Erin Mulrooney, a native of the Philadelphia area, began singing as a young child in church choir and in elementary school chorus.  In high school, her repertoire ranged from being a soloist at weddings to singing Linda Ronstadt tunes at open mic nights to performing in a rock band covering a wide variety of 70s and 80s music. After a 25-year hiatus from performing, Erin was drawn back into her passion while living in Chicago.  She first took cabaret singing lessons at Sherwood Music School of Columbia College, then became a multi-year member of the Old Town School of Folk Music's Blues Ensemble.  

Coming back to singing as an adult, Erin conquered newly developed stage fright under the tutelage of the late Pete Special, when he co-hosted the Underground Wonder Bar jams along with Jon Spiegel, with whom Erin studied New Orleans-style Jazz.

Erin has also worked for several years with acclaimed Chicago and Los Angeles vocal coach, Doug Susu-Mago.

While in Chicago (2008-2016), Erin regularly performed with many well-known Chicago blues musicians in multiple venues, including Rosa's Lounge, Buddy Guys Legends, The

House of Blues, River Roast, Smoke Daddy, Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap, and The Underground Wonder Bar.

Erin now lives in Ithaca, NY and is currently performing with the Backwoods Blues Project, featuring the well-known high-energy Ithaca guitarist Dan Paolangeli, badass multi-instrumentalist Lisa Bloom on bass, king of the groove Glen Porter on drums, and Michael Allinger expertly tickling the keys.  Erin + The Backwoods Blues Project performs Chicago and Mississippi Delta style blues, reaching way back into the archives, plus a bit of contemporary blues and original tunes.

Erin is a devoted fan of blues, jazz, gospel, rock and New Orleans music, and is inspired by Irma Thomas, Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Bertha Chippie Hill, Cleo Laine, Freddie King, Tom Petty, Patti Smith, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Julia Rainer, Frank Zappa, Lee Dorsey, Linda Ronstadt, Aaron Neville, Alan Toussaint, and the list could go on and on and on...

Come out to see Erin + The Backwoods Blues Project and groove to the Blues - you won't be disappointed!

Photographer: Greg Weber

Musician: Erin Mulrooney

Festival: Annual Oakwood Blues Jam, Chicago, IL July 2015