Kelli Baker
City Vineyard presents Kelli Baker live on February 24th at 7:30pm
With a powerhouse voice dripping with a haunting sensuality that slips easily into growling old school blues-tones, Kelli speaks her heart like a beat poet in a late night dive. Her music is an amalgamation of authentic blues/rock and heart-on-her-sleeve singer/songwriter pop with folk/gospel roots.
Known in some circles as “The Phoenix”, Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York in 2012, with $500 in cash, chasing the heels of Hurricane Sandy. Learning music like so many others in the church choir, Kelli graduated to fronting a hard rock band and a folk duo, writing her own music at an early age.
Kelli is a national touring artist, appearing regularly around the United States. Performing with The Kelli Baker Band, she appears consistently at iconic music houses such as NYC’s The Bitter End, taking the stage at The Cutting Room, Rockwood Music Hall, and some of New York’s most discerning venues. The Kelli Baker Band is booked nationwide throughout 2023. Kelli recently headlined both the Women of the Blues Festival in McIntosh, MN, and the Paxico Blues Fest in Kansas City, KS, which draws 5,000 people.
Her show-stopping track, “Blood on the Nile” was met with critical acclaim, landing on Spotify’s coveted editorial playlist, “Blues Roots”, as well as commercial airplay on the UK’s #1 country music station, and a headlining feature in Guitar Girl Magazine.
Kelli’s take on Aretha Franklin’s “Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)” recently hit #1 on the Blues Rock chart, Roots Music Report, as well as #2 on the chart for Top 50 Blues Songs in June of 2023, days after its release.
Kelli has swiftly moved through the ranks of New York’s bristling music scene to become a known name. She has been featured in Relix Magazine, Guitar Girl Magazine, on WFUV’s coveted NY Slice, Rollin' With hosted by Rob Rush of 94.3 The Shark, Launch Music Conference & Festival, Montauk Music Festival, Brooklyn Vegan, Broadway World, NYC.Com, Better Lemons, VoyagePhoenix, Faces of Long Island, Fresh Brewed Sessions, The Tedeschi Trucks podcast, Knock ‘Em Dead Comedy, UnRated Magazine, UK Radio’s Don’s Hit List, Governor's Radio, Breaking Sound Radio, Rising Stars Radio with Rick Eberle, The Douglas Coleman Show, DiscoverYou Radio, The Long Islander, and The Island Now, among many others.
Kelli delivers a commanding performance and has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Chris Cornell, Susan Tedeschi, and Aretha Franklin. Her dynamic blues tones and gospel nods have been called a kind of ethereal blues. Her major influences are The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Jane’s Addiction, The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Neil Young.
