artBURSTS: Cherry Creek North Live & Local (June 17)

Meghann5k is the front woman for Denver-based Alterna-rock band, Addie Tonic. She plays guitar, sings, and writes songs. She grew up in Athens, GA, a small college town known for its vibrant music scene, and has always had music in her life in one way or another. She moved to Denver in 2016 and met Matt Youngblood (her songwriting partner and co-founder of Addie Tonic). In early 2017, they started playing together a lot and booking shows and in 2020, they became Addie Tonic. Most recently, Addie Tonic has been on an extended hiatus from playing live shows as she has been in active treatment for breast cancer over the past 6 months. During that time, they recorded a new EP with Todd Divel of Silo Sound Recording Studio which is set to release in Summer 2023 with the first single “Brutal” out now.

Allison Young is a saxophonist based in Denver, CO. She plays jazz and other genres as a woodwind doubler and saxophonist, and enjoys collaborating with musicians in a variety of styles. Allison performs locally as a bandleader and side woman for groups such as the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra, the Annie Booth Big Band, and the Drew Zaremba Jazz Fellowship. Most recently, she toured internationally with the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and played in the orchestra for Denver Center Theater Company’s production of ‘The Color Purple.’

Britt Devens is a sober, queer musician who writes songs about hope, heartbreak, and recovery. A native of Fort Collins, CO, Devens uses her music to explore the vulnerabilities of her own experiences in life and to remind her audience of the importance of self care. Championing a message of taking care of yourself – both mentally and physically – Devens’ music is for people who can relate to a struggle but still continue to have hope for a brighter day. She is set to release a full band studio album this Fall (2023).

Carrie Jennings is a trumpet player and vocalist from Reno, Nevada. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in classical trumpet performance from the University of Denver in 2014 and has been living and performing in Denver for over a decade. She plays with indie soul band Mama Magnolia, and is also a professional North Indian classical dancer. She manages and dances with Leela Dance Collective, an internationally touring women-led dance company, and helped establish Leela Denver with her teacher and mentor Dr. Sarah Morelli, offering educational opportunities and performances across Colorado since 2016. After years of collaborating with incredible musicians from many different genres, she is thrilled to now be performing as a solo artist and sharing her tender tunes with the world.

Domi Edson is an emerging force in jazz education, leadership, and performance. Originally from Seattle and now residing in Denver, Domi has performed at Dazzle, Nocturne, Frankie’s Jazz Club, The Royal Room, live on KUVO, at the Jazz Education Network Conference with the Sisters in Jazz Combo, and at the International Society of Bassists Conference with the Domi Edson Trio. In addition to her performing experiences, Domi has founded and organized Women in Jazz Days in both Washington and Colorado, and has served as a faculty member for the CCJA SheBop Young Women in Jazz Workshop.

Finn O’Sullivan is a Denver-based award-winning indie pop-folk artist. She says that songwriting is a way for her to express herself and talk about things that are important to her, which is sometimes hard for her to do in everyday conversation. She is “committed to creating things that other people can relate to,” and her songs are a testament to this commitment. She explores love and heartbreak, patriarchal privilege, the worlds of her favorite fictional characters, and the endless what if’s that keep her up at night.

Genevieve Libien is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Louisville, Colorado burgeoning in the Denver music scene. She writes in an indie pop/pop alternative style about queer love, mental illness, and other musings, taking lyrical inspiration from literature and real-life experiences. She is influenced by Hozier, King Princess, and Taylor Swift.

Vocalist Janine Gastineau sings and swings jazz with verve & assurance; performs show tunes and standards with style, emotion and an actor’s phrasing; and sings samba & bossa nova in Portuguese and chanson in French. About Janine, jazz critic and historian Scott Yanow wrote: “Janine has an attractive, distinctive and often-haunting voice that is quietly expressive. Whether straight ahead jazz, ballads or bossa nova, she creates fresh and colorful interpretations that make the vintage songs not only sound relevant but brand new.” You can hear Janine’s music on Spotify or iTunes, and on her website janinegastineau.com.

Jean-Marie is a singer who specializes in Vintage Jazz Standards from the 1920s – 1960s in Swing, Latin and Ballad styles from sultry to bright! An emotive femme crooner, Jean-Marie is supported by a variety of accomplished jazz musicians.

