Nashville’s acclaimed all-female singer-songwriter collective Song Suffragettes has announced its first ever international tour, bringing Kalie Shorr, Candi Carpenter, Vic Allen and Bellah Mae to Manchester’s Band on the Wall.
The show features to US stars, Kalie Shorr and Candi Carpenter, joining the UK’s Vic Allen and Bellah Mae for five UK dates.
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In keeping with the Song Suffragettes’ mission to always introduce new talent at every show, there will be an additional, local singer-songwriter performing with the women at every show.
In over five years, Song Suffragettes has become a Nashville music institution, known for combating widespread gender disparity throughout the music community. Through their weekly show at Nashville’s The Listening Room Cafe, Song Suffragettes has showcased over 250 talented females, 16 of whom have gone on to receive record deals and more than 40 who have landed publishing deals.
Who is taking part in Song Suffragettes all-female songwriters round?
Kalie Shorr
After a huge 2019. Kalie Shorr hits the UK to tour with Song Suffragettes. Her debut album Open Book made best of 2019s lists, scoring huge critical acclaim.
Shorr burst onto the Nashville music scene in 2016 with her self-penned hit Fight Like A Girl before the Portland, Maine singer-songwriter became a Sirius XM “Highway Find” and was spotlighted by Apple Music, Spotify, CMT, Radio Disney Country, Pandora, Taste of Country, The Boot and even Billboard Magazine. She was named a “CMT Next Women of Country”, “The New Nashville” by Teen Vogue and a “Top 10 Country Artists To Watch In 2018” by the Huffington Post. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2018 and has gone on to play that heralded stage 17 times so far. Shorr has toured with Sara Evans, RaeLynn, Jimmie Allen and spent the past December supporting LeAnn Rimes’ You And Me And Christmas Tour. She rang in 2020 performing for over 200,000 people at Nashville’s largest-ever New Year’s Eve show with Keith Urban, Stevie Nicks, Jason Isbell, The Struts and more.
Candi Carpenter
Nashville is often called a ten-year town. For Candi Carpenter, it’s been twenty years of hard work, heartbreak, and second chances. With a vocal quality delicate enough to entice you closer and powerful enough to knock you to the back of the room, Carpenter proves to be a top contender worthy of the noteworthy accomplishments coming her way. Working alongside Grammy-winning Brandi Carlile, performing for Dolly Parton, and living out her childhood dream of performing solo at the Grand Ole Opry are just a few of the many ways Candi has celebrated her rising star power.
Growing up touring the Midwest with her family’s gospel band, her musical roots are buried deep in memories of stained glass windows and dog eared hymnals. She signed her first production deal aged 11, before soon after trading in the classroom for honky-tonk halls like Tootsies and The Broken Spoke Saloon. When Carpenter was 16 years old, country music legend Jack Greene took her under his wing as his duet partner. She spent her weekends backstage at The Grand Ole Opry, touring the country with the likes of Bill Anderson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner and Loretta Lynn, and writing the stories only she could tell. A wonderful mentor and friend, Greene taught her an important lesson; “love the audience, and the audience will love you back.”
On the surface, it looked like a dream come true. Behind closed doors, Carpenter found herself alone in a dangerous industry, trapped in a crooked and controlling management deal. After years of struggle and no say in her career or music, Carpenter was pulled into a disastrous marriage as a means of escape. What could have easily ended her career instead reignited her drive and tempered her music with the bare honesty that sets it apart today.
Her 2019 single The Astronaut and follow-up Little Sparrow showcase her talent and creativity. After national attention on NBC’s Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry Special and close work with her producer and Grammy Award winner, Brandi Carlile, Carpenter is proof that those working the hardest are destined for better days. Candi Carpenter is a real-life Cinderella story, but this time, Cinderella saves herself in the end.
Vic Allen
A top 5 artist on the iTunes U.K. Country Chart and a rising name on the U.K. scene, Vic Allen blends an acoustic-driven sound with strong influences from modern country music. The past year has seen the release of her EP Enough, tracks from which received airplay on Country Hits Radio and BBC stations, as well as placement of lead single Talk on Spotify’s official New Music Nashville playlist. In March 2019, Vic opened for Sarah Darling on her Wonderland Tour and played her first headline show, performing to a packed audience at The Green Note in London.
Vic is a founding member of Write Like a Girl, a movement that aims to put female songwriting talent in the spotlight. In 2018 she embarked on a country-wide Write Like a Girl Tour with fellow songwriters Beth Keeping and Emily Faye. The Tour was a huge success, mentioned by Bob Harris on Radio 2, and due to high demand, the girls carried out a second successful tour in November 2019.
Bellah Mae
Having grown up on stages from the age of four with her Grandfather’s rock ‘n’ roll career, Bellah Mae’s love and want to perform has always been what she’s known for sure. She has always loved bringing a room full of people together of all ages and walks of life with her bubbly character and unique original sound, and she’s always sure to win over the hearts of her audience. From her deep roots in southern music, she grew into her country style when she picked up a guitar at age 10 and taught herself to play.
This was the beginning of the journey and after 8 years of developing her own style and authenticity in music, she released her debut EP Phases last year which has had great success so far. With the single Miss Me More being used multiple times for OK Magazine, celebrity press videos and played on global radio stations, there are strong expectations for the EP to grow even bigger. At only 18, her ambitious and endearing nature is like no other and has her dreams set big with wanting to blow up the English meets Country market.
When does Song Suffragettes come to Manchester’s Band on the Wall?
Song Suffragettes comes to Manchester’s Band on the Wall on 29 April 2020. The Manchester gig is one of five dates announced:
26 April – Glasgow, Oran Mor
27 April – Nottingham, Glee Club
28 April – Birmingham, Glee Club
29 April – Manchester, Band on the Wall
30 April – Bush Hall
When do tickets go on sale for Song Suffragettes’ UK tour dates?
Tickets for the Song Suffragettes UK tour go on sale at 10am on Friday 7 February.
