Amanda Shaw

Biography

At 24 years old, fiddle player and singer, Amanda Shaw is part of the new breed of young, roots-based musicians (i.e., Lumineers, Mumford, Ed Sharp, Old Crow Medicine Show, Alabama Shakes) who have embraced both traditional sounds and pop sounds of the mainstream. Her roots lie in Louisiana, mixing her classically trained violin playing with Cajun dancehall melodies and vocals that drip sweet cherry pie and southern girl grit. Amanda counts Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Chrissie Hynde, and Bonnie Raitt as her primary influences. Not only for their strong vocals and powerful styles, but also because they broke new ground with their crossover success and successfully integrating the sound of their roots to the mainstream and this reflects in her own girl-powered sexy, sassiness of her live performances, her sharp witty lyrics and her fashion statements. Amanda has spent her youth implementing the same mission as her role models, becoming one of the leading Cajun fiddlers today. Her deep talent led to becoming one of the youngest headliners at music festivals not only throughout the world.

Like many prolific artists, Amanda was engaged in music from a very early age becoming a classically trained violinist who–at the age of eight–became the youngest soloist with the Baton Rouge Symphony. Shaw was in elementary school when she made her national television debut on The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Her first two self-released albums, Little Black Dog and I am Not a Bubblegum Pop Princess, have consistently been among the top ten best sellers at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, where she has drawn record crowds every year since she was 10. Following roles in the Disney movies, Stuck in the Suburbs (2004) and Now You See It (2005). In 2008 Rounder Records released her critically acclaimed third album, Pretty Runs Out, made its debut with Billboard Magazine listing it as one of their œBest Bets”. Then came a Big Easy Award for Best Female Entertainer and her feature role in the MacGillivray-Freeman’s IMAX film Hurricane On The Bayou.

Her last album, Good Southern Girl, was the first to capture her effervescent spirit of a live performance, and showcase her ability to expand her musical repertoire. In 2014 she recorded new songs for here soon to be released EP, teaming up with Matthew Gerrard (Kelly Clarkson), Vince Pizzinga (Delta Goodrem), and New Orleans native, Gina Forsyth. Legendary musicians, George Porter, Jr and Chubby Carrier are featured on the EP produced by Steve Shebby (Avril Lavigne, Lindsey Stirling) and mixed by Ken Lewis (John Legend, Kanye, Eminem, Jay-Z).