South Austin Song Circle: Kate Howard, Suzanna Choffel, Emma Dean & David Pulkingham

KATE HOWARD: Nobody writes a song the way that Kate Howard does. Equal parts honesty, humor and poignancy, Kate’s performances are always honest and captivating. At age 50, Kate wrote her first song. By age 62, she's written over 400 tunes and shows no signs of slowing down. This year, she performed in the Texas Women Songwriters Festival; released her EP, "I'm Not Here to Help You"; and started recording her 3rd release. Jon Dee Graham (thrice inducted into Austin Music Hall of Fame) calls Kate "the Dorothy Parker of Austin". Iain Johnson (IndieDock) says "Kate Howard is a national treasure in local disguise." Tony Scalzo (Fastball) says of Ms. Howard, “Her lyrics take you to a place no other songwriter will.” SUZANNA CHOFFEL: Known for her distinct voice and reggae-inspired guitar technique, Austin native Suzanna Choffel's music has been described as "a unique sound equal parts Beat poetry, smoky soul grooves and indie-pop eccentricity." (Jim Derogatis). Having made appearances at ACL Music Fest, SXSW, Voodoo Fest, as well as on screen in movies like "Catfish" and NBC's The Voice (earning singular praise from Rolling Stone as "the only artist you'd want to listen to a complete album from"), Choffel feels equally at home singing in a dimly lit club as she does front and center in front of (literally) millions. Over the course of her two decade career Choffel has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists like Buena Vista Social Club, Suzanne Vega, Crystal Gayle, Solange, Carrie Rodriguez, Davíd Garza and many others. As a songwriter she has won multiple awards in both the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the International Songwriting Contest and her albums have appeared on top 10 lists across Texas. Choffel was born and raised in Austin and cut her teeth as a teenager singing in beloved hometown haunts like Saxon Pub and Broken Spoke. She moved away to Santa Fe to study music at a small “hippie college” as she likes to call it, improving her guitar & songwriting chops, moved back to Austin & recorded her first album Shudders & Rings and hit the clubs hard, developing a following at places like Momo’s, Strange Brew, (both have closed) and Cactus Cafe. She started to appear on many “one to watch” lists in Austin & in 2009 won Best Indie Band at Austin Music Awards. Since that time life has had huge changes for her; she did a short stint on reality tv (NBC’s The Voice), moved to New York, toured in France, gave birth to two daughters, recorded & released two more albums, toured internationally and became a radio personality/DJ on Austin’s Sun Radio (100.1FM). Her unique “radio” voice landed her a gig as the voice of Whataburger in 2023. EMMA DEAN: Originally from Louisiana and a resident of Austin, Texas for many years now, Emma Dean Moseley is a rising singer-songwriter and acoustic finger style guitar player. DAVID PULKINGHAM: David Pulkingham grew up traveling internationally, recording and performing music. He was first published at age four and was on his first recording session at age seven. Deciding to pursue music professionally at age 20, David enrolled in the prestigious Jazz studies program at the University of North Texas. Upon graduation he moved to Austin, Texas where he has been a mainstay of that city’s thriving music scene ever since. Known for his abilities in numerous styles, he has been called on for many recording sessions whether it be Latin music or Rock and Roll. Tony Visconti, the legendary record producer best known for producing David Bowie, calls Pulkingham “the complete guitarist.” “David is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever worked with,” said Visconti, who has worked with some of the greatest guitarists of the last five decades. “He is equally brilliant in pick styles, finger styles, classical, Flamenco, Brazilian — rock ‘n’ roll and jazz. He always amazes me.”