The Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio make their Sundilla debut on Friday, February 1. Showtime at the AUUF is 7:30. Advance tickets are just $15 and can be found at Spicer’s Music, World Cup Coffee, and online at sundillamusic.com; admission at the door will be $20. Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, and the audience is welcome to bring their own favorite food or beverage.
At first glance, Heather Pierson appears to be the girl next door – youthful, friendly, a little bit shy – but she is an award-winning pianist, multi-genre singer/songwriter, arranger, bandleader, and performer. From New Orleans-style jazz and blues to rousing Americana and poignant folk narratives, Heather’s memorable live performances feature her virtuosity on piano, her bell-tone vocals, and her commanding yet playful stage presence while wielding a tenor banjo, melodica, or acoustic guitar. The trio is rounded out with Davy Sturtevant on strings/cornet and Shawn Nadeau on upright bass. Her music moves seamlessly and effortlessly from one style to the next, and a growing catalog of wildly divergent CD releases reflects her boundless creativity.
Originally hailing from Erie, PA, Davy Sturtevant is a veteran touring artist, producer, engineer, songwriter, and performer who now makes his home in the western foothills of Maine. Armed with a gorgeous tenor voice and a mighty arsenal of instruments ranging from dobro to fiddle to cornet that come to life in his capable hands, Davy is at once a witty, thoughtful, and engaging stage presence. New Hampshire native Shawn Nadeau brings a rock solid thump and nearly two decades of performing experience to the trio, informed by a wide spectrum of unique rhythmic and melodic sensibilities ranging from rockabilly to reggae to jazz. In their able hands, these three veteran musicians have catapulted Heather’s live performances of her deep well of Americana originals – folk, jazz, blues – with intricate instrumental arrangements and stirring three-part vocal harmonies.
The trio’s debut EP, Still She Will Fly, was released in May 2015. Its title track was the #2 single on the Folk radio charts for the year in 2015, and three other songs were also in the Top 100 singles on Folk radio in 2015. The trio’s full-length debut, Singin’, was released on June 30, 2017, the tenth release on Heather’s own record label, Vessel Recordings, and debuted at #1 on the Folk radio charts.
Throughout her colorful career, her eclectic skill set continues to propel her onto concert hall stages and into barrooms, coffeehouses, resort hotels, living rooms and churches. With over 200 shows a year in venues all over the United States, her nearly non-stop performance schedule speaks of her tireless work ethic and endless devotion to her craft. Defying genre and classification and yet fully embracing all musical styles, Heather is an artist who speaks the language of music in as many dialects as her abilities will allow. Her life’s work, she says, is to share her love of music and of life with others – one song, one heart, one mind at a time.
“An amazing vocalist and musician all around. What a gem! With skill and finesse, Heather Pierson creates an engaging musical tapestry, deftly weaving diverse musical references into a cohesive and compelling sound.” —Joe Jencks | singer/songwriter and performer | founding member, Brother Sun
“Heather has created a new trio that embraces Americana styles and gives it a new perspective. Blending jazz, folk, blues with three part harmonies and stellar instrumentals, this band turns heads!” —Ron Olesko | Sing Out! Magazine | WFDU
“Heather’s Trio gave one of the most entertaining, artistic, and engaging performances we’ve hosted in our 46 years! Their consummate musicianship, gorgeous vocal harmonies, and excellent songwriting held me and our full-house audience spellbound. Individually, the three of them are terrific. As a trio they are astounding… The walls of our little venue hold many wonderful sounds and memories. We’ve just added some of the best.” —Dave Humphreys | Two Way Street Coffeehouse | Downers Grove, IL
“If you’re one of those people who likes any style done well– old-school jazz, folk, pop, classical–you’ll love this prodigiously talented threesome. Keyboards, brass, all sorts of strings, and beautiful singing make for a dynamic show packed with energy and surprises.” —Sarah Craig | Caffe Lena | Saratoga Springs, NY