When you have a group of women who are natural

Photo by: Dennis Gardner
Roxie Watson is a five-piece string band from Atlanta, Georgia that blends gorgeous vocal harmonies and stellar
songs into live performances that will just as soon make you laugh as shed a tear. Their music combines elements
of old country, rock-a-billy, bluegrass, gospel, and even a little touch of classic rock ‘n roll. Lisa Love of Georgia
Music Magazine and the Georgia Music Foundation described the band by saying, “When you have a group of
women who are natural story-tellers, who sooth their aggressive musical chops with beautiful harmonies, temper
their rock-n-roll sensibilities with an understanding of Appalachian tradition, and come off as a little bit Keith
Richards, a little bit Bill Monroe, you get Roxie Watson.”
“When
have
a group
who are
naturalfor
story-tellers,
who
sooth
theirLenny
aggressive
The you
group
formed
in 2007of
aswomen
a just-for-kicks
opportunity
long time friends
Beth
Wheeler,
Lasater,
Lindachops
Bolley, with
Soniabeautiful
Tetlow and harmonies,
Becky Shaw totemper
get together
androck-n-roll
play songs they
loved. But what
musical
their
sensibilities
withstarted
an out as
just
porch
settin’
and
cover
song
playing
evolved
organically
over
the
years.
Through
the
word-of-mouth
understanding of Appalachian tradition, and come off as a little bit Keith Richards, a support
little bit
of
an
ever-growing
group
of
loyal
fans,
Roxie
Watson
has
turned
into
one
of
the
finest
original
bands
in the
Bill Monroe, you get Roxie Watson.”
Southeast, regularly selling out storied song
writing
venues
from
Eddie’s
Attic
in
Decatur,
GA
to
the
Bluebird
- Lisa Love, Georgia Music Foundation, Executive Director
in Nashville. Each band member takes turns with the lead vocal and contributes to both song and arrangement
ideas. From the firecracker guitar playing of Bolley to the delicate mandolin of Wheeler, the propulsive bass of
Lasater to the banjo poetry of Tetlow, the lap steel and button box swells to the harp and guitar rhythms of Shaw,
Roxie Watson weaves a rich sound.
With the release of its third album, Songs from Hell’s Hollow, Roxie Watson truly has come into its own with
twelve songs that reveal the maturity of a band that has relaxed into its own sound and lets the songs speak for
themselves.
Georgianne Nienaber in The Huffington Post summed up the essence of Roxie Watson when she wrote, “These
women are more than proficient as musicians, have a warm way with a story, and a natural stage banter that
comes from a long history of friendship and community. The stage morphs into a back porch, with the audience
becoming honored guests in an intimate setting that is a heck of a lot of fun, heartwarming, and heart-rending
when it needs to be.”
Band members:
Linda Bolley – acoustic & electric guitar
Lenny Lasater – bass
Becky Shaw – lap steel, harmonica, button box, acoustic guitar
Sonia Tetlow – banjo
Beth Wheeler – mandolin
Discography:
Songs from Hell’s Hollow (set for release March 11, 2014)
Of Milestones & Moon Pies (2012)
True Stories (2010)
Performance Venues:
Festivals:
Eddie’s Attic (Decatur, GA)
The Red Clay Theater (Duluth, GA)
Steve’s Live Music (Sandy Springs, GA)
Smith’s Olde Bar (Atlanta, GA)
The Five Spot (Atlanta, GA)
Classic Theater (Athens, GA) *
The Melting Point (Athens, GA)
The Crimson Moon (Dahlonega, GA)
The Blue Ridge Community Theater (Blue Ridge, GA)
The Bluebird Café (Nashville, TN)
Barking Legs Theater (Chattanooga, TN)
Work Play (Birmingham, AL)
Chickie Wah Wah (New Orleans, LA)
Carrollton Station (New Orleans, LA)
The Altamont Theater (Asheville, NC)
Carolina Theater (Greensboro, NC) *
The Peacock Playhouse (Hayesville, NC)
The Casbah (Durham, NC)
The National (Richmond, VA) *
30A Festival (Ft. Walton, FL)
Mable House Barnes Candlelite Concert Series
(Atlanta, GA)
Inman Park Festival (Atlanta, GA)
Summer Shade Festival (Atlanta, GA)
Decatur BBQ & Blues Festival (Decatur, GA)
Decatur Concerts on the Square (Decatur, GA)
East Atlanta Strut (Atlanta, GA)
Sautee Jamboree (Sautee, GA)
Duluth Fall Festival (Duluth, GA)
Brookhaven Arts Festival (Atlanta, GA)
Madison Chili Fest (Madison, GA)
Booking by:
Dylan Yellowlees
(678) 773-0973
dyellowlees@gmail.com
* opening act for Indigo Girls
Press & Promotion by:
Carla Scheri
(617) 455-5980
carlascheri@gmail.com
REVIEWS
“When you have a group of women who are natural story-tellers, who sooth their aggressive musical
chops with beautiful harmonies, temper their rock-n-roll sensibilities with an understanding of Appalachian
tradition, and come off as a little bit Keith Richards, a little bit Bill Monroe, you get Roxie Watson.”
- Lisa Love, Executive Director, Georgia Music Foundation
“These women are more than proficient as musicians, have a warm way with a story, and a natural
stage banter, that comes from a long history of friendship and community. The stage morphs into a back
porch with the audience becoming honored guests in an intimate setting that is a heck of a lot of fun,
heartwarming, and heartrending when it needs to be.”
- Georgianne Nienaber, Huffington Post
“Their music is tough to peg. It has elements of bluegrass—but without the fiddle. And although their
three- and four-part harmonies wouldn’t be out of place in a country church, their lyrics are mostly too
earthy for gospel. Then there’s Bolley’s Scotty Moore-style guitar. The result: what they call “alternagrass.”
Their sound also defies easy comparisons. The song “Five Easy Words” on their new CD, for example, is
like listening to The Band with four-part female harmony. Oh, and those harmonies!”
- Richard Winham, Chattanooga Pulse
“Buy this album. Lie on the bed. Hit play. Close your eyes. Think of the good times you’ve had and the
better times you’re about to have. That’s what Roxie Watson wants you to do. This album is the perfect
medicine for a wounded heart.”
- Rachel Cholst, No Depression Blog
“...sparkling originals alongside stellar covers... serve to cement the outfit’s self-proclaimed “alternagrass”sound -- an expert blend of classic country and Appalachian folks swirled with hints of zydeco and
healthy helpings of bluegrass.”
- Cory Alberston, Georgia Music Magazine
“So you wanna start an all girl 5 piece bluegrass / folky / trad / cover / original band that plays and sings
like wily crafty veterans and harmonizes like the angels? o-k. but 1st, you better go see and hear Roxie
Watson, cause that’s what they are doing. And not only doing...but kicking booty and taking names!”
- Eddie Owen, Red Clay Theater
“Marc Miller, Candlelite Series committee co-chair, is equally bullish on the band. “We’ve never had as
many requests for a band to return to the series as we’ve had for Roxie Watson,” he said. “Five out of 10
attendees I’ve talked to want them back.”
- Steve Kilbride, South Cobb Patch
“It seems that these down-to-earth themes and amazing musical ability are what draw people in and
make them forever fans of Roxie Watson.”
- Jessica Draper, Fannin Centinel
“Gutsy, high energy style of music…”
- Michael Andrews, Gilmer Times-Courier
R O X I E W A T S O N . C O M