Boston based award-winning Singer-songwriter Lauren Pratt spans the vocal range of blues, Celtic, Country, and Folk music, one finger-picking guitar ballad at a time. Lauren plays from a curated catalog of original and cover songs and is available for weddings, engagements, corporate events, and more. Both of her albums, Days Like Tonight (2015), and Live at Monster Studios (2016) are available everywhere music is sold online. Her sophomore studio album, Young American Sycamore, is due out in September 2019.
We could not have had our outdoor/barn wedding without Lauren Pratt!
She was a pleasure to coordinate with. She's knowledgeable and experienced with events, helping me plan the timing of the music so that everything went off without a hitch. I gave her a list of music that we enjoy and she played everything better than expected. Most of all I love her originals.
Her music is one of a kind! It is beautiful in sound, creatively written and sung and a real joy to experience. I need to go to her next event and hear more!
Photos from this event
Lauren was a beautiful addition to our daughters wedding, she has a lovely unique voice and our guests raved about her! She was professional and friendly and we highly recommend her!
Response from Lauren Pratt:
I had a lovely time at the seaside for Meg's wedding! What a special couple!
Photos from this event
I hired Lauren to perform during a surprise marriage proposal. From the planning to the performance, Lauren was amazing. Not only did she learn two requested songs on short notice and play/sing them perfectly, Lauren also coordinated with the photographer to ensure that the surprise went off flawlessly. Incredibly talented musician/singer and a true professional to work with. Thank You, Lauren!!
Response from Lauren Pratt:
Thank you, Chris! Liesl and I had an incredible experience both during coordinating and the actual surprise itself - so happy for you both!
What a talented musician Lauren is! She provided beautiful music for our special event and we could not have been happier with her professionalism, not to mention her gorgeous voice! Thank you, Lauren, we hope to work with you again!
My husband and I were planning an intimate wedding reception at a brewery just north of Boston, and after looking into her work, we hired Lauren to entertain guests during our cocktail hour. Lauren arrived on time, promptly set up and performed some of the most heart-felt acoustic renditions of our favorite songs. She impressed our guests, my husband and I with her sonorous voice, range of songs and guitar skills. Communication prior to the event was both professional and timely. She was enthusiastic to help us compose a playlist with all our favorite songs and was genuinely interested in ensuring our event was successful. I would highly recommend Lauren for her solid work ethic, musical talent, range and flexibility. We look forward to booking her for future events we host.
- Peter & Paul
Response from Lauren Pratt:
Thank you, Peter! What a lovely review from an equally lovely couple. I was honored to played for your celebration; thank you for the opportunity!
~Lauren
Engaging, lively, spunky - the guests loved her. A very rare talent! Gorgeous voice.
Response from Lauren Pratt:
Many thanks, Deidre! I had an absolutely lovely time with your guests; the dinner and the harbor views were a pleasant departure from normal venues!
I booked Lauren for my wedding reception, and I couldn't have done better. It was simply her voice and her guitar and that was all that was needed. Her musical skill and the passion she puts into every song set the most beautiful backdrop for an occasion I wanted to be unforgettable. She's so talented, you can hardly believe you're listening to her live! I'd readily book her for another engagement.
Price Range: $100 and up
Gig Length: 15 - 120 minutes
Languages: English
As a solo performer, most of my performance is in the actual translation of the songs themselves, rather than pyrotechnics or other impressive visuals (although, if you have some visuals at your disposal, I'm open to it).
In my performances on tour, almost half the show is banter with the audience. However, depending on the event, I speak very little or not at all. As an actress and classically trained performer, I am able and willing to take direction to this effect. I realize you are hiring a service, and as a hired performer I am open to discussing various aspects of the performance that might stray from my usual set.
A captivating voice, haunting imagery, and vivid narratives: against a rich panorama of Americana music, singer-songwriter Lauren Pratt introduces her new full-length release, Young American Sycamore.
The tree in the title is a species that, unlike most trees, sheds its bark as it matures. “These songs are a testimony to the hard times and trials I’ve gone through," Lauren says. "But I am not keeping them with me -- it's time to grow.”
From propulsive bluegrass rhythms to ghostly gothic textures, Young American Sycamore illustrates a wide sonic spectrum of literate songcraft. “I’m a firm believer in the cyclical nature of stories,” Lauren affirms. “For me, this album felt like a significant arc in my personal character development. I am drawn to the songwriting of Johnny Cash and Patty Griffin; the characters in their songs are deeply flawed but something in them longs to be redeemed."
