Thursday, March 15   8:00 p.m.
18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn   (500 N IH 35)

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Sahara Smith was born in Austin, Texas in 1988. Later, she moved to the small
town of Wimberley, Texas where she began her musical journey penning songs
as early as age nine. Sahara began performing locally when she was fourteen,
and at fifteen, Sahara won a nationwide contest to perform on Garrison Keillor's
PBS Prairie Home Companion. On the “live” show Sahara won Second Place
(missing first place by a fraction of a decibel of audience applause) and was then
invited to sing a duet with Mr. Keillor. Now, at seventeen, Sahara has moved
back to Austin where labels and critics are taking notice of her, making her the
standout new artist at this year’s SXSW music conference and Folk Alliance.
Michael Ventura, columnist for the Austin Chronicle, wrote this in their March 31st,
2006 issue: “My friend Jo Carol Pierce, a superb songwriter, told me (with a
strange urgency in her voice) to catch a set by a young unknown at the Saxon
Pub on South Congress. There was no cover charge. In the spotlight on stage
was 17-year-old (!) Sahara Smith. Her musical sophistication and the uncanny
maturity of her lyrics astonished me – gave me chills – and made me realize (a
little sadly) that it had been a long time since I'd been enthralled. What a wonder,
to be enthralled again. After the show I told her and anyone else who would
listen, ‘You're the most gifted young performer I've seen in 26 years.’ "