Carly Harvey
Carly Harvey is NOT performing at the 2025 Big Blues Bender.
This page is an archive from thier past perfomance(s).
Carly Harvey has appeared on 1 previous Big Blues Bender lineup.
2023Based out of Washington, DC, Carly Harvey combines Blues, Jazz, Soul and Americana roots styles to create a unique sound that calls to mind Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, and Nina Simone, with a little Ella Fitzgerald thrown in for good measure. In July 2018, Carly was featured in Big City Blues Magazine as one of the youngest Blues artists to watch. She has had the privilege of sharing the stage with iconic musicians including Annika Chambers, Ron Holloway, Kebbie Williams, Ephraim Owens, Cory Henry, Kofi Burbridge, Junior Marvin, and Susan Tedeschi - an artist whose work has been foundational to her musical evolution.
Carly is a two-time D.C. Blues Society Battle of the Bands Winner (Duo - 2016, Band - 2018) and was proclaimed D.C.'s Queen of the Blues in 2016 by Dr. Nick Johnson of WPFW Radio. Her band, Kiss & Ride represented Washington D.C. in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January of 2019 where they advanced to the semi-finals. That same year, Carly released a new EP titled Kiss & Ride: Vol. 1, and the hit single, "She Ain't Me" is now charting on regional blues radio stations. She was shortly after voted 2nd place for Best Performance Artist in Washington City Paper's " Best of D.C. 2019"
In 2021, Carly was nominated 7 times and won the WAMMIE award for Best Blues Artist/Band.
International crossover album titled Among The Stars and an EP titled Y.A.M.W.A.O. with Italian producer/composer Taste of Dream is an additional project that has allowed Carly to explore an element of her musicianship beyond the Blues.
Carly is a Tsalagi and Tuscarora descendant and it is her belief that Blues not only comes from the African American experience but is actually directly influenced by Indigenous American Minor Pentatonic Melodies and Stomp Dance Songs. She occasionally offers master classes to educate people about the music that gives her so much pride in her Afro-Indigenous heritage.