Lucy Wainwright Roche is the angel-voiced daughter of singer-songwriters Loudon Wainwright III, a 2010 Grammy Award winner, and Suzzy Roche of singing sister act The Roches. She returns to the UK in June with her refreshingly unpretentious charm, her deadpan sense of humor, and her arsenal of gorgeous melodies. Her songs have been compared to those of Richard Thompson, Joni Mitchell and Patty Griffin.
Lucy is also the half-sister of singer-songwriters Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright and has toured with Rufus throughout the years. Perhaps considered the most understated Wainwright, Lucy initially chose to bypass the family career choice of music in order to teach elementary school in New York City for several years but in 2007, she made the decision to pursue a career in music full-time, and has been on the road ever since. This decision is chronicled in her Spring Song which appears on her EP 8 MORE, released in 2008. Also featured on this record is a duet of Bruce Springsteen’s Hungry Heart with actress Martha Plimpton.
Prior to 8 MORE, Roche released her first EP in 2007 titled 8 SONGS which featured Saddest Sound, a song that appeared on the television show Lipstick Jungle.
In early 2009, Lucy’s song Snare Drum won the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song. In 2008, Lucy was one of the winners of the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s “Emerging Artist” competition. Again in 2009, she was one of six winners of the Grassy Hill Kerrville Folk Festival’s “New Folk Singer/Songwriter Competition”.
In addition to headlining her own shows, she has opened for such acts as Eddi Reader Indigo Girls, Dar Williams, Girlyman, Amos Lee, her father Loudon Wainwright III, and brother Rufus Wainwright, Lucy also has sung backup for Grammy-nominated artist Neko Case, including an appearance with Case on The Late Show with David Letterman.
LUCY, her debut album, was produced by herself and Grammy winning producer Stewart Lerman (Antony and the Johnsons, Crash Test Dummies, Dar Williams) and the album is a collection of songs inspired by the themes of travel and landscape, heartbreak and humour. Special guest singers on the album include the Indigo Girls and Girlyman as well as The Roches, Loudon Wainwright and Kelly Hogan. Musicians appearing on LUCY include Steuart Smith (The Eagles) and David Mansfield. The album contains ten original songs plus a cover of the classic Paul Simon song America followed by a surprising bonus track featuring This American Life’s Ira Glass. (its released in the UK on Strike Back Records and can be ordered via the amazon link below)
In the fall of 2012 Lucy will be a regular featured actress on the upcoming TV show “Stuff You Should Know” based on the popular American podcast.
“…her clear, steady voice feels like a beacon of light, slicing straight through the room.” New York Times
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