Biography

Suzy Oleson was born and raised in Austin, Texas, AKA the “Live Music Capitol of the World,” so it seems only natural that she feels a very deep connection to writing and playing American roots-inspired rock & roll.  Her reputation is based on three distinctive fronts -- She is a talented multi-instrumentalist (mandolin, acoustic & electric guitar, clawhammer banjo), a soulful and spirited vocalist, and an accomplished songwriter. 

Growing up in a vibrant musical community that has fostered the talents of countless musicians (Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Willie Nelson, Natalie Maines, Ian McLagan, etc.), Oleson was quick to follow suit in her musical aspirations.  She began playing the mandolin at the age of 12 and has since been lucky enough to study with world-renowned musicians including: Darol Anger, John McGann, Mark Simos, and Eugene Friesen.  By the age of 14, Oleson picked up the guitar and began writing songs for the first time and never looked back.

Her love of rock & roll, bluegrass, and contemporary folk would ultimately land her in Boston at Berklee College of Music, from which she graduated in 2012 with a degree in Professional Music.  During her college years, Oleson played mandolin, sang, wrote songs, and put many miles under her belt with the Boston-based bluegrass band, Chasing Blue.  After nearly 6 years of playing bluegrass and touring with Chasing Blue, Oleson felt the need to change directions and move to Nashville, TN to grow as a musician and cultivate her songwriting talents.

In 2015, Oleson was focused on writing and recording her first solo LP, which was released in September.  With an all-star cast of Nashville's up-and-coming rock & rollers, Suzy Oleson's debut album has been called a "modern Americana masterpiece" and an "essential album" of the year, as well as great, amazing, fresh, original, trailblazing, fantastic, spirited, uplifting, and damn fine!

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Before being reincarnated as a guitar-slinging Country Rocker, Suzy Oleson was a mandolin-playing Bluegrass Singer-Songwriter honored to play these North American music festivals:

Freshgrass Festival (2013 Competition Finalists, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA)

International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Fan Fest Showcases (Nashville, TN)

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (Oak Hill, NY)

Ossipee Valley Music Festival (S. Hiram, ME)

Joe Val Bluegrass Festival (Framingham, MA)

Laurie Blue Bluegrass Festival in (Summerside, PEI, Canada)

Lyons Fiddle Fest (Lyons, PA)

Down East Country Fest (Whitneyville, ME)

Pocono Winterfest (Stroudsburg, PA)

Podunk Music Festival (East Hartford, CT)

Bluegrass on the Bogs Festival (Wareham, MA)

 Saddleback Mountain Bluegrass Festival (Saddleback, ME)

SouthField Fall Festival (Weymouth, MA)

American Music & Harvest Festival (Newbury, MA)

Strawberry Festival (South Hamilton, MA)

Highfield Hall Bluegrass Festival (Falmouth, MA)

RondeauFest (Long Lake, NY)

Traveling Man Bluegrass Festival (Tappan, NY)

 Mountain View Bluegrass Festival (Mountain View, AR)

stART on the Street Festival (Worcester, MA )

Photographer: Todd Wolfson