McKenna Faith: Bands We Love

With her honeydew voice and sentimental guitar, teen singer McKenna Faith is kicking up boot heels and serenading slow dancers from her native Ukiah to the heartland of country music in Nashville, Tennessee. The young starlet, raised in the rodeo circuit where she sang The National Anthem as a child, plays simple, yet catchy melodies with an authentic country western swing.

While her voice can stand alone on slow country ballads wholly carried on the gentle strums of an acoustic guitar or lone fiddle, it’s her three band mates who give the singer the full-bodied, textured feel of a true pro.  With Kyle Madrigal on lead guitar, Ken Ingels on drums, Aubrey Hansen on bass, and Ryan Jackson on guitar, the quartet of musicians blend a traditional country sound with shades of rock- and pop-country to give a more modern, dance-friendly appeal.

Billed on the same stage with a slew of country artists from Bomshel to Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan, Faith has toured extensively throughout California, Nevada and more recently in Hawaii to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. During her trip, the singer performed two of her songs, “No Guts, No Glory” and “Not My Time to Go,” in memory of those who served. Both tracks are featured on her recent debut album, Sugar and Spice, a collection of 10 originals recorded in Nashville.

A regular in the spotlight of the San Francisco Bay Area, Faith has played for crowds of up to 7,500 people and performed in venues from Sho-Ka-Wah Casino in Hopland to Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol. Since entering the music biz, she’s received “the people’s choice award” at the Rising Star Competition and ranked first place at the Ukiah Idol in addition to performing at the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor commencement ceremonies at the USS Arizona Memorial.

- Michael Shufro

Home Stomping Grounds: Ukiah, California

Musical Style: Country crossover

Albums + Release Dates: Sugar and Spice, 2011; Singles: No Guts, No Glory and Not My Time To Go on iTunes)

Band Members: Kyle Madrigal on Lead Guitar, Ken Ingels on Drums, Aubrey Hansen on Bass, and Ryan Jackson on Guitar

Band Website: mckenna-faith.com

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/mckennafaith