BIO / PRESS

“I can’t think of much that I know about that I’d be itching to release if I had the chance, though there’s this girl in San Francisco who sings in the cafes, and there’s a ton of phone quality videos on YouTube where she’s being drowned out by people talking, but she’s got a great voice, she’s a delightful oddball, and a total goddess. Her name is Meredith Axelrod, and she does old songs from the 20s, and not the ones you’d recognize either, it’s mostly deep cuts, and she plays with a wide variety of nodifferent people, but the best ones are when it’s just her, or her and Craig ventresco, who is a monster guitar player (he did the score to the Crumb documentary, and has some other solo stuff out), and better still when she’s playing in her kitchen so you can hear it properly. I’d love to have a not-too-overproduced LP of all her best songs. She’s fantastic.” – Nick Schultz

“Meredith’s playing is just revelatory. She has a voice that sounds like it was lifted straight off a Vaudeville stage…” – Fretboard Journal

“Meredith Axelrod sings and plays guitar as if she really returned to the pre-mic days. We’re not talking revisionist copy of so and so from way back when; we’re10441242_10152179813455017_577338904516657449_n talking as if we plucked an original out of the era and time-traveled…” – JL Stiles

“It takes more than passion to do what Meredith does. It takes guts; conviction. She is unflinchingly committed to authentic recreation of the tunes in her repertoire–swampy blues and early American roots music.” – Gary Rametta

From the dimly lit corners of long-forgotten century-old speakeasies, down the moonlit alleyways of San Francisco today, emerges the voice of Meredith Axelrod. When you listen to the instantly recognizable voice of this wandering troubadour, you’re not just hearing music; you’re glimpsing the flickering ghosts of bygone eras – distant echoes from the golden days of Vaudeville. 
 
Meredith honed her skills busking on the fog-veiled streets of San Francisco and performing in cafes and nightclubs, and then took her show on the road. Her love of sharing music has led her to tour domestically and internationally, singing and playing a variety of real and simulated instruments – including “voice trombone” or “blue blowing” [which is often colloquially referred to as “mouth trumpet”] whistling, jug [bass].
 
Known for her innate musicality and keen ear, she loves to collaborate with other musicians. Among them, the wonderful Jim Kweskin, with whom she released the duo album, “Come On In,” to international acclaim. As director of the San Francisco Folk Choir, she devises 4-part arrangements for many of these songs.
 
Meredith’s deep knowledge offers a near-limitless and well-preserved treasury of complex songs. Her longtime partnership with guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Craig Ventresco, described by Fretboard Journal as “one of the music world’s best kept secrets,” captivates audiences the world over. During the pandemic, they transformed the kitchen of their San Francisco home into a stage, performing over 1200 daily livestream shows on Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram – a diverting antidote for weary souls in trying times.
 
“Meredith is alternately the lead singer, the specialty soloist, rhythm bassist, and a mindreading accompanist.… Largely self-taught, Meredith’s bass solos (particularly on guitar but also occasionally on cello) regularly garner joyful outbursts from their loyal international assembly of viewers, as do her novel solos on glockenspiel, jug, voice-trumpet, and sundry assorted instruments.” – Neal Siegal
 
Meredith and Craig’s virtual “tip jar” has sustained them through the lockdowns and beyond, as they share traditional and experimental, sometimes spontaneous, wild and heartfelt renditions of their staggering repertoire of songs with fans around the globe.

“Delightfully engaging and unassumingly comic” – Sam Epstein Axelrod loves the life she leads, thriving in varied musical and performance settings. She often partners with string virtuoso Craig Ventresco; they perform at venues and festivals that include the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, West Coast Ragtime Festival and Blind Boone Early Jazz Festival.  In addition to playing solo shows, Meredith appears in myriad cooperatives: with her own hot jazz band, her own string band, in partnership with Frank Fairfield, and often with the 60s Folk / Jug Band legend, Jim Kweskin….  She has also played with Dan Hicks, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Ramblin’ Jack Eliot, David Grisman, Cindy Cashdollar, Bill Keith, Terry Zwigoff, Peter Yarrow, Carl Sonny Leyland, Robert Crumb, and the Cheap Suit Serenaders at favorite venues: The Great American Music Hall, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, The Freight and Salvage, and Symphony Space in Manhattan, and at festivals including Vancouver Folk Festival, Winnepeg Folk Festival, Brooklyn Folk Festival, and others. Meredith has toured domestically and internationally; this fall, she will be joining Sierra Farrell on her Shoot for the Moon Tour.
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MEREDITH ATLAS 2

43 thoughts on “BIO / PRESS”

  2. Ann's avatar

    You’re amazing! I heard you about a week ago at Cafe Divine and was in awe of your voice! Unfortunately I was in a hurry and there for take out, so I didn’t get to stay and enjoy. Tonight I randomly brought out of town friends to Cafe Divine for dinner and was telling them about the singer I’d heard with the haunting voice…and there you appeared! We thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected pleasure of your performance! Please start selling your CDs online — that won’t lessen your live audience, but it will help your fans spread the word!

