Photos

Photography by Graham Powell. Click to download a high resolution, printable file.

Biography

Amy Campbell brings together classical training and folk sensibilities to create music that reaches into human experience and comes back with stories written from the soul. Devoted equally to lyrical craft, innovative musicianship, and engaging performances, Amy's dozen years of writing, composing, and touring have cemented her position in hearts and playlists across the world.

Amy Campbell's first solo album: Architecture: Live at the Opera House was released with a sold out show in Halifax in November 2003. Recorded live at the Opera House in Lunenburg, NS one September afternoon, Architecture surpassed all expectations when it was featured on several radio programs (including CBC's The Roundup, and Definitely Not the Opera as Indie Artist of the week), was reviewed in several local and national publications (Exclaim!, Herizons) and charted on campus and internet radio stations across Canada and the US (including Netscape and AOL radio).

November 2008 saw the release of a full length album and book project entitled Oh Heart, Oh Highway. A successful release tour included appearances at the Halifax Pop Explosion, Toronto's The Cameron House, The BobCat concert series (Ottawa) and the legendary Yellow Door Coffeehouse (Montreal). New fans were drawn in by the album's cinematic narratives, and ambitious artistic vision; as evidenced in March 2009, when Oh Heart, Oh Highway reached #1 on CBC's coveted and influential Galaxie Folk/Roots chart.

Seven years of touring have led to several noteworthy appearances: Campbell has performed as a supporting act to Penny Lang, Veda Hille, Justin Rutledge, Richard Bruckner, Old Man Luedecke, and Thea Gilmore (in the UK); toured as support for Emm Gryner; and is a regular at noteworthy folk venues Club Passim (Boston), Hugh's Room (Toronto), and The Blacksheep Inn (Wakefield, QC), among others. Festival appearances include "The Stan Rogers Festival" (Nova Scotia), "The Cutting Edge of the Campfire Festival" (Boston), "Ladyfest NY" (New York), an MPress Records showcase at the IndieGrrl Festival (Nashville), The Amherst Island Folk Festival (Ontario), and Island Folk Festival (Victoria, BC).

Amy's work is supplemented by her community activism – Over the last six years she created and spearheaded an independent music program for participants at Sketch (Toronto working arts studio for homeless and street-involved youth), with whom she works regularly and intensely. She also has ongoing roles in such projects as Babes for Breasts (touring concert in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation), and The Music Project (a songwriting program for teens at Camp Trillium).

"Simply put, Campbell is well poised to one day inherit Joni Mitchell's place as Canada's quintessential female singer-songwriter." –Cindy Filipenko, Herizons

Career Highlights

Oh Heart, Oh Highway reaches number one on CBC's influential Folk/Roots Chart - March 2009. Then in January 2010 it places #11 on their Top Folk/Roots Spins of 2009 chart.

Placed top 20 of ourstage.com's "Lilith Fair Talent Search" (2010).

Chosen by the Songwriters Association of Canada to perform with Justin Rutledge at their web launch party (2010).

Featured on Sonicbids "2010 Indiegrrl Compilation CD" (2010).

Showcase Artist: North By Northeast Festival (2009)

Featured on Sonicbids "Listen Volume 5" compilation CD (2009).

Winner: Best Folk and Nominee: Best Song, Ontario Independent Music Awards (2008).

Showcase artist: Nova Scotia Music Week

Showcase artist: East Coast Music Awards.

Voted "best female artist" in Reverb's best of music poll (Halifax).

Emerging Artist Showcase: Mariposa Folk Festival.

Mainstage artist: The Red Roof Festival (Ontario), The Kingston Women’s Art Festival.

Featured artist: Toronto Pride Festival, The Stan Rogers Folk Festival (NS), The Cutting Edge of the Campfire Festival
(Boston MA).

Tours cross-Canada with “Babes for Breasts”, a fundraiser for Breast Cancer charities.