Celeste Krenz

Celeste Krenz has been an acclaimed performer on the folk, alternative-country, and Americana music scene for the past decade-and-a-half. Now living in Nashville, Celeste Krenz garnered national attention with her debut album, which was followed by her second release charting at #11 on the Gavin Americana Radio chart alongside Willie Nelson, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Dar Williams. Robert K. Oermann of Music Row Magazine describes Celeste as having “The purest folk voice I’ve heard in years, and that little catch in her throat gives it just a touch of hillbilly soul. I was so enchanted that I practically held my breath.” Celeste Krenz has had songs featured on NPR’s ‘Prairie Home Companion,” has been a guest on Boulder Theater’s E-town live radio show, and is currently played in rotation on folk and Americana stations around the country.

Blix Street Records signed Celeste Krenz in 1999, recognizing her appeal to the same audience that had reacted strongly to other Blix Street artists, including Irish vocalist Mary Black, Scotland’s Dougie MacLean and the late Eva Cassidy. An acclaimed songwriter herself, Krenz shows a strong lyrical sensibility and a poetic and emotional melodic sense, successfully staking out artistic territory in the vein so successfully mined by Lucinda Williams, Roseanne Cash and Shelby Lynne and Shawn Colvin.

Celeste has performed with Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies, Bruce Cockburn, David Amran and Stephen Allen Davis. She has performed and written with Tim O’Brien (Hot Rize, Steve Earle, Maura O’Connell), Mollie O’Brien (Mother Folkers, Robin & Linda Williams, Chris Daniels), Subdude’s keyboardist John Magnie (Joni Mitchell, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin), Subdudes drummer Steve Amedee (John Doe, Shawn Colvin, Rusty Kershaw), and Jon Vezner (songwriter for Kathy Mattea, Faith Hill, Nanci Griffith). Celeste also has played with drummer Steve Ivey (Crystal Gayle, Nelson Rangell, Mollie O’Brien) and Jeremy Lawton, (Big Head Todd, Freddy Jones), and has sung on CDs by Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco), Tim O’Brien, John Magnie, Kate MacKenzie, Richard Dean and other folk acts.

In addition to her solo career, Celeste is a member of two groups. Based in Nashville is The Secret All-Night Girlie Club with Sally Barris (who sang with and wrote for Kathy Mattea and Lee Ann Womack) and Diana Jones (Gospel Music Workshop of America). Celeste also has done more than 30 shows with the Colorado-based Women in the Round that also includes Liz Barnez and Rebecca Folsom.

Honors

What people are saying about Celeste Krenz:

“The purest folk voice I’ve heard in years, and that little catch in her throat gives it just a touch of hillbilly soul. I was so enchanted that I practically held my breath.”
-- Robert K.Oermann-Music Row Magazine

“An infectious blend of sweet vocals, story based lyrics and acoustic sensibilities.”
-- Billboard Magazine

"Meticulously drawn songwriting, equal parts, torch and poetry, brain and soul."
-0- Colorado Daily, David Kirby

“Know what a national audience is likely to discover soon -- that Krenz is a talented artist whose stylings appeal equally to aficionados of country and folk. With the help of singer-songwriter-producer Bob Tyler and two former Subdudes, John Magnie and Steve Amedee, Krenz lends her gentle pipes to an array of tunes that are touching and uplifting. Wishin' is a subtle offering, but it lingers like a pleasant daydream."
-- Westword Magazine

“Edge of the Storm…a cutting edge country/folk album worthy of national attention.”
-- Denver Post

“Krenz typifies a different breed of country artist quietly rising in this era...a fresh spirit from which country music originally sprang and a college-educated vocabulary.”
-- Chicago Tribune

“Her narrative introductions, often based upon her childhood growing up on an isolated North Dakota cattle ranch, were poignant and humorous…But best of all, Krenz can flat-out sing!”
-- The Republic Monitor

Discography

Edge of the Storm - 1993
Slow Burning Flame - 1994
Hello Country - 1996
Wishin - 1998
Celeste - 2000
Through My Baby’s Eyes - XMas - 2001
Ten Year Compilation - 2003
Beautiful Soup - 2004
Acoustic 2006