  3. Mark Cooper's avatar

    I saw you perform at the Freight and Salvage tonight. Your voice and smile are so honest and positive. I felt so uplifted after hearing you. Thank you for your performance.

  4. Dexter VanDango's avatar

    ..What a truly wonderful show you two put on last night at Boulevard Music in Culver City. You are my hero! I feel I’ve finally met the perfect woman,, and if you weren’t already in a relationship I would be stalking you as fast as an arthritic hip would allow.
    (..seriously there is nothing wrong with my hip.. it’s every thing else that could use replacing.)
    Please come back to Southern Cal soon.. although I know you residents of the bay area look upon us the way the residents of Beverly Hills look upon Tijuana. None the less a great many of us would be delighted to see you again, oh woman of my dreams..
    (..here’s a link to a song that would hardly fit your repertoire.. but might fancy your tickle… ..enjoy?)

  5. CL Tree's avatar

    Saw you at the Freight and Salvage last night for the first time … what a treat … I’m still smiling this morning. Can’t wait to load your cd onto my ipod and hear more of your songs!

  8. gabriella cross's avatar

    Hi Meredith,
    We saw you last night at the Sweetwater and purchased a CD. So nice to see a performer with such purity. You are so genuine. We are still talking about that great trombone thing you do with your voice/mouth!! Keep on singing….

  9. as above's avatar

    Meredith, I discovered you and Craig, Dennis , Tom recently. I’ve played guitar, mandolin, mandocello, tenor banjo etc, etc. I love the REAL music you guys do. Do you have a website? I’m involved with the Millrace Folk Festival in Cambridge ON (Canada) We would love your kind of music. We regularly feature “Sheesham and Lotus and Son”,, and “The ever lovin Jug Band” you can find them on youtube.

  10. Mark Comstock's avatar

    Saw you last night at Yoshi’s with Jim Kweskin and this morning your performance is resonating in our heads as we wake up. Glad you’re from San Francisco. We’ll find you so we can here more.

  11. Jonathan Cowles's avatar

    Hi Meredith, heard you from a radio broadcast I heard of you and Jim Kweskin ( a long-time fav of mine). You are AMAZING! I live near Rochester NY (saw Jim & Geoff Muldaur last fall) Any chance you will be playing anywhere in the east? I’m buying your records tonight!

  12. Ken's avatar

    Good Morning Meredith, I finally loaded your CD and listened intently from start to finish. Beautiful music, thank you. At the recent Parkfield, CA Féile, you were, in my opinion, the star of the show. Looking forward to seeing you again at future shows.

  13. Yorkman Lowe's avatar

    I saw you & Craig Ventresco perform ragtime about 2014 at a cafe next to Wash Sq in N Beach, SF, and I’ve read that you now are at the Blush Wine Bar. But neither their calendar nor yours list your dates. Loved ragtime and 1900-era popular music, not to mention Music Hall, Pop Standard, Tin Pan Alley, and String band. I’m looking to see you perform in or near SF.

  16. Paul Andrews's avatar

    Went to see Jim Kweskin in Seattle play with someone I’d never heard of and came away wondering where Meredith Axelrod had been all my life. Please come back up soon!

  17. Hal's avatar

    OK, you’ve done it. I’m hooked now. Can never go back to life w/o MA. I too wonder how I did not know this enchanting voice and personality. And I thought I was a musically educated person.

  18. aletha criss's avatar

    Tom and I enjoy your live shows on Face Book with Craig. You both look like your having a blast.. Tom and I met you in Portland last September and enjoyed you and Jim Kweskin very much. Now Tom and I get to tune in every night and listen to you and Craig. Your music abilities are awesome and so are Craig’s. Tom and I hope to see you again hopefully soon and meet Craig too. Take care and don’t touch your face! Tom and Aletha Battle Ground, WA.

  19. Jim from Oregon's avatar

    Can you tell me about the “drop” tuning you use on your guitar? The low strings sound great when you play with other people. How do you match the key the other person is playing in? Thanks! Love your music!

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