Elizabeth Mitchell

‘You Are My Little Bird’ 20th Anniversary Tour

Once in a great while we encounter an artist who stands consciously and directly in the tradition of children’s music that Folkways has carried for nearly 60 years, and Elizabeth Mitchell is one such artist. Her lovely voice brings a fresh sound to cherished American folk songs and other melodies from around the world. In a peaceful yet powerful way, she reintroduces us to the songs we thought we knew so well.

Elizabeth was the first new children's music artist to be signed to Smithsonian Folkways in the 21st century and You Are My Little Bird was her label debut. In the 20 years since then, she has released eight albums, received two Grammy nominations and shared stages with Pete Seeger, Natalie Merchant, Ella Jenkins and more. Elizabeth hosted the kids' stage at the Newport Folk Festival for many years and also hosted a series of Kid’s Rambles with the great Levon Helm at his barn, the legendary home of the Midnight Ramble. Elizabeth has made appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show, HBO, NPR’s All Things Considered and Austin City Limits. 

Elizabeth’s concerts are a family affair, she has recorded and performed with her husband Daniel Littleton for over 35 years. Their daughter Storey joined the band when she was three years old and has been singing like a jaybird ever since. 

https://www.npr.org/2006/10/06/6210683/folk-and-rock-re-interpreted-for-the-little-ones

 
 
“Throughout, even on tracks where her young daughter joins in, Mitchell's warm whisper of a voice compels a close listen, not just because the production is so spare you can practically feel her breath on your cheek but because there's something in her phrasing that suggests an old, wise soul. Miraculously, the bird concept never gets clunky; two exotic foreign-language songs--one Korean and one Japanese--help, but the real credit belongs to this all-around superb disc's sole stab at the subversive: Mitchell's stamp on "What Goes On," the Velvet Underground favorite, practically sails off the disc with its sunniness.” ~ Tammy La Gorce, amazon.com, Critics Choice Children’s Album of the Year 2006
“Mitchell’s music has a purity and beauty that transcends the children’s genre.”
 
“Whether she is singing in English, Spanish, Japanese or Korean, she embodies the spirit of folk music. Guthrie and Seeger would be proud.”
 
“Elizabeth Mitchell has bridged the gap between independent rock and post-cradle kiddo-core…Gorgeously lucid.”
 
“Mitchell teaches but never preaches. She promotes understanding deep and wide. At peaks, equal measures cultural individuality and unity emerge.”