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Abigail Dowd’s Debut Album Draws From Irish Inspiration

WUNC | By Laura Pellicer,

Frank Stasio

Published April 11, 2017 at 11:42 AM EDT

After working in city politics, and running an art school, Abigail Dowd needed a change. She packed up her great-grandfather’s guitar and took off to Florence, Italy, to Ireland, and later to Maine, to spend some time reconnecting with herself and her music. The trip turned into an eight-year journey.

Host Frank Stasio speaks with singer songwriter Abigail Dowd. She and musician Jason Duff play live on the State of things from the Triad Stage in downtown Greensboro.

The classically trained guitarist and singer has now come home to North Carolina to release her debut album “Don’t Wake Me.” Dowd speaks with host Frank Stasio about new music and about her continued work as a community organizer.

Dowd plays with musician Jason Duff April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Foothills Brewing in Winston-Salem, and April 14 at 5 p.m. at the Abbey Road Tavern in Cary. Dowd will perform with Duff in Greensboro and Southern Pines later in the month, in addition to other North Carolina cities.

Copyright 2017 North Carolina Public Radio

Laura Pellicer

Laura Pellicer is a producer with The State of Things (hyperlink), a show that explores North Carolina through conversation. Laura was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, a city she considers arrestingly beautiful, if not a little dysfunctional. She worked as a researcher for CBC Montreal and also contributed to their programming as an investigative journalist, social media reporter, and special projects planner. Her work has been nominated for two Canadian RTDNA Awards. Laura loves looking into how cities work, pursuing stories about indigenous rights, and finding fresh voices to share with listeners. Laura is enamored with her new home in North Carolina—notably the lush forests, and the waves where she plans on moonlighting as a mediocre surfer.

See stories by Laura Pellicer

Frank Stasio

Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.

See stories by Frank Stasio