Kaia Kater
*2017 LOTUS DICKEY ARTIST*
Born of African-Caribbean descent in Québec, Kaia Kater grew up in two musical worlds: the Canadian folk music of her Toronto home, and Appalachian music of West Virginia, where she has studied and lived. Fueled by her rich low tenor vocals, jazz-influenced instrumentation, and beautifully understated banjo, her songs cast an unflinching eye on the realities faced by people of color in North America. Kater is part of the new generation of American roots musicians, with an original repertoire that weaves together Appalachian stories, personal narratives of the digital age, and hard-hitting songs that touch on modern issues like Black Lives Matter. Her work has as much in common with Kendrick Lamar as it does with Pete Seeger, reminding us of the troubled pathways of our own history.
The Lotus Dickey Artist honors the late Quinten “Lotus” Dickey, an Indiana old-time musician whose love of music from around the world embodies the spirit of the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival.
Presented in partnership with Friends of Old Time & Celtic Music.
PLUS: Lotus in the Park