Folk Dive Erin McKeown Rocks the Cat in the Cream
by LUCY ROCHE

Erin McKeown, the lady of the hour in the New England music scene, is coming to Oberlin this weekend. Mckeown, 22, born in Virginia and now a student at Brown University, has managed to make a huge splash in the small, tight knit community of singer-songwriters hailing from the Boston area. 
In the past few years, McKeown has maintained a steady and growing fan base as she has traveled around the country. Her popularity is now spreading fast. Last year she was awarded the Providence Phoenix’s “Best Folk Artist” award and a Boston Music Award nomination in the “New Singer/Songwriter category. 
Through her solo work and the release of two cassette-only recordings, McKeown has worked her way into the pool of the most promising new artists around. She has also toured as a part of Voices On the Verge, the captivating group of singer-songwriters, which also includes Rose Polenzani, Jess Klein and Beth Amsel.

The release of her first CD, Distillation, produced by Dave Chalfant (long time producer and bass player for the folk/pop band The Nields) is a testament to the immense talent and vision of this young woman. 
McKeown’s guitar playing, both acoustic and electric, is extremely impressive and she can also be caught playing piano, bass, banjo and mandolin. 

From her upbeat “Queen of Quiet” to the slow and haunting “Daisy and Prudence”, McKeown pops out songs which showcase her wide variety of influences from jazz to vaudeville and Cole Porter, as well as her own unique style. Her lyrics prove her insights to be wise beyond her years as they present artful portrayals of many themes. 
As a performer, McKeown has more than enough talent and charm to captivate her audience. Her stage presence is radiant, witty and strong and combined with excellent musical ability and wonderful songs, she is sure to create stellar entertainment. Her show at the Cat in the Cream on Saturday night is sponsored, in part, by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Union as the first in what they hope will be a series of LGBT musicians visiting our campus.