When Kate Voegele brings her self-described “rock, boho, heartland” music to the LaureLive music festival June 10-11, it will mark a welcome homecoming for the Bay High and Miami of Ohio alum. “When I saw how cool the lineup is, I was totally in,” says Voegele, who recorded her first EP The Other Side in 2003 as a 16-year-old, opening for John Mayer and Counting Crows the next year. “I’m in great company with all types of bands. It’s a totally different experience from a typical club or theater date – it’s got a cool community vibe,” says Voegele of the second annual multi-stage music festival at Laurel School’s scenic Butler Campus. The Head and the Heart, Gary Clark Jr. and Young the Giant also headline the eclectic event, which is planned, staged and staffed by Laurel students in collaboration with the Elevation Group. Voegele plans to play songs from her 2016 release Canyonlands. “That record embodies how I see myself as an artist,” she says. “It has a great vibe for a festival.” She talks about her early influences, acting career and latest album.
Q: Who inspired you to pursue a career in music?
A: My dad taught me to play the guitar when I was little. It’s not his day job, but he’s a great guitar player and songwriter. He would make up catchy songs for me and my sister to sing. I grew up with a lot of great 1970s stuff – James Taylor, Carole King and Linda Ronstadt. It was a great foundation for me.
Q: What was your first concert?
A: NSYNC. It was the highlight of my fifth grade life.
Q: What was it like playing Mia Catalano in the hit series One Tree Hill?
A: High school musicals were pretty much the extent of my [acting] experience, but the show turned into a four-season arc. It was an unbelievable platform for me to play my songs. People got to see a version of me through Mia. Now it’s on Netflix, and it’s really cool to see new life being breathed into that show.
Q: What influenced your latest album, Canyonlands?
A: I live in California so there’s a lot of Laurel Canyon in there. There’s some weird, cool, magical vibe about that whole area. I’m super excited about this new material.
7420 Fairmount Road, Russell Township, 216-696-7776, laurelive.com
