Aoife O'Donovan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aoife O'Donovan
O'Donovan in 2021
Background information
Born	(1982-11-18) November 18, 1982 (age 42) Boston, Massachusetts
Genres	Folk rock, Americana
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, piano
Years active	2001–present

Aoife O'Donovan (pronounced EE-fuh; born November 18, 1982) is an American singer and songwriter. She has won a Grammy Award for her music. Aoife is best known as the lead singer for the string band Crooked Still. She also helped start the Grammy-winning folk trio I'm with Her.

She has released three popular studio albums: Fossils (2013), In the Magic Hour (2016), and Age of Apathy (2022). Age of Apathy was even nominated for a Grammy Award. Aoife has also released many live recordings and shorter albums called EPs. For ten years, she was a regular performer on radio shows like Live from Here. Her first professional singing job was with the folk group The Wayfaring Strangers.

Aoife has performed with many famous orchestras. These include the Boston Pops Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, she sang on most songs for the album Be Still by the jazz group the Dave Douglas Quintet. She has also toured with Garrison Keillor and his A Prairie Home Companion Radio Romance Tour. In 2014, she performed at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark.

She has worked with many well-known musicians. Some of these include Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, and Yo-Yo Ma. Aoife's songs have been used in movies and TV shows. The famous singer Alison Krauss recorded Aoife's song "Lay My Burden Down." This song was also used in the movie Get Low. Her songs have also appeared on TV shows like True Blood and Private Practice.

Life and Music Journey

Aoife O'Donovan playing guitar at a concert in 2009

Aoife O'Donovan grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. She spent her summers in Ireland, singing with her family. She became interested in American folk music by listening to artists like Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Aoife studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music. She graduated from there in 2003. In 2016, she married Eric Jacobsen. They had a daughter named Ivy Jo in 2017.

Crooked Still: Her First Band (2001–2011)

Aoife met bassist Corey DiMario in 2001 at the New England Conservatory of Music. They soon met cellist Rushad Eggleston and banjo player Gregory Liszt. The four of them formed the band Crooked Still that summer. The band quickly became popular by playing in Boston.

They were invited to play at big music events like the Newport Folk Festival. In the same year, they released their first album, Hop High. Crooked Still toured in many states and countries. In 2006, they released their second album, Shaken by a Low Sound. In 2007, Rushad Eggleston left the band. Two new members, Tristan Clarridge and Brittany Haas, joined in 2008. The band released more albums with the new lineup, including Still Crooked and Some Strange Country.

Sometymes Why: A Folk Trio (2005–2009)

In 2005, Aoife formed a folk trio called Sometymes Why. She started this group with Kristin Andreassen and Ruth Ungar Merenda. Each member came from other music groups. Sometymes Why released their first CD, Sometimes Why, in 2005. They followed it with Your Heart Is A Glorious Machine in 2009.

I'm With Her: Grammy Winners (2014–Present)

In 2015, Aoife toured a lot with Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz. They toured together under the name "I'm With Her". This group started after they played together at the 2014 Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

The group released a single called "Little Lies" in 2017. They then toured the U.S. and recorded their first album, See You Around. They recorded it in England. The album was released on February 16, 2018. The trio wrote most of the songs on the album themselves. They toured in the U.S. and Europe in 2018.

At the 62nd Grammy Awards in 2020, I'm With Her won an award. They won for Best American Roots Song for their song "Call My Name." Aoife, Sarah Jarosz, and Sara Watkins wrote the song together.

Solo Music Career (2010–Present)

In June 2010, Aoife released her first solo recording. It was called Blue Light and was a limited edition vinyl record.

Aoife was a guest singer on the 2013 Grammy-winning album The Goat Rodeo Sessions. This album featured famous musicians like Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Thile. Aoife sang on two songs and helped write one of them, "Here And Heaven."

In 2012, Aoife signed a deal with Yep Roc Records. She released a single, "Red & White & Blue & Gold," in 2013. Her first full solo album, Fossils, came out on June 11, 2013.

Aoife has toured with many other bands and artists. She often appears on Chris Thile's radio show Live From Here. She also performs her own shows in the U.S. and other countries.

In 2016, Aoife released her second solo album, In The Magic Hour. She also released a live album that year called Man In A Neon Coat: Live From Cambridge.

In 2018, Aoife wrote a song called "Are You There" for a short film. In 2020, her band I'm with Her won a Grammy Award for "Call My Name." Also in 2020, Aoife released an EP called Bullfrog's Croon (and Other Songs). She performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 2021.

In 2022, Aoife released her solo album Age of Apathy. This album was nominated for Best Folk Album in November 2022. In 2024, she released All My Friends. This album was originally created for the anniversary of the 19th amendment. It features collaborations with other groups and artists.

Discography

Solo recordings

With Sometymes Why

With Crooked Still

With I'm With Her

As guest artist

Awards and Nominations