Sally Shuffield profile picture

Sally Shuffield

About Me

Buy Sally’s CDs or Download MP3s at www.cdbaby.com/all/sallyshuffield
The songs of folk/roots songwriter, Sally Shuffield, take the listener on a journey through the west of the 1800s, small town America, the emotions of love and loss, motherhood, the politics of war, and the search for meaning and redemption in every day life. Her music draws upon a vast life experience from her masters degree in anthropology, to her former career in the environmental/nonprofit arena, to motherhood. She calls Durango, Colorado, home and draws inspiration from the beauty and serenity of small town mountain living.
Sallys third CD, Something in the Water, produced by Greg Schochet , was released in February 2006. It follows the rootsy style of her earlier CDs, but also experiments with a couple of non-acoustic numbers, as well as a tune that is strictly bluegrass. Her themes include profound insights into history, including the Mountain Meadow Massacre, the Civil War, and the taming of the west, in addition to songs that address the universal yearnings and ramblings of humanity. Like her earlier CDs, Something in the Water, attracted some of Colorados best musicians, including Greg Schochet, Sally VanMeter, Pete Wernick and many others.
Sallys performance consists of her original songs, intertwined with stories of the cultures of different regions. Growing up in Arkansas, she experienced her grandparents rural roots and their connection to the land. Many of her songs are about this region, and the stories she tells to accompany her songs are filled with Arkansas personalities and characters from the Depression days to the Baptist bible town where she was raised. Her songs also tell the story of a modern day migrant to the west, rambling through western mining towns, the canyons of Utah, and the mountains of Colorado, trying to discover a new identity like so many other people who have left their roots to fall in love with the freedom of the west.
Sally tours regionally and nationally, sometimes solo and sometimes with mandolin accompaniment, playing well known concert series, festivals, and house concerts. She has received glowing reviews, a wide base of support, and charted nationally on the folk and american roots radio charts. She has been a finalist in the KRCL Founder’s Title Songwriting Contest, the Avalon Festival Songwriting Contest, and the Silverton Jubilee Songwriting Contest. She was also named an Artist in Residence for the San Juan National Forest. For a full publicity packet or to sample Sallys music and buy CDs, visit Sallys website at www.sallyshuffield.com .

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/2/2005
Band Website: http://www.sallyshuffield.com
Band Members: Sally Shuffield - vocals, guitar. Sometimes joined by Greg Schochet on mandolin and guitar and/or Alice Hartman on keyboards and harmonies.
Influences: Iris Dement, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Robert Earl Keen, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, John Denver (I admit it), Dwight Yokum, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Del McCoury, John Hyatt, Bob Dylan, Hal Ketchum, Allison Krauss, Maura O'Connell, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Michelle Shocked
Sounds Like: Laurie Lewis, Catie Curtis, Irene Kelley, Kelly Willis, Lucy Kaplansky
Record Label: Larkspur Records

My Blog

Maternity Leave

We have adopted our beautiful baby girl, Celia Matz.  I will be taking maternity leave in 2009.  I plan on coming out with a new CD at the end of the year.  But, in the mean time, thank you for your s...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:11:00 GMT

Fall Tours

What a wonderful fall it has been.  I have met so many wonderful people and played in some new regions.  It is bittersweet to have some of my best shows before I take some time off for maternity leave...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:07:00 GMT

Spring Tours

I ventured into some new territory this spring, touring to both Atlanta and Houston.  I had a wonderful time on both trips and can't wait to go back.  First of all, in Atlanta, I finally played at the...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:14:00 GMT

WildWords Concert

WildWords Event for Durango Nature I was so happy to perform a benefit concert for Durango Nature Studies at the Abbey Theater here in Durango.  But, what made the concert so enjoyable is that I ...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:46:00 GMT

A&R Select

What a great year it’s been in every way.  A nice way to end was being approached by A&R Select, a liscensing and artist developemt company, to join their roster of artists they wo...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:45:00 GMT

Tours and Far West Folk Alliance

I had a whirlwind October, with tours to Denver, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Texas. I especially enjoyed performing at the Old Church Theater in Clarksville, TX . Boyd Hurt was a wonderful host, even put...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:13:00 GMT

Opening for John Cowan

Had a great time opening for John Cowan.  The concert hall here in Durango has such a wonderful sound system and John was a pleasure to listen to. 
Posted by on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Colorado Shows

I ended the summer with some nice shows in Colorado, playing with my trio, made up of my sister and either Greg Schochet or Steve Stahl.  Steve, Alice and I played the Collegiate Peaks Music Fest...
Posted by on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:23:00 GMT

Utah and Alaska Tours

August was a full month of traveling and some of the best shows I've had in a while.  I started out in Utah playing the Magpie House Concert.  It was a warm and intimate setting hosted by Gr...
Posted by on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:21:00 GMT

Music with Meaning

I have decided to start a program to give back to some of the incredible organizations working to make our world a better place.  Each few months I will feature a different organization on my web...
Posted by on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:56:00 GMT