Octavia

Down in the Hollow Octavia

When was the last time you heard a Woman Play Mean Blues Harp? Octavia performs both Blues & Jazz! Octavia's shows differ from most in that, she plays with the emotions a woman can bring. Octavia's style renders music rarely heard from other harp players. In one of Octavia's songs, she holds one note throughout an entire verse. The audience becomes 'uneasy' waiting for her to turn blue and drop, but she just continues in with powerful textured vocals. This is a show stopper! Octavia is noted for playing two instruments besides her wide vocal stylings 'Wicked' harmonica, sultry & powerful textured vocals, plus 'old style' finger style guitar. Octavia's blues shows perform originals, traditional, classic blues, selected Bessie Smith, and Koko Taylor gems. Short Bio: Octavia: Born and raised in Phila. PA. On a stage at five yrs. Of age. Started guitar in 1963, and harmonica in 1966. Octavia studied painting and sculpture at the Penna. Academy of Fine Arts. Octavia toured with Etta James, opened for BB King, Delbert McClinton, Dr. John, Shamekia Copeland, Elvin Bishop, The Muddy Waters Blues Band, Taj Mahal, and Mavis Staples. Octavia has had several return bookings at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Phila. And The House Of Blues in Atlantic City. Octavia headlined at Longwood Gardens, opened at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, played at: B.B. Kings Club, NYC, Don Hills NYC, Village Underground NYC, The World Cafe Live in Phila. Lancaster Jazz and Blues festivals and first nights, and the Keystone in Berkeley, and Bimbo's in CA. Ebbits Field in Denver, CO. Octavia toured extensively in the UK for two years, and performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival, Kings Palace, Silky O'Sullivan, W.C. Handy Park, Blues City all on Beale Street in Memphis, TN, Ground Zero (Morgan Freeman's club) in Clarksdale, MS, Kingston Mines Blues Club, and Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago Ill., Festival International Du Blues De Tremblant, Canada, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC, Rehoboth Bandshell Concert Series, Delaware, Tremblant International Blues Festival, Canada.