Thea Hopkins

A member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe of Martha’s Vineyard MA, performing songwriter Thea Hopkins calls her music – Red Roots Americana.

Since the release of her EP "Love Come Down," there have been major strides forward in Thea Hopkins' career. First, the album was nominated for a 2019 Indigenous Music Award in the folk category, an international competition. In June 2019, Thea was selected by the Western Arts Alliance as a 2019 Native Launchpad Artist, a three-year artist development program. Then in September, Thea performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as part of the grand opening of their new theater complex, REACH. She also performed at the Summertyne Americana Festival in Newcastle, England in July 2019.

To cap off the year, Thea was selected for the Wichoie Ahiya Indigenous Singer Songwriter Intensive at the Banff Arts Centre in Alberta, Canada.

Thea first came to wider public notice when Peter, Paul & Mary recorded her song "Jesus Is On The Wire" in 2004, and then again in 2010 with the Prague Symphony Orchestra. It is considered one of their later signature songs.

“Love Come Down" is her 4th album, but the first helmed by a producer (Mike Davidson of Boston 's Plaid Dog Studios). Even while in the recording stages there was support for the production. First, her fans pitched in with Indiegogo crowd-funding. Then, Thea received a generous fellowship from the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.

With “Love Come Down,” Hopkins has achieved an elegance of sound that lives up to her poetic prowess. A talent the Washington Post called “a standout writer,” she has created, in just six tunes, a seamless song journey that begins with a gentle invocation (“Love Come Down”), ends with a lullaby (“Until Then”) and gracefully travels to a few dark American landscapes in between. From love ballad to social history, every song is personal.

The scope of the EP can be seen by the choice of musicians. Jazz trumpeter Tom Halter (Either Orchestra) explores haunting new directions on four songs. “ Mississippi River, Mississippi Town "the electric ebow guitar of Dave Minehan (The Neighborhoods, The Replacements.) He also co-produced the song. On “The Ghost of Emmett Till,” Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul & Mary) adds his quietly dramatic guitar and harmony vocals. The pianist Tim Ray (formerly with Lyle Lovett) is prominent, and plaintive, on “Almost Upon a Time.” “Tamson Weeks” is sparked by violinist Mimi Rabson of the Really Esoteric String Quartet. It tells the story of Hopkins' great-great aunt, a medicine woman of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe.

The Paris Move raved “Our amazement is total. Thea Hopkins’ CD “Love Come Down” should come with a warning: To be opened with care – risk of love at first sight!" -- Patrick Dallongeville https://www.paris-move.com/reviews/thea-hopkins-love-come-down

Many fans have commented on the beauty of Thea's vocals and lyrics. That sentiment was perhaps most succinctly stated by a former Bob Dylan tour manager, who described Thea Hopkins as "k.d. lang meets Leonard Cohen."

In addition to Aquinnah Wampanoag, Hopkins ' ancestry includes Nottoway (Iroquois), African-American, Irish and Portuguese. In other words, Red Roots Americana.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY:

Selected shows include the Kennedy Center (DC), LaMama Experimental Theatre (NY), Reflections Of Native Voices Festival (NY), New York Theatre Workshop (NY), the Carriage House Annex (NY), Banff Centre For The Arts (CAN), the Tomaquag Museum (RI), the Summertyne Americana Festival (UK), the Greenbelt Festival (UK), the Moseley Folk Festival (UK) the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (OK), the Outside The Box Festival (MA), International Festival of Arts & Ideas (CT), the Saltaire Festival (UK), the Green Note (UK), City Winery (NY), Museum of Fine Arts (MA), the Bluebird Cafe (TN), Club Passim (MA), Smith Center For The Performing Arts (NV), Narrows Center For The Arts (MA), Johnny D's (MA), the Bitter End (NY), Museum of Fine Arts (MA), Band on the Wall (UK), the Atkinson (UK) and the American Folk Art Museum (NY).

Artists Thea has opened for include David Bromberg, Larry Campbell, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Richie Furay, Richie Havens, Amy Helm and John Lodge of the Moody Blues.