Kim Townsend
Rockwall, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1999 | INDIE
Music
Press
"It is always so refreshing to hear someone new who has captured their own unique style and verse. This gal does both brilliantly! She seems to enjoy writing funny songs with a twisted ending...sometimes REALLY twisted, but very entertaining. She also writes and performs more serious songs that provoke your mind and tantalize your spirit. I think she has to be one worth checking out if you haven't seen or heard her yet" -
Miss Lana
www.misslana.com - Lana Hughes
You know that person we all think we'll grow up to be....you know the one,
talented, driven, creative and completely unlike anyone you've ever met.
Well, unlike the rest of us, Kim Townsend succeeded in becoming just that!
With a life most screenwriters would love to document, Kim has taken her
experiences, talent and personality and put it into unique original songs,
so for a short moment we can experience a piece of the intriguing life she
lives. Whether you're listening to her music or reading through her
entertaining excerpts on her website, you know she is delivering something
much needed and rarely seen in the music industry. She is a gem for all
music connoisseurs to treasure and a delight for all to experience!
KT Miears
Executive Director
The Rodeo Opry
Oklahoma City, OK
- KT Miears
"With a pure, sweet voice that can handle songs that range from sassy to sorrowful, Kim Townsend may well prove to be the best singer/songwriter to come out of Lubbock, Texas since Buddy Holly. With this CD I feel that she joins the ranks of other great female singer/songwriters such as Dar Williams, Kim richey, and Tish Hinojosa." - Nicole Blizzard, freelance writer- Austin, TX
- Nicole Blizzard
TOWNSEND IN TOWN
CD RELEASE PARTY
Texas/Seattle gal, Kim Townsend, has established herself as an out-of-town regular at Cafe Uniontown in Astoria. Between her Portland and Seattle gigs, Cafe U customers have come to know her sweet, country-folk and affable, off-beat Texas charm.
This time around, Townsend is celebrating the release of her first original CD,
'Wayworn Traveler'. The title cut is actually an old country gospel tune of which Townsend pays beautiful tribute to her musical roots and (great)grandfather, John Luther Pate. Grandpa Pate was recorded in 1965 singing a rustic acapella version of "Wayworn Traveler", which segues into Townsend's lovely, lyrical rendition.
Townsend sings songs about her Texas-farmer-traditional roots, grandmas and great-grandmas. She sings very openheartedly about leaving them behind and beginning new traditions, like traveling and writing songs. She also sings about cross-dressing, going naked, chat rooms, and green chili fetishes. And, yes, there is the occasional lovesick/lovesane ballad. But you never quite know if she's going to sing you a sentimental lament, a serious message song, or sneak-off a quirky, country do-wop, risque little number. She does them all with comfortable aplomb. This must be what makes Kim Townsend very original, genuine and...entertaining as hell.
It's nice to hear her songs with full instrumentals. Townsend, herself, provides bass and banjo tracks in addition to acoustic/electric guitars, and features a variety of musicians on fiddle, autoharp, cello, piano, drums... whatever the style of the tune calls for.
But it's Kim Townsend as Kim Townsend who shines through on this CD, just like she does live. Pick up a CD and join the party! - Dinah Urell
Discography
"Wayworn Traveler" (2003) 14 original songs (+1 cover)
"Just Because" (2007) 15 original songs
Photos
Bio
When only a small child, Kim Townsend had a tremendous crush on Glen Campbell and his ability to play multiple instruments. So smitten was she that at age FIVE she, too, began playing
guitar and soon added more than a dozen instruments to her amazing and ever-increasing
repertoire!
Now the Lubbock, Texas native has grown to become an accomplished singer/songwriter herself; proving to be a versatile entertainer who is as comfortable playing in a quiet coffeehouse or rowdy night club as she is for an intimate house concert or multi-stage music festival! Kim routinely performs in Austin, the Hill Country area, Lubbock, and Dallas in addition to her frequent shows in Oklahoma, Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and all points in between.
By declaring her music a "casserole" of styles, perhaps best described as 'Americana', Kim sets herself apart from other songwriters through the amazing variety of her original works. Her catchy songs range from proud Texas tunes to beautiful Spanish waltzes; humorous and cleverly-worded dittys to foot stomping blues; tender, thoughtful ballads; fun, driving rock; and impressive instrumental scores.
Her voice has been likened to warm, golden honey - if honey could only sing! Since it can't, she's been vocally compared with well-known female artists such as Anne Murray, Karen Carpenter, and Shawn Colvin.
She has been honored to open for many notable acts, including: Nanci Griffith, Bob Franke, Susan Gibson, the McKay Brothers, Jay-Boy Adams, and Colin Gilmore, as well as performing at Seattles annual Northwest Folklife Festival, the Oklahoma State Fair, the Buddy Holly Centers Summer Songwriter Showcase Series (in Lubbock), the National Cowboy Symposium, and twice - along with her band - at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta where they were invited to open for the Marshall Tucker Band!
Kim has received outstanding reviews for her original songs from both print and cyber media, as well as national and international radio airplay; while consistent touring has created a rapidly growing Kim Townsend fan base that spans the U.S. and abroad! Commercial radio and television ads have featured her music, as well as a documentary film that was shot for Imax theaters, and, too, plans are currently "in the works" to use three songs from her latest CD in an upcoming feature film! In addition, her songs have been selected as finalists in the Austin Songwriters Contest, the Woody Guthrie Songwriting Contest, and the Texas Country Reporters Songwriting Contest. Kim was selected as one of First Act Guitar's "Emerging Artists", and soon thereafter was honored to have her CD, "Just Because", chosen as a final nominee for "Album of the Year" at the 2008 Texas Music Awards by the Academy of Texas Music !
Kim is a true songstress... clever and refreshing... nothing short of an excellent entertainer whose engaging shows - whether as a soloist or with her band - keep audiences of all ages constantly requesting just ONE more song!
Band Members
Links
