The recent album from young African-Canadian roots phenom Kaia Kater couldn’t have come at a better time. As a new generation takes the reins, American roots music is needed more than ever to remind us of the troubled pathways of our own history.
Born of Afro-Caribbean descent in Québec, Kaia Kater grew up between two worlds: one her family’s deep ties to Canadian folk music in her Toronto home; the other the years she spent learning and studying Appalachian music in West Virginia.
Her acclaimed debut album touched on this divide, but recently released album, Nine Pin (released in September 2016, on Proper Records) delves even further, and casts an unflinching eye at the realities faced by people of color in North America every day. Her songs on the new album are fueled by her rich low tenor vocals, jazz-influenced instrumentation, and beautifully understated banjo, and they’ve got as much in common with Kendrick Lamar right now as they do with Pete Seeger.
KAIA KATER MAY UK TOUR
Wednesday 17th May – St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow
Thursday 18th May – Teviot Row House, Edinburgh
Friday 19th May – The Live Room @ Caroline Social Club, Bradford
Saturday 20th May – The Met, Bury
Sunday 21st May – The Greystones, Sheffield
Tuesday 23rd May – Green Note, London