Meet Miss Emily

Imagine an idyllic summer day. You are eight years old and you are with your best friend at her cottage in Prince Edward County. On the radio, James Taylor's velvet voice sings a song of love and loss-“Fire and Rain”.

Miss Emily,  2018 (photo cred. Vanessa Head )

Imagine a disc on constant rotation in your household. Every song is a hit- “Natural Woman”, “Beautiful”, “So Far Away”- and a woman's voice fills your ears with earthy passion, and longing. Imagine singing along, trying to express the soul of the singer with your own small frame; trying to impart the wisdom of the words with your young being.

These songs have such an impact that years later, you recall the moments, the place, and the company you kept when you listened to them.

If you have heard Miss Emily's raw, bluesy vocals, it is not hard to imagine that the artists who created those songs have influenced her music.

Miss Emily is, herself, a passionate artist who brings energy to everything she does. She is a huge fan of Carole King, “My favourite Carole King song is actually... the entire Tapestry album! I can’t choose one. I’m such a fan.” so when keyboardist Ken Hall asked her if she would be interested in performing songs of Carole King and James Taylor, she jumped at the chance.

Miss Emily, Doug Reansbury and Jamie Campbell front an all-star band with bass player Zak Colbert, James Wannamaker on sax, Ken Hall on keyboard, and drummer Duncan Holt.

Kingston audiences can see Miss Emily, Doug, Jamie, and the band performing her much-loved Carole King and James Taylor songs this week on Saturday May 5 at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 7:30pm. Tickets $25 for You've Got a Friend are available in advance at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3356784 or at the door on the night of the show (cash only at the door).

Miss Emily's next performance is a fundraiser for Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto on May 16. Catch her in Kingston while you still can!