Many Moab residents are familiar with the music of singer-songwriter and fiddle player Kate MacLeod, who has performed twice at the Moab Folk Festival, as well as for the Moab Arts Festival.
Those who love her songs will be glad to know she has published a new book, “Kate MacLeod: A Collection of Songs,” that will allow people to pick up an instrument and learn the songs themselves.
MacLeod will be in Moab to give a book presentation – and to sing a few of the songs – at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, at Back of Beyond Books, 83 N. Main St.
“This collection spans 30 years of my writing,” MacLeod said.
Since musicians often ask her for copies of her songs, MacLeod decided to put the tunes together in a book where people can have their own personal experience with them, she said.
“A Collection of Songs,” published by Dream Garden Press, contains more than 50 songs, plus photographs and stories about the songs.
At Back of Beyond, MacLeod said she plans to give a short presentation “about music and songs in our culture – especially songs about people and places in Utah.”
She’ll also have her violin and will perform a half-dozen or so songs that evening.
At least one of the songs from the book was written while MacLeod was Artist-in-Residence at the Entrada Institute, where she composed music about the Colorado Plateau. Her newest song is about an apple orchard at Capitol Reef National Park, where she spent time researching the orchard’s origin and talking to people who grew up around the area.
“They planted thousands of trees there, (though) there were hardly any people there,” MacLeod said. “It’s a Western story about when people were settling,” the area.
Another song, “Red Rock,” depicts the landscapes of southern Utah.
MacLeod’s songs have been performed by such artists as Mollie O’Brien, Laurie Lewis and Rose Laughlin. Grammy award-winning Tim O’Brien produced MacLeod’s latest recording, from which the song “Something Left You Living” was featured on National Public Radio’s syndicated song showcase “What’s in a Song.”
The Salt Lake City-based musician is originally from Washington, D.C.; she came to Utah in 1979 to study violin-making.
MacLeod is often on the road – performing her original material with her own musicians; she also tours with various other bands. The singer-songwriter has opened for artists such as Rosanne Cash, Dan Fogelberg and Greg Brown.
Last fall, MacLeod toured in Belgium for the first time. She’s previously performed in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria.
Moab Music Festival Executive Director Laura Brown has hired MacLeod to perform at past Robert Burns Celebrations. She said that MacLeod’s songs resonate with her.
“She’s a favorite around here,” Brown said. “I really enjoy her music because it’s original, a lot of it is very story-telling. She performs beautifully, and she has a wonderful voice on top of that.”
Former Grand County Council member Bob Greenberg is also a fan.
“Kate is an authentic voice of Utah,” he said. “She combines mastery of the traditional folk music idiom with great musicianship and a deep feeling for our red rock country. Her songbook will make her work all the more accessible.”
Kate MacLeod to promote new book at Back of Beyond on Jan. 30
“Kate is an authentic voice of Utah … She combines mastery of the traditional folk music idiom with great musicianship and a deep feeling for our red rock country. Her songbook will make her work all the more accessible.”
When: Saturday, Jan. 30. at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Back of Beyond Books, 83 N. Main St.
Information: 435-259-5154
For more information, go to: www.KateMacLeod.com.
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