Amy Kucharik is a ukulele-slinging singer-songwriter based in Somerville, MA. The 2015 Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk winner explores the full range of her instrument's capabilities as a tool to convey a complex array of subjects and moods: Whether humorous, topical, or intense, Amy steers listeners away from perceiving the ukulele as a twee novelty. At the same time, Amy wants her audience to have a good time, and her performances are infused with Vaudevillian charm and an infectious, danceable swing. Her music draws from a range of influences including blues, ragtime jazz, folk, pop and country, as well as aesthetics garnered from film and literature. Amy's catchy, sometimes haunting songs recount tales of reluctant love, revenge, grit, and the challenge of self-expression in a tumultuous political age.
Originally from Southern IL, Amy grew up playing classical piano and studied french horn from the 6th grade through college. At Southern Illinois University, Amy majored in art and creative writing, ultimately earning her MFA in poetry, meanwhile playing horn in the University Wind Ensemble. However, it was after moving to Boston and through a swing dancing friend that Amy first became interested in the ukulele, the instrument that ignited her songwriting. In 2012, she put together her Friends With Benefits band.
Amy's bands feature a revolving cast of talented musicians. Their 2013 EP, "Dance Crush Blues," was created as a tribute to their mutual love of the swing and blues dance community. The band was selected to perform at Montreal Bagel & Blues 2014 dance exchange and Boston's Sweet Molasses Blues exchange in 2013 and 2015. In 2016, Amy formed Tiger Moan, a blues-specific band, which performs regularly at Sweet Molasses Blues and various blues dance events.
Amy's full-length debut album, "Cunning Folk," was released in 2014. It contains 10 of Amy's originals arranged for a diversely instrumented band featuring luscious vocal harmonies and swirling New Orleans-inspired brass. "Cunning Folk" was nominated for Red Line Roots Album of the Year in 2014.
In 2015, Amy was a winner of the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk competition, an honor given to six songwriters selected from a pool of 800 applicants. She toured central Texas with the other five winners, and has collaborated with New Folk finalists on various other musical endeavors. Amy has also shared bills with Denver, CO-based YouTube ukulele sensation Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Boston Music Award Folk Artist of the Year 2014 Dan Blakeslee, and notable ukulele-based singer-songwriter, Victoria Vox. Her song, "Creepy Dead Bug," co-written with Greg Klyma, was covered by Trout Fishing in America (who NPR call "the Lennon and McCartney of kid's music") on their 2013 release, "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers." Amy was a formal showcase artist at SWRFA in 2015, WFMT Folk DJ Rich Warren’s pick for the DJ showcase at NERFA in 2016, and a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist for 2018. Her second full-length album of original music, "Until the Words Are Gone," was released worldwide in 2018. In 2018, she was also chosen as the Somerville Arts Council December Artist of the Month. Amy also performs regularly with her swing dance band, the Mezzcats, her 1920s project, the Four-String Serenaders, and as a guest vocalist with other bands, including Chris Hersch and the Moon Raiders.
Amy has taught beginning and intermediate ukulele classes at CCAE as well as various workshop sessions, and is available for private lessons. In 2019, she founded Somerlele, the Somerville Ukulele Festival.
DJ BIO
Amy started swing dancing in 2008, and immediately began amassing a large collection of swing and blues music, which has influenced her songwriting. She has DJed swing and blues music at local and national venues and events, including Blues Shout in 2011, and makes a regular appearance spinning at Boston's two weekly blues dances. She has taught and performed swing dance and organized several dance events. Amy also DJs birthday parties and other events. You can book Amy to DJ for your event! Inquire by email.
ARTIST/DESIGNER BIO
As a visual artist, Amy creates her own gig flyers and album art. Among many projects, she has designed T-shirts for the Kristen Ford Band and Baker Thomas Band and CD packaging for Ryan Alvanos and Danielle Miraglia. Amy illustrated CD packaging for the Beantown Swing Orchestra's Christmas album, A Beantown Christmas, and has designed marketing materials and T-shirts for Sweet Molasses Blues. Her portfolio is available at http://amykcreative.weebly.com/.
Originally from Southern IL, Amy grew up playing classical piano and studied french horn from the 6th grade through college. At Southern Illinois University, Amy majored in art and creative writing, ultimately earning her MFA in poetry, meanwhile playing horn in the University Wind Ensemble. However, it was after moving to Boston and through a swing dancing friend that Amy first became interested in the ukulele, the instrument that ignited her songwriting. In 2012, she put together her Friends With Benefits band.
Amy's bands feature a revolving cast of talented musicians. Their 2013 EP, "Dance Crush Blues," was created as a tribute to their mutual love of the swing and blues dance community. The band was selected to perform at Montreal Bagel & Blues 2014 dance exchange and Boston's Sweet Molasses Blues exchange in 2013 and 2015. In 2016, Amy formed Tiger Moan, a blues-specific band, which performs regularly at Sweet Molasses Blues and various blues dance events.
Amy's full-length debut album, "Cunning Folk," was released in 2014. It contains 10 of Amy's originals arranged for a diversely instrumented band featuring luscious vocal harmonies and swirling New Orleans-inspired brass. "Cunning Folk" was nominated for Red Line Roots Album of the Year in 2014.
In 2015, Amy was a winner of the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk competition, an honor given to six songwriters selected from a pool of 800 applicants. She toured central Texas with the other five winners, and has collaborated with New Folk finalists on various other musical endeavors. Amy has also shared bills with Denver, CO-based YouTube ukulele sensation Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Boston Music Award Folk Artist of the Year 2014 Dan Blakeslee, and notable ukulele-based singer-songwriter, Victoria Vox. Her song, "Creepy Dead Bug," co-written with Greg Klyma, was covered by Trout Fishing in America (who NPR call "the Lennon and McCartney of kid's music") on their 2013 release, "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers." Amy was a formal showcase artist at SWRFA in 2015, WFMT Folk DJ Rich Warren’s pick for the DJ showcase at NERFA in 2016, and a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist for 2018. Her second full-length album of original music, "Until the Words Are Gone," was released worldwide in 2018. In 2018, she was also chosen as the Somerville Arts Council December Artist of the Month. Amy also performs regularly with her swing dance band, the Mezzcats, her 1920s project, the Four-String Serenaders, and as a guest vocalist with other bands, including Chris Hersch and the Moon Raiders.
Amy has taught beginning and intermediate ukulele classes at CCAE as well as various workshop sessions, and is available for private lessons. In 2019, she founded Somerlele, the Somerville Ukulele Festival.
DJ BIO
Amy started swing dancing in 2008, and immediately began amassing a large collection of swing and blues music, which has influenced her songwriting. She has DJed swing and blues music at local and national venues and events, including Blues Shout in 2011, and makes a regular appearance spinning at Boston's two weekly blues dances. She has taught and performed swing dance and organized several dance events. Amy also DJs birthday parties and other events. You can book Amy to DJ for your event! Inquire by email.
ARTIST/DESIGNER BIO
As a visual artist, Amy creates her own gig flyers and album art. Among many projects, she has designed T-shirts for the Kristen Ford Band and Baker Thomas Band and CD packaging for Ryan Alvanos and Danielle Miraglia. Amy illustrated CD packaging for the Beantown Swing Orchestra's Christmas album, A Beantown Christmas, and has designed marketing materials and T-shirts for Sweet Molasses Blues. Her portfolio is available at http://amykcreative.weebly.com/.
