About Wishing Chair
Since 1995, multi-instrumentalist Miriam Davidson and songwriter Kiya Heartwood have made an art of inspiring performances and award winning songs. A Wishing Chair concert is a passionate mix of intelligent lyrics, spell-binding storytelling and breathtaking harmony over a full folk and roll sound. Heartwood's percussive guitar work and wide open vocals compliments Davidson's tasteful use of a myriad of instruments: piano, accordion, banjo, hand drums and bouzouki. This gifted duo seduces the listener with soulful confessions, political broadside, and a wicked groove.The latest CD ( number 7) is a live record made in Austin TX called Folk and Roll Their six CD, Underdog, was awarded Best New Folk CD of 2006, by JPFolks, an Indie organization of over 40,000 music industry professionals.
"Engaging performances, haunting harmonies, poetic, political, stellar vocals." Curve Magazine
"Good lyrics for thinking people; music with meat on its bones." The Omaha Review
"Wishing Chair serves up a lively batch of original songs that follow on two of the oldest traditions of folk music: storytelling and political broadside." Dirty Linen
With award-winning songwriting and musicianship, Wishing Chair, “never fails to create that exhilarating sense one gets when great melodies, strong harmonies, and superb execution come together,” says The Performing Songwriter Magazine.
The 6th CD from this roots/folk duo is no exception. Produced by Grammy nominated producer Mark Hallman, Underdog is “folk to the core,” (Lexington Herald-Leader) delivering a rich collection of stories and clear-eyed diatribes, outlaw weddings, love songs, and an anti-Bush klezmer tune for good measure.
They tour extensively, performing in venues ranging from The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville to Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Uncle Calvin's in Dallas and Club Passim in Cambridge,The Ark in Ann Arbor and at festivals including the National Women's Music Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Clearwater Folk Festival, the South Florida Folk Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
DISCOGRAPHY:
Folk and Roll (Live in Austin) 2007
Underdog 2005
Dishpan Brigade 2003 (Wishing Chair and Kara Barnard)
Crow 2002
The Ghost of Will Harbut 2000
Undisputed Country 1998
Singing with the Red Wolves 1995
HONORS INCLUDE:
JPFolks Awards 2006:
BEST New Folk Album: Underdog
BEST Roots Song: Sue Mundy
2nd Place Best New Folk Song: Sidewalks
Finalist Kerrville Music to Life Public Domain Foundation Political Songwriting Contest 2006, Nominee 2006 Outmusic Awards Best Recording by Duo or Group, Nominee 2006 Outmusic Awards Best Out Song, Winner, OutMusic Best Recording Duo/Band 2003, Winner Outmusic Awards Best Songwriter 2003, Finalist Kerrville Public Domain Foundation Contest, 2003 Winner Best Overall Song/Best Mellow Song South, Florida Folk Festival 2003
Runner Up Best Folk Song, Northern California Songwriters Association 2003
Finalist Falcon Ridge, Emerging Artist 2002
Best of 2002, This Way Out, OutWords, Best of 2002 New Folk Song Winner, JP Folks, 2001/Best Folk Album Runner Up 2001