Katie Yeager is a Denver-based singer/songwriter. Writing in a pop/folk style, her music is as if George Harrison and Harry Styles met in a coffee shop on a road trip. Her debut EP Adeline tells the story of a queer housewife in the 1950s who finds herself stuck in a miserable marriage, but finds the way to self-empowerment and joy. Katie is also interested in pop music scholarship and is a part of the trio Children of Divorce.

Kelly Kerr is a singer/songwriter and cover artist whose sound mixes features of folk, soul, rock, and alternative music. Kerr focuses on versatility and expanding her repertoire to be inclusive of many different genres. With a stripped down and honest style with raspy vocals and electric guitar, she puts a unique twist on your favorite classics and introduces new music throughout her set. Playing anything from Fleetwood Mac, to The Beatles, to Sara Bareilles, to Susan Tedeschi, to Radiohead, Kelly Kerr forms a set that has something in it for all listeners.

Korey Foss is a singer and songwriter with a beautiful, powerful voice that can move people to transcendence. She is here to inspire the world with her profound emotional responses to music, art, nature, and the people around her. She is seen in her glory as a singer, communicator, and advocate inspiring people to believe in themselves, be who they are, leaving them inspired and empowered.

Billboard Magazine award recipient, Laurie Dameron, has been playing the guitar for over 50 years. She has performed for hundreds of venues over the past 30 years. A broad repertoire allows her to perform many different venues. She has produced three albums. Based in Colorado, Dameron has an echoey acoustic sound on her guitar that is slightly reminiscent of Pat Metheny at times. Her music is soothing, danceable (but with subtle rhythms) and pleasing.” Scott Yanow, Los Angeles Jazz Scene Dameron”s playing is a nice blend of old school Jazz Guitar, Rock n’ Roll double stops and swing blues. Her Guitar tone is crisp and smooth, giving her just enough bite for when she does her Bluesy Jazz thang…” Jazz Guitar Life Magazine, Lyle Robinson–
Guitarist/Vocalist Laurie Dameron”s latest CD, I Can”t Wait to See You Again, is a musical journey through the Great American Songbook. Backed by some of Colorado”s top notch musicians, Laurie makes the trip down memory lane worth revisiting time and time again.” Susan Gatschet,  jazz89 KUVO

Marnie is a nostalgic throwback to the vaudeville era where story, song, and a little bit of goofiness, were intertwined. Wielding her ukulele, Marnie blends the cabaret, broadway, and jazz art forms into a seamless, and hilariously, entertaining show. You may have seen her with Rocky Mountain Ukulele Orchestra, Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra, Savannah Symphony and Colorado Springs Philharmonic; to the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Boulders Dinner Theatre and in numerous club appearances at Dazzle Jazz, the Mercury Cafe and more! Marnie’s infectious enthusiasm for song can be felt through her unique arranging and storytelling.

Please see my website thanks.

Nicole has been performing professionally for 20 years. Nicole enjoys teaching and performing all types of music and loves to share her passion for singing and performing with others. Most recently you might have seen her as the Witch in “Into The Woods” at the Arvada Center or at DCPA in The Other Josh Cohen. She is currently the understudy for “Miss Rhythm The Legend of Ruth Brown” at DCPA.

Paloma Ress is a jazz bassist and vocalist who admires the values that come from the tradition of jazz music; community, communication, and expression. Every performance desires to honor the spirit of Jazz which creates an honest and spirited atmosphere every time.

“Great music should do three things- connect you to the past, inspire you to envision the future, and find you wholly in the present moment. Roma Ransom does all three. Their repertoire includes old-time traditional ballads like Shady Grove and St.James Infirmary as well as sounds from European cultures, mainly that of Romania (hence the duo’s name) yet the music of Roma Ransom is distinctly their own. The sultry sweetness of Grace Easley on vocals paired with the couples’ vast instrumental array combine to form a style that can fit the mood for any setting.”

​​Sonya Walker and Sofia Nehama are a Denver-based multi-instrumentalist duo with interests in a variety of music. They draw from numerous sources to take the audience on a musical journey spanning the globe, from traditional world music to their own jazz/art pop originals. Both Sonya and Sofia lead original music ensembles and other projects of their own, and that passion translates resplendently into their performances as a duo. With their soulful virtuosic playing and innovative arrangements, Saffron is not to be missed.