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.
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.
Their eighth and latest CD, "Stand Up 8" has just been released.
Wishing Chair's music has received many honors including, Best New Folk CD of 2006 from JPFolks for Underdog. Currently, their seventh CD, Folk and Roll, is nominated for a 2009 Best Contemporary Folk CD award.
"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.”
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, delivering a rich collection of stories and clear-eyed diatribes, outlaw weddings, love songs, and an anti-Bush klezmer tune for good measure."
Lexington Herald-Leader
DISCOGRAPHY:
Stand Up 8 (2009)
Folk and Roll - Live in Austin (2007)
Underdog (2005)
Dishpan Brigade (2003) (w/ Kara Barnard)
Crow (2002)
The Ghost of Will Harbut (2000)
Undisputed Country (1998)
Singing with the Red Wolves (1995)
HONORS INCLUDE:
2008 Jane Schliessman Award for Outstanding Contributions to Women's Music
2006 BEST New Folk Album, Underdog, JP Folks
2006 BEST Roots Song, Sue Mundy, JP Folks
2006 2nd Place Best New Folk Song, Sidewalks, JP Folks
2006 Finalist Kerrville Music to Life Public Domain Foundation Political Songwriting Contest
2006 Nominee Outmusic Awards Best Recording by Duo or Group
2006 Nominee Outmusic Awards Best Out Song
2003 Winner OutMusic Best Recording Duo/Band
2003 Winner Outmusic Awards Best Songwriter
2003 Finalist Kerrville Public Domain Foundation Contest 2003 Winner Best Overall/Best Mellow Song, South Florida Folk Festival
2003 Runner Up Best Folk Song, Northern California Songwriters Association
2002 Finalist Falcon Ridge, Emerging Artist
2002 Best of, This Way Out, OutWords,
2002 Best New Folk Song, JP Folks
2001 Best Folk Album Runner Up