Gerald Dowd is a Boston-raised/Chicago-braised singer, songwriter and drummer. Since relocating to the Midwest in 1991, he has played drums for a laundry list of Chicago luminaries: multiple Grammy-award nominees Robbie Fulks and Justin Roberts, Nora O’Connor, Frisbie, Chris Mills and Mavis Staples to name a few. He’s also performed and/or recorded with Ms. Staples, George Jones, Eddie Vedder, Neko Case, Marshall Crenshaw, Patty Smythe, A Prairie Home Companion, and Los Lobos among many others. With a 4th solo release of sturdy, original Americana under his belt, he continues to share stages with Jeff Tweedy, Ian Hunter, Nellie McKay, Rhett Miller, Delbert McClinton and EMILY HURD! www.geralddowd.com

“She sits at the piano, lips to microphone, boot to pedal, and speaks her mind — in song. I became an instant fan.” ––Val Haller, New York Times

Emily Hurd is a prolific songwriter, best known for her clear voice and clever rhymes.  Her songwriting style combines soul, folk, blues, and rock. Paul Zollo of American Songwriter says that she writes “albums to fall into and swim in forever.” Emily’s songs have appeared on television’s NCIS, 90210, The Good Wife, Melrose Place, and Life Unexpected.  The majority of her 19 full-length studio albums were recorded by John Abbey at Chicago’s King Size Sound Labs. She is currently working on her 20th album while helping to run her Rockford restaurant, The Norwegian.

Emily first entered the music scene in 2005 when she and many of the staff members from Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music created her third original live album. Since then, her songs have been finalists in several international songwriting competitions, including the USA Songwriting Competition, The Song Of the Year Songwriting Competition, the Great American Songwriting Contest, and the The John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Emily Hurd Links

Emily Hurd's Website: emilyhurd.com/about