“What’s Next for Alivia Hunter?

I was not sure what to expect when I was invited to the Heartwood Soundstage to hear Alivia Hunter record her first album live. I had heard a few of her songs prior to the concert, and while I was impressed by the music and lyrics, I was unsure whether she could keep me entertained for two hours. So glad I didn’t talk myself out of a great show! Remember when you would go to a concert and dread that it had to end; and in the days following that concert, the songs would frequently waft into your mind and plant a goofy grin on your face to the confusion of those around you? I am proudly wearing that goofy grin, and hope it will keep adorning my face for days to come.

Alivia’s music can be described as soulful folk, with equal parts rollicking instrumentation, deep, moving lyrics, and heart-stirring vocals. Even when her lyrics reflect disappointment and despair, Alivia masterfully weaves them into a buoyant melody that leaves the listener hopeful. While it would be premature to call Alivia a consummate artist, she handily crafts songs with a level of mastery reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel, Carole King, and the Indigo Girls. And boy can she belt them out!

While recording her first album live, Alivia managed to fill breaks between songs with comfortable banter and laughter. She never lost composure, even when she stumbled with a lyric here, or a chord there. Alivia delighted the audience when she revealed she had written some of the songs she played when she was 9, 10, and 11 years old. When someone says they wrote a song when they were 9, you think, “On Top of Spaghetti,”, not Alivia’s “Road Signs”, a delightfully mature composition that had me bobbing along, wishing I knew the words. Did I mention she’s 16 years wise?

The next time somebody says, “Alivia is playing at 4,” drop whatever you are doing and go see her. She won’t be playing small local venues for long. I”