Kara Grainger

21+ Bar opens one hour before showtime. Show starts at 7:30 pm. 

With sultry, mesmerizing vocals, engaging songwriting talent, and fiery slide guitar work, Australian blues artist Kara Grainger bears a style all her own. Full of soulful swagger and elegant musicianship, her songs bring a distinctly unique and modern take to blues, roots and soul music. Kara first gained recognition as a co-founder of the critically acclaimed soul band Papa Lips. Since then, she has played music festivals and sold out venues worldwide, reached #3 on the Billboard Blues album chart, and opened for many extraordinary acts such as Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, and Jonny Lang. Kara’s 5th studio recording will be released this year.   

See her and her band live at Almost Famous Wine Lounge, an award-winning, new tasting room and venue located on Vasco Road in the heart of Livermore's wine, spirits and brewery district. Almost Famous Wine makes fifteen wines in diverse styles, and earned over 50 top industry awards since our debut in 2021.

ABOUT KARA GRAINGER

With sultry, mesmerizing vocals, engaging songwriting talent, and fiery slide guitar work, Kara Grainger boasts an impressive set of skills. This Australian performer bears a style all her own, full of soulful swagger and elegant musicianship, while her songs bring a distinctly unique and modern take to blues, roots and soul music. 

Since her beginnings playing the club scene of Balmain in Sydney, Australia, Kara’s music has taken her on an incredible journey throughout the globe. She has traveled to Indonesia several times to perform at the Jakarta International Blues Festival, performing together with her band and also as a special guest with The Jakarta Women’s Blues Revue.  In 2011 she toured Japan with "The Swampers and Donnie Fritts”, the infamous house rhythm section for "Fame Recordings" in Muscle Shoals. Kara has also taken her band to Switzerland and all throughout Europe performing to sold out audiences throughout the globe. 

At the age of 16 Kara joined with her brother Mitch Grainger to form the band "Papa Lips". The band toured consistently throughout Australia and produced two studio albums that received critical acclaim and were played on several radio stations nationally. The band was heavily influenced by the soul sounds from Stax recording in Memphis, and by the funk, soul and blues from New Orleans. 

In 2008 Kara signed to Australian label "Craving Records" with whom Kara released her debut recording "Grand and Green River". The recording was co-produced in the US with David Kalish and remained in the top 30 of the Americana Charts for 38 straight weeks.  

Since then she has made three further albums whilst residing in the US. Her second recording ”LA Blues" paid tribute to some of Kara's earliest blues inspirations. In 2013 Kara recorded and released "Shiver and Sigh" through Los Angeles record label "Eclecto Groove." The album was produced by Grammy award winning producer David Z and featured some of LA's finest musicians including Mike Finnigan, Hutch Hutchinson, James Gadson and Kirk Fletcher among others. Her 2018 album "Living with Your Ghost" reached #3 on the Billboard Blues album chart. 

Kara was invited to play in Northeast India by the Himalayan Blues Foundation. Her live performance at the "18 Degrees Cultural Festival” was an absolute career highlight. The show was incredibly well received and the local people of Shillong were thrilled and amazed, many being introduced to the slide guitar and the sounds of blues for the very first time. 

In her home base of the US, Kara also continues to tour consistently performing at many of the premier blues clubs and festivals. She has also opened for many extraordinary acts such as Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal and Jonny Lang to name a few. 

Kara’s 5th studio recording will be released in the Spring of 2024 which will be followed up with a tour of the US, Australia and Europe. 

VENUE INFORMATION

There is a two drink minimum for each guest. With a menu of 15 wines in diverse styles and sophisticated non-alcoholic options, there's something for everyone.

Set times and ticket prices are subject to change, and sales are final.

Dancing is encouraged at Almost Famous, and usually takes place in front of and to the side of the stage. If a dance party breaks out, we cannot guarantee a completely unobstructed view to those sitting in the bistro table seats.

Please visit www.almostfamous.wine for our other venue policies.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Almost Famous Wine Lounge, 2271 S. Vasco, Livermore, United States