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Shawn Colvin, Kat Edmonson team up at Orkney Springs on July 21

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Folk music icon Shawn Colvin and special guest Kat Edmonson will take the stage for the opening weekend of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival’s 2012 concert season with a performance on Saturday, July 21, at 8 p.m.

Colvin comes to the Orkney Springs Stage fresh from the June release of her latest album, “All Fall Down,” and the publication of her memoir, “Diamond in the Rough.”

In the 23 years since the release of her debut album, “Steady On,” Shawn Colvin has won three Grammy Awards, released nine albums, maintained nonstop national and international touring schedule and appeared on countless television and radio programs. Her songs also have been featured in major motion pictures.

Combined sales of her album total more than 2.5 million copies in the United States alone, and she continues to tour throughout the year. Over the years, she has shared the stage and toured with legendary artists such as Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, John Hiatt, Don Helney and Lyle Lovett.

Joining her on stage for the Music Festival will be Edmonson, a buoyant singer-songwriter from Texas whose tiny stature bellies a powerful voice.

Kat Edmonson’s strength is her rich vocal control. Alternately coy, elegant and poignant, she often shifts tone effortlessly from one note to another, and she’s not afraid to leave in the occasional touch of gravel in her recordings.

Her latest album, “Way Down Low,” was released earlier this year and featured mostly original work. “Way Down Low” received warm critical reception from the New York Times and NPR, and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s HeatSeakers chart and on the iTunes singer-songwriter chart.

Kat Edmonson’s debut album, “Take To The Sky” was released in 2009 and consisted solely of covers. The album debuted at No. 21 on Billboard’s Jazz Charts and reached the Top 10. The New York Times called Edmonson “a promising young jazz singer with a kittenish voice and an amiable relaxed style.”

She has performed with Willie Nelson , opened for Smokey Robinson, toured with Boz Scaggs and Lyle Lovett, and headlined the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan. She also recorded “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with Lovett for his latest album “Release Me.”

She began singing at age 4 and writing songs at age 9. At age 19, she tried out for the second season of “American Idol,” making it to the final 48 in Hollwood.

Reserved pavilion seating for the show is $33 and general admission lawn seating is $28. The show begins at 8 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m.

The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival’s 2012 summer season Gold level sponsor is Shenandoah Memorial Hospital-Valley Health. The Silver level sponsor is ShelRand Enterprises. The Bronze level sponsors are City National Bank, Downtown Harrisonburg Renaissance, Graves-Light Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, IRIS Partners LLP, Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company, Mountain Valley Management Inc.-Steve Stein, Rodney Shepherd-ING Financial Services, Shentel, and Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury.

In addition to the Holiday Inn Express, the official hotel of the 2012 Music Festival, the Festival’s 2012 Official Caterer is Shaffer’s Barbecue and Catering, and the Ticket Sponsor is Fort Valley Nursery.

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