Blogs for Po' Girl

It's a new decade and Canadian Urban Roots band, Po'Girl is getting proactive! Alli Russell, Awna Teixeira, Benny Sidelinger, and Mikey "Lightning" August are taking the new show on the road in the USA and Canada throughout February and March for the "No Shame Tour".

Po' Girl will be raising money to benefit the National Children's Alliance ( http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org) in the USA and Little Warriors (http://www.littlewarriors.ca) in Canada. Partial proceeds of all Po'Girl merchandise sales from their shows will be donated to these groups. Allison Russell of Po'Girl will also be fund raising by collecting donations in support of her running the Athens, Ohio marathon on April 11, 2010 at the conclusion of the "No Shame Tour". One hundred percent of these donations will go to benefit the two child abuse prevention organizations. It's all a part of following their bliss....

Russell is the survivor of ten years of sexual abuse at the hands of her adopted father. She wrote the song "No Shame" in 2006 when she found out that he had been released from prison. Po'Girl recorded "No Shame" on their critically acclaimed album Deer in the Night in 2009. "No Shame" was featured on the radio program The Vinyl Cafe in May 2009. Host Stuart Mclean wrote a beautiful piece about the song and Alli's history; the reception from listeners was overwhelming.

Says Russell, "Stuart's piece and the response to it, gave me the idea that perhaps I could be more actively using my past misfortune and our music to increase awareness and dialogue about the endemic issue of child abuse in North America. Whatever I can do to prevent what happened to me from happening to others, that's what I have to do. It's my responsibility as a survivor. Not everyone is so lucky."

Hailing originally from Canada, Po’Girl weave a blend of musical influences, sweetness, grit & soul into their fresh and original sound. Since the band's birth in Vancouver, BC in 2003 they've been winning devoted and growing numbers of fans across 4 continents and 13 countries with their powerful, passionate and spirited live show. The interplay between Alli, Awna, Benny,and Mikey "Lightning" is truly something to behold. They are distinct voices with incredible harmonies; multiple instrumentalists who bring the perfect sound to each song and songwriters who pen poetic tunes you'll find yourself humming. They'll be heading to Europe for a two month tour of the Netherlands, the UK, and Ireland after the "No Shame Tour". Catch them while you can!

Their latest release, Deer in the Night still includes many of the trappings of the trademark Po' Girl sound - the echoes of speakeasy jazz, the western lament, the accordion-strapped ghosts of European folk - but it's all delivered with a soulful clarity and depth only hinted at on previous records. They have also recently released a live album, Po' Girl Live that captures the energy and spirit of the live show, complete with special guests JT and the Clouds.

Po'Girl is spending January recording new album "Follow Your Bliss" in Chicago, IL. "Follow Your Bliss" will be released in Europe in May and in North America in June.

“Their uplifting take on American Folk music, combining it with Jazz, roots and a little bit of pretty much everything else, has the ability to put a smile on anyone’s face.” – Glasgow Americana Festival

"With enough sultry ambiance to be at home in either cocktail lounge or New Orleans street corner, Po' Girl's sentiment never feels forced, the lyricism never cliche or false. They manage to maintain that traditional and nostalgic sound while the breathing fresh life into an old-fashioned genre."- Rolling Stone Magazine

"Po' Girl is rough and smooth, sweet and tart, and would be huge stars in that super-cool alternate universe I've always wanted to live in." - John Schlotfelt, Little Village Magazine