Folk-influenced style from authentic country superstar

Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Mary began playing guitar and writing songs early and was playing her songs in clubs before she was out of her teens. Word of her talents eventually reached the home of country music Nashville, winning her a deal with Columbia Records, which released her 1987 debut album, Hometown Girl.

Her debut disc set the stage for the success of 1989’s State of the Heart and 1990’s Shooting Straight in the Dark, each of which produced four Top 20 hits, including the Grammy-winning smash “Down at the Twist and Shout.”

Those releases were followed by the massive commercial breakthrough of 1992’s Come On Come On, which was certified quadruple platinum and yielded no less than seven charting singles.

More success followed with such albums as the platinum Stones in the Road, A Place in the World, Time* Sex* Love* and Between Here and Gone. Carpenter moved to Rounder/Zoë in time for 2007’s Grammy-nominated The Calling, which was followed by the seasonally themed Come Darkness Come Light: 12 Songs of Christmas, the Grammy- nominated The Age of Miracles and Ashes and Roses.

Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards, was named the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year in 1992 and 1993 and in 2012 was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Her 2014 album Songs From The Movie has been described as “sublime.” Support for the night comes from Bella Hardy. Tickets for the gig cost £26 - call dlwp box office on 01424 229111.