Kristina Olsen

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Kristina Olsen is one of the most entertaining and compelling performers on the international folk circuit. A superb multi-instrumentalist (acoustic guitar, steel-body slide guitar, saxophone, concertina, mandolin and piano) as well as an award-winning songwriter with a big bluesy voice, Kristina has audiences around the world coming back for more. Her mix of powerful songs ranging from sassy bottleneck blues to lilting ballads to swing jazz to raunch and roll (as well as her hilarious storytelling) makes for a diverse and satisfying musical experience, on stage and on disc.
Born in San Francisco and raised in Haight-Asbury during the 1960's, Kristina's approach to music and life was formed by that environment of vital cultural expression, social activism and diverse musical influences. She now calls Venice Beach, Los Angeles home but rarely sees it from touring ten months a year. Her 11th recording ‘Quiet Blue’ hit the blues world in 2008. It is her first cd of all original blues. In 2006 she released her first DVD of live performances and interviews, filmed by award wining documentary filmmaker Cathy Henkel of Australia. 2004 saw the release of Olsen's tenth recording, ‘In Your Darkened Room’ which received rave reviews in Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald among others. 2002 saw the release of ‘All Over Down Under’, a live recording from the Australian trio tour with Peter Grayling and George Butrumlis. In 1999 ‘The Truth of a Woman’ was released and was one of the top CDs surveyed in folk airplay. In 1998 'Duet' was released in Australia, a CD of duets between Olsen and Australian cellist Peter Grayling. In the previous six years Olsen released four critically acclaimed CDs on the Philo/Rounder label.
Such respected artists as Eric Bibb, Fairport Convention, Maddy Prior, Mary Coughlan and Mollie O’Brien have covered and recorded songs by Olsen. Olsen has also worked as a session musician on numerous artist’s albums including playing the hammered dulcimer on Michelle Shocked’s album 'Short Sharp Shocked' on PolyGram and touring as Mary Coughlan’s guitarist in 2005. Olsen has performed as a multi-instrumentalist in plays for the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles’ Music Center. Olsen won the Kerrville Song writing award her song for battered women, 'I'm Keeping This Life of Mine'
In 2002 alone, Olsen toured in Australia, Scotland (for the Celtic Connections Festival), England, Bangladesh (for a benefit concert), New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Kristina has been part of a songwriters' group for over two decades and has taught songwriting, slide guitar and dance for musicians at adult music camps from Alaska to NYC to the UK to Australia for over a dozen years. Olsen is a frequent contributor to Acoustic Guitar magazine, writing articles on guitar and performance technique.