Long Bio

 Based in the stunningly beautiful Slocan Valley of BC, HOLLY HYATT is a vocalist, songwriter, acoustic and electric bass player who has spent the past fourteen years performing in the blues and roots duo, Holly and Jon. She is now set to take on the music world as a solo artist with her debut album release, “Wild Heart”. "I am so excited about the songs on this album. They are really soulful, funky and fun, with themes of positivity, love and global empowerment throughout. I listen to the album and instantly feel happy. These are the songs I was born to sing!” 

Holly began singing, performing and songwriting at an early age. "My Dad was a professional musician, so I was brought up in a very musical environment. Some of my earliest memories are of traveling with him on the road, loading lots of gear and falling asleep to the sounds of his band playing late into the night." After taking her craft to coffee houses, bars, festivals and concerts - and even schools (where she went on to complete the Selkirk College Contemporary Music Program) - Holly then hit the road with Holly and Jon. They released four critically acclaimed albums, which were all co-produced by Holly. Their 2016 release “Shufflin’ The Blues” was #1 on the RMR acoustic blues charts and their third album, “1929” received international radio airplay and was included in the top 10 best Canadian Blues albums of 2012. Her 2019 release “Wild Heart” received Canadian and International radio airplay, ranked #4 on the RMR soul blues charts and received praise from music publications around the world.

In the fall of 2018 she released her Memphis Soul tinged single “River Flows” with an accompanying music video. "River Flows" premiered on Canadian Beats and received rave reviews from the music community. In March 2019 "River Flows" won Best Rhythm and Blues Song at the Kootenay Music Awards. In 2020 her song “It’s Time For Love” was nominated for an Independent Blues Music Award and in 2022 her song “I Can Feel It” won the Slocan Valley Make Music Here competition. 

She is currently touring Western Canada with her band. Her Live show has been described as “Soul Blues meets R&B Singer songwriter, a dynamic set that leaves the listener feeling up lifted and inspired!” 

She continues to grow as a songwriter and performer and has shared the stage with The Brubreck Brothers, jazz pianist Taylor Eigisti, Sonny Rhodes, Russell Jackson, Roy Forbes and Linda McCrea and has played on shows with the likes of Colin James, Ruthie Foster, The Trews, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and The Black Heritage Singers, among others. Holly has also been the opening act for Carlos Del Junco, Leon Russell, The Golden State Lonestar Revue, JW-Jones and worked on the promotion team for Merle Haggard's 2004 Canadian tour.

 “Holly is one of the most promising young female emerging blues singers on the scene today and can look forward to a long and rewarding career in the music industry”.

 

 

Short Bio

Holly is a West Kootenay based singer, songwriter and bass player. She grew up in a musical family and has been getting up on stage since she was six years old. She released her debut solo album “Wild Heart” in the spring of 2019. “Wild Heart” is a full band production - complete with horns and organic sounding keyboards - that showcases Holly’s highly evolved songwriting skills and incredibly soulful but smooth vocal abilities, “there’s a confidence and an assurance of her craft in “Wild Heart” that testifies: This is an artist who has arrived at the peak of her powers” Art Joyce. In the fall of 2018 she released her Memphis Soul tinged single “River Flows” with an accompanying music video. “River Flows” has received rave reviews from the music community and radio airplay on CBC. In March 2019 “River Flows” won Best Rhythm and Blues Song at the Kootenay Music Awards. She has previously released three blues and roots albums, as part of the duo Holly and Jon. Their 2016 release "Shufflin The Blues" reached #1 on the Roots Music Report, Acoustic Blues charts. Their 2013 release 1929, was included in the top 10 best Canadian blues albums of 2012. 

Holly has performed at the Kaslo Jazz Festival, Unity Music Festival, Central Music Festival, Starbelly Jam, Idlewild Festival, Arts Wells, Arts On The Edge, Whatshan Lake Festival, appeared on a nationally televised concert and performed with a big band on the steps of the parliament building in Victoria BC.    

 Holly is currently touring Western Canada with her four piece band. Her live show has been described as "soulful, funky and fun!".

 

 

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