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	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2001–present

Aoife O'Donovan (born November 18, 1982) is an American singer and songwriter. She has won a Grammy Award for her music. Aoife is well-known as the lead singer for the band Crooked Still. She is also one of three members of the folk trio I'm with Her, along with Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins.

As a solo artist, Aoife O'Donovan has released four popular studio albums. These include Fossils (2013), In the Magic Hour (2016), Age of Apathy (2022), and All My Friends (2024). Her albums Age of Apathy and All My Friends were both nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. She has also released several live recordings and shorter music collections called EPs. For ten years, she was a regular performer on the radio shows Live from Here and A Prairie Home Companion. Her first professional singing job was with the folk group The Wayfaring Strangers.

Aoife has performed with many famous orchestras, like the Boston Pops Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, she sang on most songs for the jazz album Be Still by the Dave Douglas Quintet. She also toured with Garrison Keillor and his A Prairie Home Companion Radio Romance Tour in 2013 and 2017. In 2014, she performed at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark.

She has worked with many talented musicians, including Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins, Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Kronos Quartet. Her songs have also been featured in movies and TV shows. For example, Alison Krauss recorded Aoife's song "Lay My Burden Down" for her album Paper Airplane. This song was also used in the movie Get Low. Her solo songs appeared on TV shows like True Blood and Private Practice. Songs by her band Crooked Still were featured in The Last of Us.

About Aoife O'Donovan

Early Life and Education

Aoife O'Donovan playing guitar at a concert in 2009

Aoife O'Donovan grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. During her summers, she visited Ireland and sang songs 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, graduating in 2003. In 2016, she married Eric Jacobsen. They had a daughter named Ivy Jo in 2017.

Crooked Still: A Folk Band

Aoife O'Donovan and bassist Corey DiMario met in 2001 at the New England Conservatory of Music. They soon formed the band Crooked Still with cellist Rushad Eggleston and banjo player Gregory Liszt. The band became popular by playing music in the Boston area. They were invited to perform at big 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. Their second album, Shaken by a Low Sound, came out in 2006. In 2007, Rushad Eggleston left the band. New members, cellist Tristan Clarridge and fiddler Brittany Haas, joined in 2008. The band released more albums with the new lineup, including Still Crooked (2008) and Some Strange Country (2010).

Sometymes Why: Another Music Group

In 2005, Aoife O'Donovan formed a folk trio called Sometymes Why with Kristin Andreassen and Ruth Ungar Merenda. Each member came from other bands. Sometymes Why released their first CD, Sometimes Why, in 2005. Their second album, Your Heart Is A Glorious Machine, followed in 2009.

I'm With Her: A Grammy-Winning Trio

In 2015, Aoife started touring with Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz under the name "I'm With Her". This group formed after they had an unplanned performance at the 2014 Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

The trio released a single called "Little Lies" in 2017. They recorded their first album, See You Around, in England. It was released on February 16, 2018. At the 62nd Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020, I'm With Her won the award for Best American Roots Song for their song "Call My Name". Aoife, Sarah, and Sara wrote this song together. In 2021, Aoife performed as a soloist in Central Park, New York City.

Aoife's Solo Music Career

Aoife O'Donovan released her first solo recording, Blue Light, in June 2010. She was also a guest singer on the 2013 Grammy-winning album The Goat Rodeo Sessions. This album featured famous musicians like cellist Yo-Yo Ma and mandolinist Chris Thile. Aoife helped write one of the songs on that album, "Here And Heaven".

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

Aoife has toured with many other bands, including the Punch Brothers and the Milk Carton Kids. She also often appeared on Chris Thile's radio show Live From Here.

In 2016, Aoife released her second solo album, In The Magic Hour. She also released a live album called Man In A Neon Coat: Live From Cambridge that same year. In 2018, she wrote a song called "Are You There" for the short film What They Had.

In 2020, Aoife released her EP, Bullfrog's Croon (and Other Songs). She also performed as a solo artist at the Newport Folk Festival in July 2021.

In 2022, O'Donovan released Age of Apathy, a solo album produced by Joe Henry. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in November 2022.

In 2024, O'Donovan released All My Friends. This album was originally created for the anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. All My Friends includes collaborations with groups like The Westerlies and the San Francisco Girls' Chorus.

Music Albums

Solo Recordings

With Sometymes Why

With Crooked Still

With I'm With Her

Music Videos

As a Guest Artist

Awards and Nominations