KAT DANSER profile picture

KAT DANSER

Western Canadian Music Awards - Blues Nominee

About Me

Kat Danser throws down an acoustic fusion of funky, laidback rhythms and thought provoking lyrical poetry. Her ‘Swamp Blues’ style is delivered on the waves of her deep, resonant vocals and the soulful voice of her Weissenborn lap slide guitar. She is one part backwoods juke joint, one part plow puller and two parts dusty ol’ canvas tent revival. Kat serves up a refreshing and original approach to roots, blues and gospel music in the 21st Century.Kat is a national touring and recording artist, based in Edmonton, Alberta. Early in 2007, she released her second full-length album entitled, Somethin’ Familiar, filled to the brim with eleven new roots, blues and gospel originals. This album is a richly textured exploration of ‘sin and salvation’ featuring west coast guitar maniac Steve Dawson (Zubot & Dawson) and the legendary Linda Tillery. With the help of Festival Distribution, Somethin’ Familiar will reach a national and international audience.Constantly answering the creative call and committing to her artistic development, Kat has made connections with a host of musicians worldwide. Canadian icon Rita MacNeil and legendary bluesman Eric Bibb have stepped forward to mentor this rising artist. Kat has shared the stage with Ellen McIlwaine, Ruthie Foster, Harry Manx, Chubby Carrier, Jennifer Berezan, Linda Tillery, Tuck & Patti, Sue Foley, Steve James & Del Rey. She has also headlined folk clubs throughout western Canada and logged stellar performances at the Tucson Music Festival and Island MusicFest. Kat has received feature reviews from news media and radio programs across Canada and was part of a feature presentation by Global TV Vancouver entitled Blues Women in Canada.Born in Saskatchewan, Canada on November 25, 1967, to the sound of her mother playing the autoharp, Kat came into this world to create music! Her Polish Catholic family instilled a strong work ethic and the importance of expression through song early in Kat’s life. Some of her earliest memories are of helping her mother knead bread while Patsy Clines’ or Hank Williams’ voice spun off the reel-to-reel tape player.At the age of 5, Kat’s Uncle Howie, a local musician, gave her a button accordion, her first musical instrument. Long nights were spent sitting around the table playing music while a neighbor taught Kat Acadian rhythms on the spoons. It was apparent to family and friends that she possessed a natural talent whether performing at school concerts or singing in the church choir. Soon Kat began imitating some of the powerful vocalists of the day including Emmylou Harris and Martha Carson.It wasn’t until her late 20’s, after completing a degree in Social Work from the University of Regina, that Kat’s musical potential was awakened when she heard Bessie Smith singing “T’Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness”. That moment continues to inspire Kat’s creative expression.Currently, Kat’s traveling companions are her Vintage Gibson LG2 (1947-51), National Estralita Resophonic and Weissenborn Hawaiian guitars. She continues to be inspired by Mahalia Jackson, Ben Harper, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Elizabeth Cotton, Joseph Spence, Gillian Welch, Corey Harris and Lucinda Williams. retro layout powered by HOT FreeLayouts.com / MyHotComments

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/23/2006
Band Website: KatDanser.com
Band Members: Kat Danser (Solo or Band)The Blue-Footed Boyz: Jim Hepler, John Newton, Cam Neufeld & Kevin McAuley
Influences: Classic Blues Women: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie, Elizabeth Cotton. Gospel Greats: Mahalia Jackson & Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Vintage Blues Guyz: Robert Johnson, Joseph Spence, Sleepy John Estes, Bukka White & Son House. Contemporary Class Acts: Ben Harper, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Corey Harris, Odetta, Linda Tillery, Eric Bibb and Ellen McIllwaine. ************************************************************ ********* plain layout @ HOT: FreeLayouts.com
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Sounds Like: Kat has a very direct and distinct relationship to music. She is at the junction of Ben Harper and Ma Rainey blending original sounds and storytelling into every song.
Record Label: Workin' on it
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Kat’s Delta Blog

hey y’all,i’m down south for a couple months. check out my amazing journey complete with photos at:http://katdanser.blogspot.comsee you down there! Kat
Posted by KAT DANSER on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:06:00 PST

The Holy Land Blog

hi everyone,i'll be blogging the immersion to the Delta complete with photos and such at: http://katdanser.blogspot.com. from there you can communicate with me and see what i'm up to. i'll be treat...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:43:00 PST

I’m Still BAAAAD

  Happy 2008 everyone!  Looks like I've been hermiting but I"m still out here and still bad... Wow, I am one of the worst bloggers on MySpace I'm sure.  Well since I last posted I've sh...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:36:00 PST

Western Canadian Music Awards Nomination

hi friends, great news! last week, while on my honeymoon, i found out that i've been nominated for "outstanding blues recording" at the wcma's. we were totally ecstatic in realizing a wonderful dre...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:00:00 PST

Edmonton Folk Music Festival Schedule

Two blogs in one day...i'm outdoing myself.  I'm trying to get better at this whole communication thing.  I've just reviewed my previous blogs and realize that I didn't tell you that I'm got...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:08:00 PST

Juicy Peaches Tour

hi dear devoted blog viewer.  well, i've been on tour for the past 4 days and i'm gettin' into it.  it's wild to play so many dates in a row.  the improvements are many in my own perfor...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Mon, 28 May 2007 03:35:00 PST

Tackhead Banjo (Grain Measure Banjo)

About 9 months ago I had a dream that I already knew how to play banjo. Despite never having picked up a banjo I knew that was true much like it was true for the Weissenborn dream I had 18 months ago...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 07:43:00 PST

Manitoba Blues Society Review of Somethin' Familiar

I've been fretting about the outcome of blues reviews on Somethin' Familiar. I was concerned that this may be challenging for reviewers because of the way that my music flies in the face of the commo...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:37:00 PST

Edmonton Folk Music Festival

It is a blessed life I lead! I'm grateful to Terry Wickham, Artistic Director for the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, for having the faith in my music and the confidence that I can take my place on sta...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:10:00 PST

CD Release - 2 Sold Out Shows!!

Oh man did we have fun!!!  Steve Dawson, don benedictson, Chris Nordquist, Andrina Turenne, Sarah Dugas and Graham Guest plus 400 of our closest friends partied down like you wouldn't believe.&nb...
Posted by KAT DANSER on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:02:00 PST