Joanna Kirby

I am a multifaceted musician. I am a board certified music therapist practicing full time for Living Unlimited, Inc. I am the Entertainment Director at Suba Tapas Bar and I am also realizing my potential as a songwriter and performer with The Roving Troubadours and Smoke The Groove.

My mother gave birth to me at 11:16pm, on Saturday, April 4, 1981. She endured natural labor while listening to BB King’s The Thrill is Gone, in a military hospital in Georgia.  My parents are very musical and my dad made a living as a musician in the Army. No matter where we lived our house was always rocked with The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire, Al Jerreau, Betty Carter, and Stevie Wonder.

I played wind instruments by ear at a young age and joined the choir at school. I became interested in Guitar at age 13.  My parents bought me a Harmony Guitar from a pawn shop for $30. I learned chords from charts in my dad’s song books and improvised a semi familiar melody.

At 14, I had my first solo in a small vocal jazz ensemble. I sang the Nearness of You to a silent audience in a middle school auditorium.  My parents who were unsure of what to expect prior to the performance were stunned.

Soon after I joined Aberdeen High School’s Showband, called Kaleidoscope.  This 10 piece cover band enjoyed field trips that included playing in the back of a pick up truck in local parades, office parties, and sporting events. Over two and a half years, we gigged with repertoire of 60 or more contemporary adult top 40 covers.

In 1999, I began my journey as a music therapist at Elizabethtown College, in Pennsylvania where I learned to read music and play the piano.

Through the course of a music therapy internship with Hospice, Inc of Poughkeepsie, NY, I learned to use my guitar and voice to provide pain management, engage families and patients in making live music. There, I met and befriended Meryl Joan Lammers co-intern artist, magician, musician.  Following the internship we made music in project Nala. At the same time while living in New Paltz, NY, I was introduced to reggae music and Manu Chao’s Mr Bobby by the transient Ranger Rick and The Humble Boy Club. I also performed with the party band The Big Heavy.

I discovered and covered Joni Mitchell. I fell in love with Niel Young, Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book, and Manu Chao.

I moved to Harrisburg in February 2005, to begin my occupation with Living Unlimited, Inc. I lived Downtown on Locust Street next to McGraths Pub.  Wild Scene. I immediately began playing a monthly 36 song night at Epic Bar and Grille on 4th street.  I collaborated with Krisyn Beeman and Melanie Walborn to form a nameless cover ensemble that hooted The White Album and Prince in 3 part harmony with hand percussion, guitar, and violin.

I grew unfulfilled with playing covers and began to write original songs. This took some practice as I had to learn to trust my words. I began writing. I wrote non stop for 2 years. I filled notebooks with ideas and affirmations.

I formed the band Smoke The Groove in September 2006. The band was originally named Single Mother. Our first three songs were Lamb’s Trans fatty Acid, Manu Chao’s Mr Bobby, and Portishead’s Glory Box.  Our original songs include: Alone Tonight, I love, Dance with Me, Red Eyes, Dizzy, Over Oceans, and Stay. Today the band is comprised of The Doug (bass), Tibirius (drums), and Sonja (keys).

I began The Roving Troubadours on the first Friday in October 2008, when I had the opportunity to perform at Mantis and the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center’s Satellite Gallery on the same night. I decided to invite Monica and Chelsea of Batida, along with many of our music loving friends to meet up at my place and parade to each of the galleries playing music and making an entrance. The spirit was high as we improvised chants in harmony, over drum beats and acoustic guitar. Wow! We received such a great response and had so much fun that we decided to make The Roving Troubadours a First Friday tradition. With the hard work and vision of Jonas Hair of Progressive Galleries we toured 4 galleries on First Friday in November.

I am now the Entertainment Director for Suba, Harrisburg’s only Spanish Tapas Bar. With this opportunity I am expanding my promotional skills and business sence by coordinating and promoting music events.

I am also recording my original music and performing regionally. Please see my gig calendar.