Kerri Woelke
Encyclopedia
Kerri Woelke is a Folk
/Roots
/Alt-Country singer–songwriter
from Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
. She is currently represented by Signpost Music.
born, the child of fun-loving 60’s musician mother and a poetic (but tone deaf) father, Kerri showed her artistic promise early. Her parents gave her a karaoke
machine during her elementary school
years, and by the time she emerged from her room for her high school
graduation, she was ready to begin sharing her music with the public. At her parent’s insistence (“You need to learn to back yourself up!”), and to her roommate’s distress, Kerri taught herself to play guitar
while attending college
. Relegated to the tiny dorm bathroom to practice, she emerged from this experience determined to offer her growing repertoire of originals with a wider audience. The next years were spent honing her craft with the bands Dirty Old Hank and Gretchen, playing at Manitoba
festivals and on the CBC
. In 2005, Kerri switched to a solo singer–songwriter format, won the Manitoba
Christian
Talent Search, and recorded her first solo album (selftitled – released February, 2007). That project received 2 Covenant Award
nominations, Folk/Roots Album Of The Year, and CD Design Of The Year (designed by Cyndi Koshowski) as well as a Western Canadian Music Award (WCMA) for Outstanding Christian Recording. Kerri is presently an Artist In Development with Canadian indie label Signpost Music. She continues touring across Canada, and has completed her second album, Where We Were which was released in September 2008.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
/Roots
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
/Alt-Country singer–songwriter
Singer–songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She is currently represented by Signpost Music.
Biography
ManitobaManitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
born, the child of fun-loving 60’s musician mother and a poetic (but tone deaf) father, Kerri showed her artistic promise early. Her parents gave her a karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
machine during her elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
years, and by the time she emerged from her room for her high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
graduation, she was ready to begin sharing her music with the public. At her parent’s insistence (“You need to learn to back yourself up!”), and to her roommate’s distress, Kerri taught herself to play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
while attending college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
. Relegated to the tiny dorm bathroom to practice, she emerged from this experience determined to offer her growing repertoire of originals with a wider audience. The next years were spent honing her craft with the bands Dirty Old Hank and Gretchen, playing at Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
festivals and on the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. In 2005, Kerri switched to a solo singer–songwriter format, won the Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Talent Search, and recorded her first solo album (selftitled – released February, 2007). That project received 2 Covenant Award
Covenant Awards
The Covenant Awards are handed out annually by GMA Canada, the Gospel Music Association of Canada . Created in 1974, the association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music arts in Canada...
nominations, Folk/Roots Album Of The Year, and CD Design Of The Year (designed by Cyndi Koshowski) as well as a Western Canadian Music Award (WCMA) for Outstanding Christian Recording. Kerri is presently an Artist In Development with Canadian indie label Signpost Music. She continues touring across Canada, and has completed her second album, Where We Were which was released in September 2008.
Discography
Gospel Music Association of Canada Covenant Awards
- 2007 nominee, Folk/Roots Album Of The Year: Kerri Woelke
- 2007 nominee, CD/DVD Artwork Design Of The Year: Kerri Woelke (designed by Cyndi Koshowski)
Western Canadian Music Awards
- 2007 nominee, Outstanding Christian Recording: Kerri Woelke