on an inspiringly original album ... Q Recommends!" [City of Refuge] - Q

FOUR STARS! "conjures the ghosts of old America ... her third good album in a row" [Celilo Falls]

FOUR STARS! "This debut is a primer in Americana" [The Bootlegger's Daughter] - Mojo

"I am absolutely enchanted with this record! A brilliant debut ... already a leading contender for Album of the Year in my opinion!" - Bob Harris, BBC2

FOUR STARS: Top 10 Albums of the Year [Celilo Falls] - The Irish Times

"Make the discovery for yourself!" - Maverick

Top 12 DIY Pick

Songs of wandering, whiskey and regret mix with close harmony and expert guitar picking on Seattle artist Rachel Harrington’s debut, The Bootlegger’s Daughter.

“Sunshine Girl” sports country fiddle and plucked banjo as Harrington, taking on a male persona, invites a potential beau to “shed your sweet light on this moonshine boy.” “Shoeless Joe” tells the tale of the fallen baseball hero from the corn fields. “Blow ~ The Ballad of Bill Minor” nods to Johnny Cash as Harrington sings of mournful train whistles and the gates of San Quentin.

Harrington’s voice has just the right combination of temerity and twang. The record’s ambitious instrumentation includes mandolin, pedal steel and Dobro, but arrangements leave enough space for listeners to want more from this Bootlegger’s still. [The Bootlegger's Daughter] - Performing Songwriter

"Rachel Harrington most favorably represents a new generation of singer-songwriters ... carefully crafted songs ... a tasty mix redolent with fiddle, banjo, and mandolin ... feels right at home in a number of genres from folks to bluegrass to country ... songwriting that truly shines. " - R. Warr

"makes easy bedfellows with both old and new country .... a wandering bluegrass waif in the spirit of old-time"
- Uncut

3/13/2011
Rachel,
I saw you this past Friday at the Aladdin and what a surprise. You have now moved to the top ten of my favorite female artists. Not sure how I missed you all this time?? Bought two albums while there and thanks for sighing them both. Listened to both on the way home and now want more. And you an Oregonian too. Keep it up, keep them coming and come visit us in Astoria. Your new fan, Bill

5/11/2009
I also saw you at Finedon on Friday- it was like a dream.. It was great talking to you and your performance was fantastic! Hoping to bring my husband along when you play in Leicester in June. Good luck with the rest of the tour! Vicky

5/10/2009
Great show at the stables in milton keynes last night - I took my nine year old daughter and she loved it. Well worth the 3 hour round trip (but my wife wasn't impressed by my daughter waking her up after midnight to tell her that she'd enjoyed the concert!). It was a great venue. Purchased the live album and it's great. Keep up the good work! ~Tim

7/27/2008
How many times can you say thank you?
Thank you Rachel and Zak for a great night at The Vox in Glasgow, playing a set that completely blew me away. Great stuff. John Clark (Scotland)

7/22/2008
Hi Rachel. Missed you last year at the Prom but caught you and Zak this year. We really enjoyed the gig and the mix of music that you both performed. Hope you'll be back again soon. We hope you both enjoyed the Larmer Tree festival as well. Best wishes, Jim & Maggie (England)

6/28/2008
Saw you in Worcester last Thursday. Stunning. Doreen (England)

6/15/2008
Hi
Saw you again last night in Nottingham, having seen you play last week in Stamford. Fantastic evening - beautiful music. Enjoy the rest of the tour. Thank you, Terry (England)

6/14/2008
Rachel & Zak
RE: Blue Walnut Cafe
Thank you so much for a delightful evening, we were all truly blessed to hear such sweet music in such an intimate setting. A real spine-tingler! Enjoy the rest of the tour & happy travels. Stephen Blake (England)

5/31/2008
Hi,
I loved your gig in Glasgow - travelled 6 hours to be there! Im an asiring singer/song writer - thanks for keeping it real and for the inspiration. Rose (from Derby, England)

2/2/2008
Having originally gone to see Richmond Fontaine at the Luminaire (UK) in the latter part of '07, it was a "BONUS" to see Rachel with Zak play there too. I was taken with Rachel's sweet vocals and soft country tones. I'm now enjoying the album "The Bootleggers Daughter", and fav track: Walk to you. I'm sure that the songs will sound even better when the summer months come along, lazing in the hazy sunshine!! Looking forward to Rachel's next visit to the uk later in 2008. Michael Riley (England)

11/29/2007
Hi there,
Just heard you on the Bob Harris show. Fantastic sound. All the very best, Matt (England)

10/21/2007
Hi Rachel and Zak, Thanks for a great evening at the house concert in York. i'll look forward to future albums and visits. David (England)

10/15/2007
Hello Rachel, was at your show Oct 13. in the Nethlands (Roepaen). It was great. Pls. come again... Best regards, Pieter (NL)

