Mia Vermillion

Mia Vermillion’s presence on the blues scene has the admired attention of both fans and critics alike. Based out of the Pacific Northwest, a current hot bed for blues talent, her 2009 independent debut CD titled "Alone Together With the Blues" transformed Mia from an unknown to a regionally and nationally known blues songstress, contributing to a spotlight for current blues talent emerging out of Seattle. Mia received attention and rave reviews, boasting airplay on The Roots Music Report Blues Radio chart Top 50 (2 weeks at #45 and #46) as well as rocketing to #2 on XM Radio's B.B. King’s Bluesville’s ‘Picks to Click’ with her recording of I'm Going to Copyright Your Kisses. Tracks from her debut record continue to play on both terrestrial radio and XM Sirius satellite radio. In spring 2009, upon the independent release of her album, an injury set Mia back and kept her from performing and recording for nearly two years. But as a testament to her depth and breadth of talent and determination for well-being, she returned to performance in 2011 to tear up the main stage at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon. Mia also opened two nights for Grammy nominee and Blues Hall of Fame inductee John Hammond at Seattle’s Jazz Alley. She has spent 2012 touring regionally at prominent festivals and well-known venues, and working on the beginnings of her next recording project. Whether performing with a solid rhythm section and guitar behind her, or in a solo/duo performance with her guitar, Mia Vermillion brings her own songs, beats and style to the blues creating a fresh unique sound. “…One of the best vocalists I’ve heard in a while..." says Graham Clarke with Blues Bytes Magazine. Mia’s voice and stage presence has been described as sultry and intoxicating. “…she infuses her singing with more humidity than Ma Rainey and more sex than Lena Horn,” according to AllAboutJazz.com’s Michael Bailey. Her charismatic stage presence is supported by a crew of very gifted musicians: Jason Edwards, a talented young drummer out of Seattle; various notable Northwest bassists; and Rod Cook on slide and acoustic guitar. Collectively, these musicians have performed and recorded with such noteworthy artists as Heart, Taj Mahal, Vicci Martinez, The Halyards, and James "Curley" Cooke of the Steve Miller Band. Additionally, Mia and guitar/dobro master Orville Johnson won the Washington Blues Society’s blues challenge in the Solo/Duo category as representatives for the prestigious Blues Foundation 26th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. (Due to the fore mentioned injury during that period she was unable to attend.) Mia's musical sensibility is sensual and chic, combining modern blues styles with vocal melodies reminiscent of early jazz and blues. www.miavermillion.com