Ginny Mitchell
Americana * Country * Folk
Ginny Mitchell has carried her country and folk roots from stages across Canada and the United States to her longtime home in Santa Cruz, California. A singer, guitarist, and songwriter, she brings decades of performing experience to original songs and the music that shaped her.
Her recordings include A Wild Rose, produced by Mark Schatz and featuring Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, and John Jorgenson, and her later album, Just to Hear Your Voice. Her creative work also extends to film: she collaborated with Lacy J. Dalton and Mary McCaslin on The Girls from Santa Cruz, a documentary about the wild horses of Nevada’s Comstock.
After years that included loss, caregiving, and a return to performing, Ginny is making her own music central again. She is completing a new album and performing solo and with longtime musical partner, lap steel guitarist Patti Maxine. Together, they also lead the Honky Tonk Angels, an all-women band playing country, Western swing, and boogie.
“Ginny Mitchell is an especially layered, meaningful, and talented musician who has set the standard in our International series for moving performance”.
– Mike Meyer. KEPW, KMUZ, KBOO, KQUA, KMUZ, KXC
“Ginny Mitchell and her band provide one of the most refreshing evenings of music found this year…superb vocals and soulful delivery.”
– Edmonton Sun
Ginny’s firstCD, “A Wild Rose” had a sweet roster with Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss, John Jorgenson among others. Mark Schatz was the producer and together they created a gem with her first CD.
“I am knocked out by Ginny’s voice and her most deserving self.”
– Lacy J. Dalton
Her CD, “Just to Hear Your Voice”, received praise and airplay across the US. It showcases Ginny’s growth as an artist, unafraid to tackle classics like “Stardust”, Ginny holds her own, belting out Don Henley’s “Heart of the Matter” and shines a light on her songwriting ability with her own heartfelt songs, “Miss You Boy” and “Ed and Alice”.
“Ginny Mitchell was named Canadian New Artist of The Year. She is a wild rose with a beautiful voice. I once booked her as a solo act for Merle Haggard in Sacramento in front of a roomful of 900 Central Valley Cowboys … solo (although Merle’s guitar player could not resist joining her)… and she had them singing along on the second song .”
– Tom Miller, booker, Don Quixote’s International Folk & Acoustic Concert Series
Ginny is completing songs for her fall studio sessions. She has a regular rotation of gigs, students and film production work.
Ginny and her husband Marty Collins founded the Digital Media Factory, a 15,000 square foot studio for music and film production. The studio was home base for movies, concerts and events from 2005 until Marty’s death in 2016. For more information on the past several years please refer to the Santa Cruz Sentinel articles by Wallace Baine. and the Marty Collins story.
“Mitchell exudes a warm friendliness and fresh enthusiasm of a youthful romance. Despite the fleeting feeling such maudlin sentiments might suggest, Mitchell’s music has true staying power, making her one of the area’s best-loved performers.”
– GOODTIMES, Santa Cruz, California
"Ginny has professionalism, competence but more than this, heart. It is a privilege working with Ginny."
–Gary Fjellgaard, Singer/Songwriter