With sultry. mesmerizing vocals, engaging songwriting talent, and fiery slide guitar work, Kara Grainger boasts an impressive set of skills. This Australian performer bears a style all her own, full or soulful swagger and elegant musicianship, her songs bring a distinctly unique and modern take to blues, roots and soul music.
Since her beginnings playing the club scene of Balmain in Sydney Australia, Kara’s music has taken her on an incredible journey throughout the globe. She has traveled to Indonesia several times to perform at the Jakarta International Blues Festival, performing together with her band and also as a special guest with The Jakarta Women’s Blues Review. In 2011 she toured Japan with "The Swampers and Donnie Fritts”, (the infamous house Rhythm section for "Fame Recordings" in Muscle Shoals.) Kara has also taken her band to Switzerland and all throughout Europe performing to sold out audiences throughout the globe.
At the age of 16 Kara joined with her brother Mitch Grainger to form the band "Papa Lips". The band toured consistently throughout Australia and produced two studio albums that received critical acclaim and were played on several radio stations nationally. The band was heavily influenced by the soul sounds from Stax recording in Memphis, and by the funk, soul and blues from New Orleans.
In 2008 Kara signed to Australian label "Craving Records" with whom Kara released her debut recording " Grand and Green River". The recording was co produced in the US with David Kalish and remained in the top 30 of the Americana Charts for 38 straight weeks.
Since then she has made three further albums whilst residing in the US. Her second recording ”LA Blues" paid tribute to some of Kara's earliest blues inspirations. In 2013 Kara recorded and released "Shiver and Sigh" through Los Angeles record label "Eclecto Groove." The album was produced by Grammy award winning producer David Z and featured some of LA's finest musicians including Mike Finnigan, Hutch Hutchinson, James Gadson and Kirk Fletcher among others.
Kara was invited to play in Northeast India by the Himalayan Blues Foundation. Her live performance at the "18 Degrees Cultural Festival” was an absolute career highlight. The show was incredibly well received and the local people of Shillong were thrilled and amazed, many being introduced to the slide guitar and the sounds of blues for the very first time.
In her home base of the US, Kara also continues to tour consistently performing at many of the premier blues clubs and festivals. She has also opened for many extraordinary acts such as Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal and Jonny Lang to name a few.
Kara’s 5th studio recording will be released in the Spring of 2024 which will be followed up with a tour of the US, Australia and Europe.
TESTIMONIALS
"But the highlight of the opening set will be Aussie soul slinger Kara Grainger who is known for her groove-rooted sound and mean slide guitar; her sultry vocal melting hearts and minds, a true delight to see".
ZAKI ZUFRI, INSING.COM
"Talk about star power, a killer voice and guitar skills. She said to the band as much to the audience, “I think tonight, we’ll just play some blues.” Playing slide guitar, Grainger began with rootsy blues, her voice full-bodied with plenty of soul. There was clarity there too with that unmistakable bell tone mixed with grit. We were in for some serious musicianship with Kara Grainger. Her vocals packed a punch and she played monster guitar solos that had the crowd whooping andclapping. Nice to see a female musician kick some a** like that".
ROCK & BLUES MUSE
ACCOLADES AND
AWARDS
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Latest album "Living with Your Ghost" reached #3 on the Billboard Blues album chart
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2008 Winner, Best Roots CD, “Grand and Green River”, Indie Acoustic Project (IAP) Awards