Carly Gibson

Carly Gibson took to her guitar at age 12 as naturally as other people take to breathing. Surrounded by a love of music and learning how to play in earnest, she began to write her own songs in her early teens, forming a rock band called Jaded June which disbanded in 2008. Performing professionally since she was 15, Carly has been primarily a solo artist, though she also plays with the swing/jazz ensemble Play It With Moxie. She auditioned for and was accepted into the guitar (2009) and the singer/songwriter (2010) programs at the GRAMMY Foundation's prestigious GRAMMY Camp in Los Angeles, designed to allow talented young artists the opportunity to work, learn and play with the music industry's top professionals (Rickey Minor, Lamont Dozier, Colbie Caillat and Darrell Brown, to name a few), as well as to study the music business from the inside. While in Los Angeles, Carly collaborated and performed with other aspiring young musicians.

Carly's music resonates with the flavors that reflect her own diverse musical tastes and influences. Rock, jazz, folk, blues, bluegrass and funk all find their place in her repertoire. She counts among her influences such songwriters as Paula Cole, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, John Mayer and Tori Amos, as well as guitarists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Angus Young and Michael Hedges.

Carly has many mentors. She studies guitar with Doug Russell and voice with Vallery Barbin (both consummate musicians in their own right), at the Gwinnett School of Music. Additionally, Carly studies with the incomparable Caroline Aiken. Carly has performed at the Athens Human Rights Festival and at Pepperland Farm's Full Moon Ball; she has had the opportunity and privilege to share the stage with Jeff Sipe (Phil Lesh & Friends, Aquarium Rescue Unit), has opened for Caroline Aiken at ATHFEST, and has sat in with Atlanta blues guitarist Donna Hopkins.

Carly is currently in production on her debut EP, Heavy Water, due out this fall. The album is being recorded and produced by Greg Robert (formerly of the rock band Kansas and producer for Three Weird Sisters). Passionate, accomplished and with a fresh musical sound, Carly is definitely an exciting young talent to watch for. For more information, please visit www.carlygibson.net.