Letitia Van Sant and Kipyn Martin
Hailed as one of Baltimore's strongest songwriters (BmoreArt), her distinct voice is fortified by sparse indie folk and Americana arrangements
In her music as in her life, VanSant has always sought to wrestle with worthy questions. Before her return to Baltimore, VanSant earned a Human Rights Humanitarian Issues concentration from Macalester College (St. Paul, MN). Afterwards she worked for the Obama campaign in Detroit, and then doing environmental organizing in Baltimore. Five years of work with a progressive advocacy group landed her in Washington DC. On weekends, she reflected on the state of society through her songs, earning a regional following in coffee shops and clubs.
"We are in this political crisis in part because we have a lot of spiritual work to do," says VanSant. This moment requires us to think deeply about our priorities, to confront our fears, to really know ourselves. We have to build the relationships and the emotional fortitude to sustain a movement.
Upon weighing the power of music to move people, she ultimately left her nine-to- five job to become a musician. She hasn't looked back since, and for good reason. In 2017 she won the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition, an honor shared along with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Anais Mitchell, and Caroline Spence. Songs from her new album have also won critical acclaim from the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest (Gold; Folk Category), Falcon Ridge (Emerging Artist), and Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Contest (1st Alternate). Get ready to be inspired!
"...the Joan Baez of Baltimore." --Baltimore Magazine
..a consummate reflection of a rising Americana star." -PopMatters
Every so often, musical magic happens. You know it when you hear it.
To say Kipyn's voice is angelic is an understatement, a cliche almost too tired to stand, and yet that is precisely how it must be defined. Crystal clear like a late winter stream coursing down the side of a mountain, rich and honeyed, mellifluous, dulcet tones spread out and filled the room. A hush fell over the audience and we sat, enraptured, as she shared her compositions as well as some traditional folk music and blues." - ChickenScratches, Ginger Hamilton Caudill
Kipyn Martin is an emerging Indie Folk singer-songwriter whose roots sink deep into the banks of the Shenandoah River. She currently plays festivals, concert halls, coffeehouses, and house concerts from New England to Texas.
Kipyn celebrated several milestones last year including the release of Dance Across the Sky, a new solo project following up her debut Undercover Muse, and winning the coveted Gold Award in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (Open category) for God is Love, her third MASC Gold adding to previous wins in 2013 and 2014.
Additional accolades for Kipyn include being honored by the Washington Area Music Association with their WAMMIE Award for New Artist of the Year in 2015 and multiple nominations the following year for Songwriter of the Year and Folk Contemporary Vocalist.
Kipyn also tours the country with Allison Shapira in the duo show Joan & Joni, a tribute to the music of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell (for additional details about Joan & Joni visit www.joanandjoni.com). 2018 touring for Kipyn includes shows with Ellis Paul and Kirsten Maxwell, and Joan & Joni performances scheduled in New York, New England, and New Jersey.
::: Photo gallery by Amir Rahim
This concert is a private event. It is for friends and friends of friends. We sell tickets in advance to reserve seating as it is limited — we usually sell out. All of the proceeds from the sales of the reserved seating go directly to the artist. Please reserve your seat WELL IN ADVANCE. House concerts are a wonderful grassroots phenomenon! World-class musicians and developing local talent alike perform in the intimacy of private homes and similar nontraditional spaces!