Originally from Pennsylvania, AMILIA K. SPICER moved to Los Angeles with the intention of becoming a film director. Although the visual medium inspired her, she craved a more independent way to express herself, and disappeared after an Oscar nomination to try songwriting. Soon she was performing around town, as a solo artist on keyboard, or with a backing band. Now touring nationally, she's played such esteemed places as the Bitter End, McCabes, Club Passim, and The Viper Room. She has shared the stage with Dar Williams, Martin Sexton, Dan Bern, Slaid Cleaves, and recently opened for Jimmy LaFave's record release at the Cactus Cafe in Austin.

Her intimate shows are poetic and playful events -- she has an uncanny ability to make you feel like it's just the two of you in the room. Likened by one critic to a french chantuese in a candle-lit cafe, this award-winning artist is a force to be reckoned with: After only two years of performing, The National Academy of Songwriters called her "Female Artist of the Year."

Though she might be best known for her more poetic works, her live shows are really where she shines -- you get to see all the layers coexisting there on the stage. There, after the cerebral lyrics and deep chasms left by the last, barely audible line, she invites the band up and reveals a quirky, light-hearted humor, either by her homespun stories or her left-of-center ditties. Case in point -- her ode to Jo jo -- the philosophical traitor who tries to crash the local Elks club meeting by gluing antlers on his head. As the audience joins to sing "hi ho for Jo jo", you get the idea that Amilia's take on the world is indeed original.

Spicer is a Mainstage Performer at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and was selected to Judge the 1999 New Folk Competition. She was also selected as FEMMUSIC's Top Ten Solo Artists of 2001. Her performances can currently be heard on HBO and Showtime. Amilia says that a personal highlight of her career was "an enthusiastic Jackson Browne introducing himself after her performance at McCabe's Guitar Shop and calling himself a fan." Her performance here was a fun and energetic set of music that left everyone wanting more! And James Coberly Smith accompanied Amilia on guitar on some songs that will be on her upcoming release.