After leaving her home state of Florida to study classical voice at Belhaven University in Mississippi, Lauren moved to Nashville where she became part of a tight-knit songwriting community. On a beautiful April evening, after returning from post-performance camaraderie with music friends, she was awakened in the night by shouts and sirens. The roof of her apartment – in a complex called The Sycamores – was on fire. “It was a pivotal moment in my life,” she recalls. “I was burned out of my home and the dream in one fell swoop. ”
It wasn’t simply the fire that burned her out; after recording and touring behind her full-length album, Days Like Tonight and producing Live At Monster Studios, she was disenchanted by the rigors of the music business. She enrolled in a masters program in Clinical mental health counseling and Expressive art therapy in Boston "to apply my knowledge and love for helping people,” she says.
But the songs from her two previous releases moved through the ether. She was contacted by the Journal of Roots Music, No Depression, and invited to North Adams, Massachusetts to compete for the “No Depression Singer-Songwriter Award” at FreshGrass Festival. This September, after the Young American Sycamore release, Lauren will perform on the main stage, joining such Americana icons as Mavis Staples, Iron & Wine, Calexico, and Andrew Bird. “For two years I was out of commission, not writing or singing, yet all of this happened,” she says. “I realized I’m not alone, and I don’t have to grind myself to dust.”
Young American Sycamore reflects this rejuvenation. The opening song and first single “In the Valley,” roars in like a locomotive. “Twenty Five” is the tale of two brothers, one sworn to justice, and the other to running moonshine. Coming off of a tough tour at the age she references by title, Lauren penned these lines, “Twenty-five ain’t nothing like I thought it’d be/It’s all smoke and mirrors and a tank of gasoline.” Gliding on spectral strains of a shimmering pedal steel, “Haunting” evokes classic country, with a reverent nod to Patsy Cline in the opening lines, “Have I gone crazy/Talking to air/Calling out ‘baby’ when nobody’s there.”
As a student at Richard Thompson and Nancy Covey’s Acoustic Guitar and Songwriting Camp Frets & Refrains, Lauren enrolled in Patty Griffin's songwriting course and began working on the assigned prompt. Lauren remembers: “I couldn’t think of anything, then half an hour before class I jotted down a song. I sang in a barn with Patty four feet in front of me. At the end, Patty said, ‘You have a voice like Odetta - it resonates at a deep place in a person’s soul.’ It was the most amazing compliment I'd ever heard in my life. She went on to tell me that the song was finished and I shouldn't touch it. Hey, if it's good enough for Patty, it's good enough for me." The intimate acapella song, titled “Doubt”, concludes the new album.
With a personal mission of discovering the empathetic connection that exists between audience and performer, Lauren is intent on continuing the quest for "civil discourse about the truth in our lives.” With the release of Young American Sycamore, Lauren Pratt reaffirms her artistic roots and sheds the proverbial bark of the past through her musical mission of kindness and compassion.
I have listed necessary equipment on the set up list, however I can rent equipment for a fee (included in the fee).
I'm open to learning new covers - please specify in your booking request if there are specific songs or artists you would like to hear. Below is a list of songs frequently requested:
Atlantic City Springsteen, Bruce
Wrecking Ball Adams, Ryan
You Can Call Me Al Simon, Paul
Frozen Man Taylor, James
Bennie and the Jets John, Elton
Down Under Men at Work
Don’t You Forget About Me Simple Minds
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me Sinatra, Frank
I’ll Be Seeing You Sinatra, Frank
Who By Fire Cohen, Leonard
Solsbury Hill Gabriel, Peter
Heart of Gold Young, Neil
Sugar Mountain Young, Neil
Rocky Road to Dublin Trad.
Werewolves of London Zevon, Warren
Joy To You Baby Ritter, Josh
Stuck in the Past Mann, Aimee
Tommorrow Will Be Kinder The Secret Sisters
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Lightfoot, Gordon
Drunken Sailor Trad.
Dirty Laundry Henley, Don
Night Moves Seger, Bob
The Fire Down Below Seger, Bob
The Irish Rover Trad.
Personal Jesus Depeche Mode
The One I Love Thomas, Rosie
Easy (Like Sunday Morning) The Commodores
Please Let Me Get What I Want The Smiths
Sister Golden Hair America
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction The Rolling Stones
I Fought the Law (And the law won) The Clash
Fast Car Chapman, Tracy
Wonderwall Oasis
Champagne Supernova Oasis
I’m The Only One Etheridge, Melissa
Harvest Moon Young, Neil
You Make Loving Fun Fleetwood Mac
Take Me to The River Talking Heads
Wagon Wheel Old Crow Medicine Show
Sweet Caroline Simon, Neil
Whiskey In The Jar Trad.
