the dotmatrix project presents: Laurelyn Dossett w/ Rhiannon Giddens

Singer and songwriter Laurelyn Dossett was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in a hymn-singing family. She is the 2004 winner of Merlefest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest for her gospel song, « Come by Here. » In 1997 she founded the band Polecat Creek with singing partner Kari Sickenberger; they have three CDs: « Salt Sea Bound, » « Leaving Eden » and « Ordinary Seasons.  » Leaving Eden’s title track, about the lost of textile jobs in Eden, NC, has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and on the BBC. Laurelyn and playwright Preston Lane have collaborated on three plays: Triad Stage’s Brother Wolf, Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity, and Bloody Blackbeard. « Anna Lee, » a song she wrote for Brother Wolf, was included on Levon Helm’s 2008 Grammy-winning CD, « Dirt Farmer. » She lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband and three daughters.

Rhiannon Giddens is a singer, voice coach, multi-instrumentalist, dance caller, graphic artist. . . in short a talented performer of great versatility. She is equally at home crooning torch songs in a smoky bar, accompanying herself on banjo, or singing opera in a sumptuous production. She has performed music from Native American Powwows, Appalachian ballads, and hip-hop, all to great acclaim. Rhiannon performs with the Carolina Chocolate Drops.