{"id":138,"date":"2018-05-24T20:57:38","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T20:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/roanokefestival.com\/blog\/?p=138"},"modified":"2018-05-24T20:57:38","modified_gmt":"2018-05-24T20:57:38","slug":"modern-day-coal-miners-daughter-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roanokefestival.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/24\/modern-day-coal-miners-daughter-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern Day Coal Miner’s Daughter @ Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>Friday night at Festival we will welcome not only 2 bright up and coming country stars in Drake White and Russell Dickerson, we will also welcome Virginia\u2019s own Kaitlyn Baker. Kaitlyn\u2019s latest EP, \u201cBlackbird\u201d, was released last month after a lengthy time without a new release.\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201d It is absolutely amazing. I feel so blessed to have fresh music out.\u201d Kaitlyn replied when asked about her new EP being released, \u201cThe road to releasing new music hasn\u2019t been the easiest but it has been so worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kaitlyn was born and raised in the small coal mining town of Pound, Virginia. A town of only 2.6 square miles and a population of a little more than 1,000 people. Kaitlyn began singing in church around age 7.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was absolutely petrified! Haha It took time for me to shake the nerves but I always loved music. I grew up around it my whole life and it has always been a passion of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

By 14 she had already recorded 2 self produced albums and was playing music almost every weekend at various fairs and festivals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew I wanted to further pursue music by the time I was 14. I wanted to make my mark on country music and here I am all these years later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"And make her mark she has done. Her latest EP includes a song that she co-wrote with songwriters Tony Mullins & Larry Cordle. After teaming up with Larry to release the song \u201cHeart of Appalachia\u201d she teamed up with Larry and Tony on the song \u201cSassy Frass Tea\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cTony and Larry are incredible. Larry and I had the opportunity to work together on my single, \u201cHeart of Appalachia.\u201d He produced and sang background vocals. This song is now designated as the official theme song for \u201cHeart of Appalachia\u201d tourism. Tony is from my hometown of Pound, VA so we already had so much in common. It was easy to write with the both of them. They are all around amazing people and writers, I\u2019m fortunate they co-wrote, \u201cSassy Frass Tea\u201d with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tony is also a Pound native who has written songs for some of country music\u2019s biggest stars including Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flats, Van Zant, LeAnn Rimes and Craig Morgan(just to name a few). Larry has written for an impressive list of stars as well, like Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn, Mountain Heart, Ricky Skaggs, George straight and Alan Jackson.<\/p>\n

Kaitlyn\u2019s favorite song off of her EP however, is the title track \u201cBlackbird\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis song was inspired by my late guitarist, Thomas Estep. Thomas was hit by a drunk driver on New Years Eve in 2017. It shook my whole world. I really realized at that moment that we are not promised anything in life. It\u2019s important to love each day like your last, love one another whole heartedly, and stand up for what you believe in. \u201cBlackbird\u201d is a staple to what and who Thomas was as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check out her single \u201cCoal Train\u201d off of her EP \u201cBlackBird\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n