Dori Freeman AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE
“Great range and incredible emotional nuance” NPR
“Dori Freeman’s arrival is a blessing for us all.” No Depression
Breakout Americana artist Dori Freeman makes her Australian debut at Sydney Festival, following the release of her debut self-titled album earlier this year, deeply rooted in the musical traditions of her family and home in native Virginia.
Dori Freeman has a perfect country voice: languid and pure-toned but with a little Appalachian dust on it. Freeman’s storytelling soaks up the wisdom of more decades than the 25-year-old has been around. Her songs hit you like a train. They are stunningly gorgeous, lyrically rich and so thoughtfully executed. Her lilting vocals shine – at times reminiscent of Emmylou Harris – and are delivered with such an aching, melancholic sincerity that her reflections on love, loss and heartbreak wind up buried deep under your skin.
Raised in the Appalachian mountains of Southwest Virginia among a family of musicians, Freeman grew up performing in her grandfather’s shop on the historic Crooked Road – a hugely important place in American musical history that remains a bastion of roots traditions today.
Freeman came to the attention of singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson (son of Richard and Linda Thompson, and Brokeback Mountain soundtrack contributor) after messaging his Facebook fan page on a whim with a video of her singing. To her surprise, Thompson replied a couple of days later requesting more material. Several messages and phone calls later, Thompson offered to produce Freeman’s debut record. They met in Nashville, conducted a Kickstater campaign and subsequently recorded the album over three days in New York City at The Magic Shop. “We just wanted it to sound genuine,” Dori says. “To be current and sincere.”
The album went on to garner praise from the likes of NPR, The New York Times and Rolling Stone, who named her as one of ‘10 New Country Artists You Need To Know in 2016’. Freeman embarked upon an extensive US tour in 2016 before performing at the hallowed Cambridge Folk Festival and Richmond Folk Festival.
Americana has been waiting for the arrival of the distinctive new singer/songwriter sound of Dori Freeman. Freeman’s bittersweet and clear-eyed storytelling is made to be heard in spaces made of old stone and warm wood – just like St Stephen’s.
Where St Stephen’s Uniting Church
When 28 January at 7pm
Duration 75mins
Tickets General Admission $40 + booking fee
Bookings sydneyfestival.org.au/dori
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