Denver – Swallow Hill is pleased to have two very gifted women singer/songwriters make appearances for the weekend of February 16.

First, Laura Love takes the stage on Friday, February 16 at 8 p.m. at Swallow Hill's Daniels Hall. The New York Post hails, "Folk wimps, girly girls and confessional coffeehouse chicks: Step aside and make room for Laura Love, the most original female singer to make music since Ani DiFranco." Love, who refers to her music as "folk-funk" or "hip-Alachian," defies typical genre description performing music that reflects its numerous influences of jazz, blues, folk, reggae, country, and gospel music. Like many artists who perform at Swallow Hill, Laura has never had a hit album and yet, she has a tremendous underground fan following throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her first East Coast gig was a performance at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Building momentum from there, her 2003 release, Welcome to Pagan Place, was subject to some controversy due to the track, "I Want You Gone," addressed to President George W. Bush. UTNE Reader listed Laura among the "Artists Who Will Shake the World" in 2003. Her latest release, You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes, is a companion to her memoir of the same name. Love survived many personal difficulties to get where she is today and her story is an inspiration to any aspiring artist.

Accomplished singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Patty Larkin takes the stage the following evening, Saturday, February 17 at 8 p.m. As "one of the most gifted performers in music today," (Chicago Tribune) she has received many accolades, among them 11 Boston Music Awards, an honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, a Distinguished Alumnae award also from Berklee, and "Patty Larkin Appreciation Day," a proclamation by Boston's mayor. Her talents have not been lost on Hollywood and her songs have been featured in the movies The First Twenty Million, Evolution, Random Hearts and Sliding Doors. Larkin comes to Swallow Hill to perform songs from her recent releases, Red = Luck and La Guitarra, Gender Bending Strings. Red = Luck has been praised as "beautiful" by Vanity Fair: "Red = Luck is a bold work from an even bolder artist ... truly brilliant." The album showcases a world where the ancient strains of modal folk meet brooding ambient noise. It is a world where Middle-Eastern flavored melodies collide with R&B, where joyous pop and somber reflection, playful eroticism and naked soul searching entwine. With La Guitarra, Gender Bending Strings, Larkin continues to crisscross the globe: it is a compilation of women guitarists from around the world, a melting pot of styles and genres that has been in the works for several years. The brainchild of Larkin and Bette Warner, it is a diverse audio journey that enlightens and entertains. "This is a dream come true," says Larkin. "To be able to hold a collection of women guitarists in my hands, many of whom I've admired for years, is a real thrill for me. It's a man's world when it comes to the guitar, but we're concentrating on using the word in the feminine form. La Guitarra. We want audiences to know of the contributions that women have made to the instrument, and continue to make in increasing numbers. I find it extremely inspiring both personally and musically." Singer/songwriter Gabrielle Louise will open for Larkin.

For tickets visit www.swallowhillmusic.org or call (303) 777-1003. Discounts are available for Swallow Hill members.

About Swallow Hill Music Association:
Helping people make music since 1979, Swallow Hill Music Association is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the United States as a source for folk, roots and acoustic music. With more than 2,100 members—some of whom are also volunteers—, Swallow Hill provides a place to celebrate music that is rarely heard elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region. Three concert venues house more than 150 performances a year, featuring some of the world's great artists as well as up-and-coming new talent. The Julie Davis Music School at Swallow Hill provides a valuable and affordable extra-curricular educational resource to the community with more than 50 music instructors involved in more than 240 adult classes and 70 children's classes annually.

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