ABOUT

Mitch Barrett is one of Kentucky’s most sought-after and talented singer songwriter sons. His approach to lyrical storytelling is true ‘Americana’, rooted in authentic experience, not just a record label’s genre. Mitch’s music draws from his Appalachian heritage and the values it instilled: agrarian work ethic, simple living, the importance of family and celebrating the joys and the struggles of everyday life through music and song.

A keen life observer and riveting performer, he deftly laces thought-provoking subject matter with a satirist’s sense of wit and irony. Whether he’s leading a workshop, headlining a Performing Arts Center, or playing a large festival, Mitch takes his audience on an engaging journey, channeling the inner voice of a truck-stop waitress, a mountain boy seeking spirituality or a socially and environmentally-charged activist.


PERFORMANCES

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival, The Freight & Salvage, The Folks Festival, The Kerrville Folk Festival, The Clinch Mt. Festival, The Bele Chere Festival, The Birchmere, The Writer’s Block, The Bean Blossom Festival, Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, Floydfest, The National Storytelling Festival, The Kentucky Homefront Theater, The Blue Plate Special, Merlefest and the Kennedy Center Stage in Washington, D.C. Mitch has performed with Mark Schatz, Si Kahn, Greg Martin, Dirk Powell, Arlo Guthrie, Darrell Scott, Richie Havens, Tom Paxton, Dar Williams, Doc Watson, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brian, Steve Forbert, John Prine, Sam Bush and Dave Mallett.

AWARDS

WINNER- Telluride Troubadour Competition 2009
WINNER- Folk’s Festival Songwriting Competition WINNER- Merlefest “Chris Austin Songwriting Competition” (twice awarded)
WINNER- Kerrville “New Folk” – Kerrville Folk Festival


WHAT THEIR SAYING

“Congratulations to 2009 Telluride Troubadour winner Mitch Barrett. Mitch's performance of his song "Drop in the Bucket" on Saturday evening - with special guests Sam Bush and backup vocals from all the Troubadour finalists - was one of those unforgettable Telluride moments.” - - Planet Bluegrass

Folks Festival Songwriting Contest – “Hearing Mitch Barrett for the first time was truly exhilarating. By song number two, "Drop in the Bucket" he'd completely engaged a 5000+ festival crowd in a sing along! He is contagious.” - - Ruth Naccarato – Founders Title Company Folk & Bluegrass Festival

Dirty Linen – “Charming, moving, and very Appalachian...” - - Pamela Winters

Sing Out! - "Birds Fly South is a composite of what's best about Southern music today.”

CD Baby – “Kerrville New Folk Winner Mitch Barrett sounds like an Appalachian Dougie MacLean, with songs that are passionate, political, edgy, and haunting.”

Mountain Twang meets Contemporary Folk – “An energetic singer-songwriter from the heart of the Appalachians whose mountain twang meets contemporary folk. Americana steeped in rural sensibility and tradition.” - - unknown

Mitch Barrett is a Wonderful Storyteller – “When Mitch tells a story, young people and old alike become happy travelers in whatever wonderful world he is describing.” - - John Benjamin, Director Kentucky Arts in Education Programs

Barrett's influences diverse – “Though his songwriting may be grounded in his Appalachian heritage, Mitch Barrett’s music draws from a diverse wellspring of influences.” - - Jim Newsom, Portfolio Magazine

BIOGRAPHY

Mitch comes from a family with deep musical roots, his Grandparents on both sides played music in the home, church, and at community gatherings. Most of the Appalachian Storytelling in his shows comes directly from his Grandfather, Bunk Gay, who was known throughout the region for his ability to spin yarn. When his Grandfather died, a Kentucky fox hunting magazine ran an article entitled "Kentucky Loses one of its Best Storytellers."

His grandparents were a big influence on him. Both sets of grandparents were very traditional. They weren’t big farmers, but they were self-sufficient, they grew for their selves. One of his grandfathers was a tobacco farmer—with a huge tobacco farm and a huge vegetable farm that he sold vegetables from.
Mitch grew up in a holler that his great-grandfather settled in. His family’s been there for several generations. He’s raised his children there. Most of his songs are linked somehow to his family or his interpretation of the world from the eyes of a contemporary Appalachian. There are a lot of issues going on—mountaintop removal, for example. Mitch’s songs are about the place that he’s from.

Music and storytelling was such a big part of Mitch’s life. It was a part of working together; it was a part of every family gathering. Church was the central gathering so music was definitely a part of that. Mitch and his mother were a highly sought-after mountain a duo singing primarily at funerals. By the time he was fourteen, he’s was sure he’d sung at a hundred funerals, singing was a big part of grieving. His grandmother always explained that he wasn’t just singing, that it was actually a part of the culture, that he was helping people emote. But Mitch always remembers that every time he sang people cry.

Family is important to Mitch Barrett. Ask him to name the primary influences on his music and his life, and the answer always comes back to his family and his roots in the Appalachian foothills of Kentucky. Mitch is proud of his Appalachian roots and it's evident in his performances. He enjoys exposing audiences to "contemporary Appalachia" in an effort to dispel long-held Appalachian stereotypes.

Mitch has toured the country performing in main stream concert venues large and small but he regularly performs concert assemblies for elementary and high schools, colleges, and special groups. His performances consist of traditional Appalachian songs and stories. This along with his own original work can be custom tailored to emphasize arts, history, culture and humanities curriculum. Though his songwriting may be grounded in his Appalachian heritage, Mitch Barrett’s music draws from a diverse wellspring of influences which has made him the award winning contemporary singer, songwriter, and storyteller he is today.

To Book Mitch Barrett Contact:
BMB Artist Management
bmbartistmgt@gmail.com
www.sonicbids.com/MitchBarrett
www.mitchbarrettmusic.com