Press
Electronic press kit
Short bio
Kevin McCarthy is a Cleveland singer-songwriter whose warm, resonant Americana draws comparisons to Wilco, Uncle Tupelo and Jeff Buckley. He has opened for Chuck Prophet, The BoDeans, Five for Fighting and Joe Jordan.
Full bio
At the heart of Kevin McCarthy's music you'll find the welcoming tones of Americana: a comforting, resonant, heartfelt delivery that brings a fresh twist to tradition. Kevin is a Cleveland-based singer-songwriter with roots in San Francisco and New York. Those cities, and the travels in between, brought him an incredible cast of musicians who have played on his recordings and shared his stages, and those connections run all through his songs. His music draws comparisons to Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and Andrew Bird, and to soulful singers like Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake and Chris Whitley.
Since his first EP, Anchors Away, in 2003, Kevin has kept writing and recording explorative, introspective songs. His newest work, recorded on location, at home, over the internet and across the country, ranges from a full ensemble album with synths, accordion, melodica, saxophones and a post-jazz/rock band to intimate solo and duo acoustic tracks.
In New York and Connecticut he founded Wataba Lake Fest, a community music festival, and played house concerts and songwriter showcases across the Northeast. Back home in Cleveland he has opened for Chuck Prophet, Five for Fighting, The BoDeans and Joe Jordan, often with singer Jess Fraley and longtime bandmates Chris Bober and Joshua Smith.
He has performed and recorded with Josh Smith, Kurt Kotheimer, Scott Barkan, Jeremy Bleich, Mike Gamble, Noah Jarrett, Conor Elmes, Daniel Clarke, Jessie Harper, Jerry Becker, Eli Crews, Michael Coleman, Stewart Myers, Brian Jones, Chris Keup, Jerry Marotta, Peter Calo and many others, and has shared bills with Marco Benevento, Robben Ford, Corey Harris, Robert Lockwood Jr., Carla Kihlstedt, Jessica Mayfield, The Blank Tapes and Dark Star Orchestra.
“Kevin McCarthy has great material, delivers on stage and has (Chris) Bober with him. Book it!”
David Kennedy, Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present and Future