The Sparta Summer Concert Series is very excited to present the rising star Katie Henry on August 23rd at Dykstra Park.

The New Jersey songwriter might have started out banging on doors, braving New York's blues clubs, playing piano until her fingers bled, and winning over the city one show at a time. But lately, the multi-instrumentalist has raced through career milestones at a rocket pace. There was her Blues Blast and IBMA-nominated 2018 debut album, High Road. Then her international breakout on Ruf Records' 2022 Blues Caravan Revue. And her starburst of media acclaim, including Henry Yates of Classic Rock, NME, and The Guardian, saluting "a runaway talent you need to keep up with."

Now, with the release of her second album, On My Way, Katie has found another gear. Whether slinging her trusty Gibson SG, hammering the keys, or hollering up a storm, these ten original songs, co-written with bassist and slide-guitar maestro Antar Goodwin, announced her as an alchemist who creates gemstones from the base metals of American roots.

"There's a great range of songs on this album," Katie reflects. "You get a sense of the things I've been going through, the fights I've won, the fights I've lost, and the determination needed to continue. All wrapped in a rock and roots package."

The story goes that at one early show, a fan astutely observed: "It's like she's got John Lee Hooker in her pocket!" Scratch this young artist, and you'll find an old soul. Fingering her first piano chords, aged six, and scrawling early songs in the back of her school notebooks, Katie was the heart of singalongs at her family home in New Jersey.

With fiery guitar chops and natural charisma, she was soon a New York City jam scene favorite. Those who were there, remember songs of many genres, blues, rock, R&B, funk, pop, soul, and country, and her stage presence evoked Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin at their most magnetic.

And while "High Road" was the introductory handshake, On My Way is the profoundly personal second album on which Katie gives you her beat-up heart. It all started in May 2021, when Brooklyn's Degraw Sound opened its doors to Katie and producer/guitarist Ben Rice. The crack lineup of Goodwin, Kurt Thum (piano/organ,) and Greg Wieczorek (drums/percussion,) plus British harp ace Giles Robson. "We recorded the album live during the pandemic," reflects Katie, "and it was so fun to be able to record in a room with people after feeling isolated for such a long time. The majority of the album was laid down live, and I love that feeling. It's like capturing lightning in a bottle."

The evening will start with a performance by the The Atlanta Cafe Band. Based in Stillwater, NJ, consists of 4 seasoned players of the blues/southern/country rock scene who have been together for the past decade playing hundreds of shows while at the same time receiving very respectable airplay and sales of their CD's "Waiting all night" and "American Spirit". "American Spirit" features the amazing slide guitar work of Sonny Landreth on the song "Playin' To Live". Their own compositions of blues/southern rock styled tunes along with a different take on selected covers has garnered them a dedicated following in the New York tri state area. Over the years the members have been in bands with players from or in concert/festivals with many national acts including: Sonny Landreth, Scott Sharrard, Blackfoot/Skynryd, Vanilla Fudge, George Porter, Jon Cleary, Tab Benoit, Marcia Ball, Anthony Gomes, The Good Rats, Mickey Gilley, Hank Williams Jr, Buck Owens, Willie Nile, Garland Jefferies, Tedeshi Trucks, Brewer and Shipley, From Good Homes and many, many others. They have appeared at the Black Potatoe Fest, The Highlands Fest at Waterloo, WNTI Stage Music Fest, Big Brew Fest , NJ Food and Music Fest, and Michael Arnones' Craw Fish Festival where they conducted a masters session and shared the stage with Grammy award winners George Porter, Marcia Ball and Jon Cleary. They also have worked with Homegrown Radio NJ and WNTI at various events and benefits for the stations. Come on out to hear them as their music will put a smile on your face, a stomp in your feet and a boogie in your pocket!