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The WDVX Blue Plate Special – 6/13 – Brendan Abernathy / Karen Jonas
June 13, 2023 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
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Unafraid to write about the parts of his story that scare him most, Brendan Abernathy is known for his contemplative lyrics, memorable melodies, and a captivating live performance you will feel in your soul. Creating a fresh but familiar sound combining notes of Maggie Rogers with James Taylor, John Mayer, and Ed Sheeran, Brendan’s intimate words and powerful vocals speak straight to the listener’s soul. Since August 2019, Brendan has lived out of his car, touring the US selling out concerts across the country in Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, DC, Gainesville, and Boulder. In 2022, Brendan opened for Johnnyswim on their Southeastern tour, and he has begun touring the festival circuit -playing the 30A Songwriters Festival, the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, Starry Night Festival, and the Southern Wilds Festival. He has generated over 1.5 million streams and played over 300 live shows, focusing on the individual and building a loyal following. “We all just want to be seen and loved, and I try to do that — see and love.” His first two projects deal with indecision, comparison, loneliness, and dreams, where Brendan brings hope to his darkest moments. His forthcoming LP – Single and in Love – is a heart-throbbing, authentic, yet soaring work telling stories of anxiety, singleness, and sacrificial love.
Americana/Alt-Country songwriter Karen Jonas knows how to tell a story. Her new album The Restless (3.3) is “a stunning collection of dreamy and dark alt-country confessionals; a deep exploration of love and vulnerability from one of Americana’s most hopeless romantics” (Holler.Country). With “vocals that twist and snap with tension and emotional depth” and a dynamic band, it’s no wonder Karen is turning heads all around the world (Country Music People, U.K.). Flanked by her longtime guitarist the inimitable Tim Bray, bassist Seth Morrissey and Seth Brown on drums, she dazzles with energy that showcases their nine-year touring chemistry and the true joy of their art. Karen has released five full-length records and is a three-time Wammie (Washington Area Music) Award winner for Best Country and Americana Artist, Mid Atlantic Song Contest winner, Ameripolitan Award nominee, and official SXSW and UK Americanafest Showcasing Artist. As Parklife Mag DC put it, “the voice of country music in the DMV is a big, bright voice that belongs to Virginia native Karen Jonas.”