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Kara Grainger – Blues-Rock Fire with Southern Soul Depth

Friday, July 31, 2026 | 6:00 PM EST | $28 GA

Harmony In The Woods

“Talk about star power, a killer voice, and guitar skills. She said to the band as much as to the audience, ‘I think tonight, we’ll just play some blues.’ Playing slide guitar, Grainger began with rootsy blues, her voice full-bodied with plenty of soul. There was clarity there too, with that unmistakable bell tone mixed with grit. We were in for some serious musicianship with Kara Grainger. Her vocals packed a punch, and she played monster guitar solos that had the crowd whooping and clapping. Nice to see a female musician kick some a** like that.”

— Rock & Blues Muse

Her music career began in a small suburban town in Sydney, Australia, and has since taken her on an incredible journey across the globe. Combining slide guitar, soulful vocals, and a heartfelt approach to songwriting, Kara’s truly unique sound leaves audiences uplifted, inspired, and always wanting more.

At the age of 16, Kara joined forces with her brother Mitch Grainger to form the band Papa Lips. The band toured consistently throughout Australia and produced two studio albums that received national airplay. They were heavily influenced by the sounds of Stax Records in Memphis and the funky style of blues and soul born out of New Orleans.

In 2008, Kara signed with Australian label Craving Records and was invited to the United States by producer David Kalish, where she recorded her debut solo album, Grand and Green River. The recording received critical acclaim and remained in the Top 30 of the Americana Charts for 38 consecutive weeks.

Since relocating to the U.S., Kara has released four additional albums. In 2011, LA Blues was recorded live at Studio City Sound, paying tribute to her earliest blues inspirations. In 2013, she released Shiver and Sigh through Los Angeles label Eclecto Groove, produced by Grammy Award–winning producer David Z and featuring renowned musicians including Mike Finnigan, Hutch Hutchinson, James Gadson, and Kirk Fletcher. She later released Living With Your Ghost, produced by Anders Osborne through her own label, Station House Records. Her most recent release, That’s How I Got to Memphis, was recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis with Boo Mitchell and features the legendary Hi Rhythm Section. The album is being released by Red Parlor Records.

Among Kara’s touring highlights was performing in Northeast India for the Himalayan Blues Foundation. Her appearance at the 18 Degrees Cultural Festival introduced roots and blues music to the local community for the very first time. She has also performed at the Jakarta International Blues Festival in Indonesia, both with her U.S. band and as a special guest with The Jakarta All Women Blues Review.

In 2011, she toured Japan, opening for The Swampers and Donnie Fritts, the famed house rhythm section for Fame Recordings in Muscle Shoals. Kara has performed at Switzerland’s Sierre Blues Festival and in Lucerne, and toured Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Spain.

In the United States, she has appeared at major festivals including the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, Blues from the Top in Colorado, and Austin City Limits. She has opened for extraordinary artists such as Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, and Jonny Lang.

Kara continues to tour regularly throughout Europe and is currently touring the U.K. in support of her new record.