Amy Andrews Brings Musical Talents To Hatton Regester Green

When she’s not driving lengthy distances between shows, singer-songwriter Amy Andrews likes to unwind by trekking up and down the B&A Trail.

“I spent so much time walking the trail,” Andrews said. “I love that trail so much. I don’t know what it is about it. It’s enchanting to me.”

She first started visiting the trail in high school and college, later bringing friends from out of town to travel it with her. Andrews attributes her personal and intimate connection to the trail to the period of her life when she first started visiting: “You’re coming of age, and you’re just sitting with your thoughts or listening to music and reflecting on who you were, who you thought you were going to be and who you are becoming.”

Andrews writes the brunt of her music when she’s in transit, be it walking, driving, biking or any other means of moving. Physical exertion helps her ruminate on the things happening in her life and allows her to process them.

“That’s how I will develop hooks or specific lines for my songs,” Andrews said. “Then, I sit down later to flesh out a song around that and make it something that other people can relate to and something that’s not so specific to my existence.”

Andrews has been performing since she was 6 years old, getting her start in community and regional theater. She attended Loch Raven Academy and Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, both performing arts schools.

To continue her education, Andrews went to Randolph-Macon Woman’s College where she studied voice and drama. After college, Andrews started writing her own music and performing at open mics with Peabody musicians in Baltimore.

In 2014, she decided to pursue music as a full-time career.

Andrews describes her sound as “adult contemporary” and “easy listening.” She has been compared to Norah Jones, Colbie Caillat, Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles.

Now, Andrews is preparing for her first UK tour. In November, she will perform at the Shrewsbury Americana In A Day Fest 2018, along with a handful of events in London, Manchester, Sheffield and Brighton during a three-week tour.

But first, she has a hometown show on September 23 at Hatton Regester Green, which is right on the B&A Trail.

This will be Andrews’ first performance specifically in Severna Park, where she has only previously played in Annapolis and Baltimore. At this performance, Andrews will perform her new song “Everyday,” which she wrote for a gala advocating for funds and support for people who have Alzheimer’s.

With this hometown show, Andrews said she hopes the audience will “understand the lyrics more intimately than other audiences might.”

“I might be singing about a body of water, but it’s specifically the bay, and I’m describing it specifically as the Chesapeake Bay,” Andrews said. “In another place, it might be Frisco Bay that the audience is imagining, but at home, it’s going to be more intimately understood. I hope it feels like family. I imagine it will.”

Andrews said she enjoys playing for smaller audiences because “you can see everyone, and they can talk to you between songs.”

While onstage, Andrews enjoys engaging with her audience. She tells stories between songs and jokes with the audience. Her stage presence mirrors her idol Bette Midler, who is notorious for her live performances.

“I’ve definitely taken that into my act,” Andrews said. “If I have two ballads that are full of longing that I’m planning to sing back-to-back, I will definitely be telling jokes between those two just to bring the mood up a little bit and make sure we’re all seeing each other and we’re all doing OK.”

Amy Andrews will perform at Hatten Regester Green on Sunday, September 23. The concert starts at 4:00pm and lasts roughly two hours. Andrews can be found online at www.amyandrewsmusic.com.