Paddle Me Own Canoe Trad.
The Parting Glass Trad.
Molly Malone Trad.
The Fields of Athenry Trad.
When Irish Eyes Are Smilin’ Trad.
Black Velvet Band Trad.
Bonnie Portmore Thompson, Richard
Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out Smith, Bessie
Gallows Pole Watson, Willie
You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive Scott, Darrell
A girl, a boy, and a graveyard Messersmith, Jeremy
We Don’t Eat McMorrow, James Vincent
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Simon, Paul
Hallelujah Cohen, Leonard
Freebird Lynyrd Skynyrd
Me and Bobby McGee Joplin, Janis
Boys of Summer Henley, Don
Angel from Montgomery Raitt, Bonnie
It Was a Very Good Year Sinatra, Frank
Frozen Man Taylor, James
Fire and Rain Taylor, James
Rocky Mountain High Denver, John
Country Roads Denver, John
I Will Follow (Where You Lead) The Beatles
Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About Raitt, Bonnie
Rocky Top Tennessee Parton, Dolly
Walking After Midnight Cline, Patsy
Jolene Parton, Dolly
1952 Vincent Black Lightning Thompson, Richard
Beeswing Thompson, Richard
Landslide Fleetwood Mac
Chelsea Hotel Cohen, Leonard
Daughter Wainwright, Loudon
Proud Mary Ike & Tina Turner
Dancing in the Dark Springsteen, Bruce
Jackson Cash, Johnny
Ring of Fire Cash, Johnny
Doctor My Eyes Browne, Jackson
Cheeseburger in Paradise Buffett, Jimmy
With a Little Help From My Friends Cocker, Joe
I feel lucky Carpenter, Mary Chapin
The Pretender Browne, Jackson
Hey Jude The Beatles
Hotel California The Eagles
Give Me One Reason Chapman, Tracy
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) Sinatra, Nancy
A Case of You Mitchell, Joni
Tall Trees in Georgia St. Marie, Buffy
Killing the Blues Colvin, Shawn
Come Talk To Me Gabriel, Peter
Sledgehammer Gabriel, Peter
That’s Amore Martin, Dean
Delicious Surprise Hart, Beth
Cave Man Smither, Chris
Rocket Man Elton, John
Space Oddity Bowie, David
Long Black Veil Trad.
Go ‘Way From My Window John Jacob Niles
Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair John Jacob Niles
Feeling Good Buble
What A Wonderful World
Green Eyes Coldplay
There She Goes Six Pence None The Richer
Traveling Soldier Dixie Chicks
The Time Of Your Life Newman, Randy
Hummingbird The Weepies
American Pie Henley, Don
Mountains of Things Chapman, Tracy
Patty Griffin
Dublin Boys Antje Duvekot
Pearls Antje Duvekot
Nebraska Springsteen, Bruce
Roving Woman Converse, Connie
Red Clay Halo Welch, Gillian
Annabelle Welch, Gillian
Take Me To Church Hozier
You Don't Mess Around With Jim Croce, Jim
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown Croce, Jim
Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels) Croce, Jim
Wayfaring Stranger Trad.
Alison Krauss, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile are my biggest lyrical and vocal influences.
As a child, I listened almost exclusively to Alison Krauss thanks to my parents' musical taste, and teethed on the hymn structures of church worship. Long before I studied singing, or even sang outside of the shower, I was playing various instruments. I am entirely self-taught on guitar, influenced by the above songstresses (although James Taylor should definitely be credited as well).
After studying classical voice in college and a brief stint in the opera world, I moved to Nashville to pursue my own writing and performance and here we are. Me on this side of the computer drinking coffee, you on the other side of GigSalad searching for the right fit for your event.
I've played at corporate events, wedding services and receptions, fundraising settings, and more.
Can I play for yours?
Mic stand
Microphone
Chair
Acoustic amplifier/ speaker system
Boston, MA 
Singing Guitarist
27 Verified Bookings Nancy T. said “He was fantastic! Our Triumph, Inc. CFCE families had a wonderful time! Philip connected so well with our caregivers and young participants. He shared…”
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47 Verified Bookings Tiffany K. B. said “Jonathan was amazing. He is super talented- knows 500 plus songs of many genres. He has the best personality and delivers his music in a fun, entertaining,…”
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24 Verified Bookings Cari R. said “Sarah has a great voice and is so talented. She was easy to work with and communicated well. We hired her for dinner music for a gala for 700 people and…”
Atlanta, GA
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67 Verified Bookings Tammy B. said “Bob was awesome! So many of my party guests were impressed. Super talented and nice guy. I am definitely going to book him again.”
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