6/12/2007
Hi Rachel, Just listened to 4 of your songs on MySpace and needless to say I now need the cd!! I wish you every success and maybe you will visit Ireland when you tour England in October? We would love to see you over here-we really appreciate tasteful music. Best wishes, Bob Skelton (Ireland)

5/10/2007
Heck of a show at the Tractor on Saturday night. I hope your mom loved the serenade! Have spent the whole week listening to the record and I'm blown away. It's incredible. Whispering Bob knows what he's talking about. Can't wait to see another show. Mike B (Seattle)

8/1/2006
So great to meet you at Falcon Ridge. Thanks for the performance you gave us on the porch of our B&B. It was truly wonderful to hear your music. You play guitar so pretty and your voice is like an angel. Thank you for sharing your time with us. It was a great time and will remain a great memory! Am enjoying your EP very much and looking forward to the CD release. I'll be sending in my pre-order soon. Great to meet Sandy, Too!! You both are very special people. Hope to see you both again very soon. We'll be watching Caffe Lena for you!! Peace and Joy, Bonnie Nicolosi (New York)

7/25/2006
Hi Rachel, Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you and your mom at Falcon Ridge; the Bell House. You are so very talented, love your cd. Best of luck in all you do! Barb Dickson (New Jersey)

5/10/2006
just got home from your show at the aladdin in portland. your 'ode to billie joe' gave me goosebumps! awesome!!! you did a great opener for guy clark. hope you come back again. Carol Routh (Oregon)

3/9/2005
Dear Rachel, I just left you playing at the Pegasus coffehouse here on Bainbridge. I just wanted to drop you an email thanking you for the performance tonight. Knowing there's a singer/songwriter doing what you are doing, with your craft and guitar, the way you do it, well it gives me more hope about the state of the world. Thanks Rachel. Your newest fan, Corey (Washington)
- as posted to the website guestbook

"an ideal vehicle showcasing [Rachel's] multiple talents ... a significant landmark" - Bluegrass Unlimited

Bluewaters Bluegrass Festival, 2008
Spokane, WA
www.bluewatersbluegrass.org
Kevin Brown, Producer

"Hey Rachel,
I sure enjoyed getting to know both of you a bit this weekend. Your music was a perfect fit to the lineup and I heard plenty of comments from people who enjoyed it. And you both were a real pleasure to work with. I especially appreciate your willingness to help out with the workshops, because your participation in both the songwriting and mandolin workshops was a huge part of making those two of the most successful workshops of the weekend. You're a talented songwriter and singer, Rachel, and I'm going to enjoy watching you get some large overdue attention here in the U.S. I'll do what I can in our little corner of the world to help that happen ..."


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Alnwick Playhouse Theatre, 2008
Alnwick, England
www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Vince Hope, Theatre Manager

“Rachel and Zak together provided an intimate relaxed style and had such a great rapport with our audience, the room felt like a private gathering amongst wonderful friends. The unique blend was inspirational, uplifting and exhilarating. We were treated to some great new tracks from the album ‘City of Refuge’ including a wonderful cover of Bobby Gentry's Ode To Billy Joe - delivered with such gusto, sincerely I felt the room move. Also some great numbers from Zak solo. A wonderful evening, I would recommend it.”

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Rivercity Bluegrass Festival, 2008
Portland, Oregon
www.rivercitybluegrass.com
Chris Palmer, Producer

"Thank YOU! I caught just a moment of your set, which one unfortunate aspect of working the event. I predict that you're going to be a force in this business. We received many compliments on your set, one of which came from my 33 year old son, who is so far from liking this type of music, it's ridiculous. But he made a point of seeking me out to ask who you were and to tell me that your set was truly great and that your voice is something special."

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Woodend Barn Arts Center, 2008
Banchory, Scotland
www.woodendbarn.co.uk
Susan, Owner/Manager

"Hi Rachel,
Hope you got home safely and with your luggage! thanks for a great performance on Friday at the Barn - we really enjoyed the show and really hope we can welcome you back again before too long!"

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Red Shoes Theatre, 2008
Elgin, Scotland
www.redshoestheatre.com
www.myspace.com/redshoestheatre

"Hope you enjoyed your well earned day off - the Scottish heatwave held out too!! Great performance last night - thanks for coming, we'd love to have you back next tour - please keep us posted!
Take care,
Daz, Tish and all at the Red Shoes"

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Otterton Mill, 2008
Otterton, England
Bob Butler, Owner

"Rachel Harrington is a star turn. Her mesmeric voice and assured delivery captivated a packed audience. She comes from the same rural country blues/folk tradition as Gillian Welch and Iris Dement and, believe me, she's not out of place in such exalted company. Catch her soon!"

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Southern Fried Americana Festival, 2008
Perth, Scotland
Andy Shearer, Producer

"Rachel and Zak were one of the hits of the first Southern Fried. Rachel's reading of Ramblin' Man was one of the highlights of our all-star Hank Williams concert, and that's saying something given the overall standard of performance. Their duo performance [later that night in the theatre] held a potentially rowdy audience absolutely spellbound."


- various