Girl meets Girl. Girl becomes Boy. Girl and Boy become a band. Meet COYOTE GRACE.
If you want a lesson in organic chemistry, take notes and watch the sparks fly between the acoustic downhome duo known as COYOTE GRACE. This old-timey salt & pepper shaker pair is comprised of Joe Stevens, a transman singer/songwriter from Northern California, backed up by Ingrid Elizabeth on vocals and upright bass, a sassy femme originally hailing from the hills of Southeastern Ohio. The two met while living in Seattle, and have been performing as a duo since December 2004, sharing the stage with bluegrass, old-time, folk rock, jazz, and cabarets alike.
Joe Stevens, who has been writing songs since the age of fifteen, comes from a lineage of studio singers and choral conductors, as well as old time rock & rollers. He received a Bachelor of Music from Cornish College of the Arts in 2004 with a focus on composition, while also composing music for modern dance & avant-garde theater.
Also heavily influenced by choral performance, Ingrid was steeped in the world of musical theater, which armed her with a signature sound of brassy soul. Since relocating to the west coast, Ingrid has been involved with various musical ensembles, from bluegrass to psychedelic rock to choral groups, including eclectic acoustic stringband, Captain Gravel, and prairie bluegrass group, The Mike & Amy Finders Band.
Coyote Grace spent the entire year of 2007 touring the country in their 1978 Chevy RV, promoting their debut studio album. Aptly titled "Boxes & Bags", the album pays homage to the trademarks of their nomadic troubadour lifestyle, while subtly hinting at the weightless yet wearying baggage the soul bears everyday. "Boxes & Bags" features 12 original tracks of acoustic alt-folk sounds, weaving fabrics of upbeat folkgrass, front-porch blues, lovesick serenades, broody funk, and freight train folk rock into a curious tapestry conveying themes of transformation, introspection, and the impermanence of identity.
During their travels, you can find Coyote Grace wooing the crowds at colleges, festivals, conferences, coffeehouses, pubs, house concerts, farmers markets, and community centers alike. Most recently, they were the recipient of the Stonewall Society's Pride In The Arts Award for “Favorite Trans Musician”. Last April, their music was well-received at the FORGE Forward Conference in Milwaukee, the first FTM conference in the heartland. They were also honored to perform at events for Trans Day of Remembrance at both the Utah Pride Center (2006) and Brown University (2007). In addition, Coyote Grace performs and teaches workshops in the college circuit, including Brown University, Sarah Lawrence College, Pitzer College, University of Wisconsin, and Evergreen State College. They have been featured on the nationally syndicated program Queer Heritage Radio, and have also played live on numerous radio stations across the country. With their catchy signature sound, Coyote Grace's original works have been chosen to appear in the award-winning independent film, "Mass Romantic", as well as a handful of compilation albums, all released in 2007.
In 2008, Coyote Grace released a live album from their year on the road, “The Harvey Tour”, also featuring folk rock singer/songwriter, Courtney Robbin. Their latest album "Ear To The Ground" released in 2009 is a classic and timeless release leaving fans breathless and craving more.
