New York City based (and Boise born and raised) singer, songwriter and cellist, Erin Hall has been sashaying the city streets for more than a decade; performing frequently in music venues, comedy shows, and independently releasing two albums under the name Erin and Her Cello — as well as her latest album, Great Blue, under her name. She has been featured on WNYC’s New Sounds, Broad City Live, and has opened for the Portland Cello Project, among others.
In March of 2025, Erin will be featured in Idaho Public Television’s series “Idaho In Song,” part of the Idaho Experience, Season 8, episode 5. The episode will be shown on Idaho Public Television on Thursday, March 6th at 7:00 pm and Sunday, March 9th at 5:30 pm, and will stream for a limited time beginning March 10 on the PBS app and online at video.idahoptv.org.
Erin Hall’s route into the series is one of both connection, grief, and hope. While visiting Boise in August of 2024, Hall ran into Boise musician and friend Curtis Stigers, who asked Hall if she had a song about Idaho. She responded yes, but that it was not yet recorded. After connecting with Andy Lawless of Idaho Public Television, they decided to record and film the song in Idaho for the Idaho Public Television series.
Hall’s song, titled Lullaby of 55, was written for her late father, Richard Hall.
After a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2017, Hall told her that the only place he needed to be was their family cabin at Jug Mountain Ranch, near McCall. The song, a lullaby to help him fall asleep, describes the drive from Boise towards McCall on Interstate 55.
“Lullaby of 55” will be released in March of 2025.
Erin Hall’s previous album, Great Blue (self-released 2019), defies easy categorization, jumping from latin, funk, jazz and blues, to French pop. Her interest in French culture came from living in Belgium for a year on a Rotary Exchange scholarship. Her lyrics, whether in French or English, tell stories about the ordinary details of city life, conquering the monotony of a nine to five job, and discovering the beauty of nature in unexpected places — like the pond in Central Park where she spots the majestic Great Blue Heron.
The singer, songwriter, and cellist is often backed by her six-piece band consisting of keys, drums, percussion, sax, and backing vocals. Great Blue featured musicians Aya Kato, Gabe Shuford, Adam Enright, Lars Jacobsen, Jacquelene Acevedo and John Bollinger. Past shows include: Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova, (le) Poisson Rouge, Rockwood Music Hall, The Greene Space at WNYC, World Cafe Live (Philly), Visual Arts Collective (Boise), The Jewelbox Theater (Seattle), and Alberta’s Pub (Portland).
Press:
“She employs her knack for storytelling, acting, and musicianship to bring the stage to an entirely unique performance that is working in her favor.” — Strings Magazine
“Erin’s sound is one of dynamic contrasts. Her songs may be ironic at times, but her voice is not. It’s true and soulful and lush, like an old fashioned torch singer.” — NewSun.com
“Hall plays the cello, and her act encompasses a vibrant mix of music, comedy, and theatre. Her songs cross many genres. Her lyrics run the gamut between the sublime and the ridiculous, but she draws audiences with her ability to describe ordinary experiences in ways that are both poignant and funny.” — Backstage.com
“Erin is a hilarious chic with a sense of humor as finely tuned as her cello…she wields her bow with the same wit and savvy that a satirist wields his pen!” — Doug Wright, playwright, 2004 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Drama, I Am My Own Wife
“Sounds like Blossom Dearie fronting They Might Be Giants” (The Philadelphia Enquirer)
“…the standout of the night is clearly Erin and her Cello – an NYC babe with a spunky personality and crystal clear voice who can rock a cello like it’s a Stratocaster guitar.”—philly.com.
