Meg Baird

Meg Baird is an American musician originally from New Jersey and currently based in San Francisco, California after having established her musical career in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is known as a founding member and lead female vocalist for the Philadelphia folk rock band Espers. In 2007, she released her first solo LP Dear Companion on Drag City. She also plays with sister Laura in The Baird Sisters, and between 2009 and 2012 played drums for Philadelphia punk band Watery Love.

As a solo artist, she has toured with many noted fingerstyle guitarists, including Bert Jansch,^[1] James Blackshaw, Micah Blue Smaldone, Michael Chapman, Glenn Jones, Michael Hurley, and Jack Rose.

Her vocal style has often been compared to that of Fairport Convention's Sandy Denny and Pentangle's Jacqui McShee,^[2][3][4] although she has herself cited Celia Humphris of Trees as the more personally influential member of the 1960s and 70's UK folk scene.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011 Baird released her second solo album, Seasons on Earth, receiving favorable reviews from The Wire, Allmusic, Spin, NPR, and others.^[5][6][7][8] The vinyl-only Until You Find Your Green by The Baird Sisters followed shortly thereafter.

Biography

Baird comes from a family with deep roots in the folk tradition. Baird is the great-great niece of Isaac Garfield "I.G." Greer, a historian and Appalachian folk singer born in 1881.^[9] His inclusion on one of the earliest albums issued by the Archive of American Folk Song in the Library of Congress helped expose Baird to folk music at young age while she was taking piano lessons, teaching herself guitar, and listening to Smithsonian Folkways LPs.^[10]

Discography

Meg Baird

• Waltze of the Tennis Players/Dear Companion (A Capella Version) 7" (2006) (Tequila Sunrise)
• Dear Companion CD/LP (2007) (Drag City/Wichita/P-Vine)
• Seasons on Earth CD/LP (2011) (Drag City)

The Baird Sisters

• At Home CD-R (2003) (self-released)
• Lonely Town CD (2008) (self-released)
• Until You Find Your Green LP, ed. 300 (2012) (Grapefruit)
• Glenn Jones / The Baird Sisters My Gaden State CD/LP (2013) (Thrill Jockey)

Collaborations and Backing Vocals

• Meg Baird, Helena Espvall, Sharron Kraus, Leaves from Off the Tree CD/LP (2006) (Bo'Weavil)
• Bonny 'Prince' Billy - Ask Forgiveness CD/EP (2007) (Drag City)^[11]
• Sharon Van Etten - Epic CD/LP (2010) (Ba Da Bing!)
• Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo CD/LP (2011) (Matador)
• Kurt Vile - Singles Going Home Alone#6 split 7" (2011) (Matador)

Watery Love

• Debut 45 7" (2009) (Richie)
• Two Thrills 7" (2011) (Negative Guest List/Little Big Chief)
• Die With Dignity 7" (2012) (Siltbreeze)

Compilations

• So Much Fire to Roast Human Flesh CD (2006) (Bastet)
• Loving Takes This Course: A Tribute to the Songs of Kath Bloom CD (2009) (Chapter Music)
• Meet the Philly Elite (with Jack Rose, Kurt Vile, and US Girls) 7" (2009) (Kraak)
• We are all one, In the Sun: A tribute to Robbie Basho CD/LP (2010) (Important Records)

References

External links

• Official website
• Drag City Records site
• The Baird Sisters official website
• Meg Baird discusses new album 'Seasons on Earth'