Each evening when you return to the Avalon Alegria, Olivia Artists and local performers will entertain you in the lounge with comedy and music, and a chance to gather at the end of your day. The radiant and talented grammy nominated, Barbara Higbie will wow you with her multi-instrumental talents, and heartwarming songs. And on comedy nights, from birdcalls to her fearless quick-witted humor, Poppy Champlin will help you to fill the ship with laughter.
Barbara Higbie
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Barbara Higbie
Called "a bolt of bright sunlight" by the L.A.Times, a “classy talent” by the Boston Globe and “the most exciting musician we’ve heard” by the S.F. Chronicle, Barbara Higbie brings joy and virtuosity to every performance. She is a Grammy-nominated, Bammy and Glama award winning composer, singer-songwriter and fiddler, appearing on over 100 albums, including 18 of her own and 12 compilations that have sold in the millions. She has recorded with Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Cris Williamson, Ferron, Linda Tillery, Holly Near, Teresa Trull and many others. “Unexpected,” a duo album with singer-songwriter, Teresa Trull (on Olivia/Second Wave Records) made Higbie/Trull one of the most popular acts in Women’s Music. At the same time, Barbara was the first woman to be signed to the famed instrumental label, Windham Hill Records, where she co-led a group that recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, touring internationally for 15 years.
The youngest of six children from a midwestern musical family, Higbie started piano at age four. At age 13, her family moved from small town Indiana to Ghana, West Africa. She attended Mills College and the Sorbonne in Paris. At 21, she was awarded the prestigious Watson Fellowship to collect traditional music in West Africa. At 22, she placed 6th in the National Women’s Fiddle Contest. At 23, she released her first original album on Windham Hill, the critically acclaimed “Tideline” on the Windham Hill label.
Barbara’s first solo CD on Sony Records, a singer-songwriter album in 1990, was named “Top Ten of the Year” by the Washington Post. In 2011, Higbie was named the first “Artist in Residence” for the famed west coast jazz club, Yoshi’s. There, she founded the group “Hills to Hollers” with gospel/blues singer and original Olivia collective member, Linda Tillery and bluegrass star, Laurie Lewis. Recently, Higbie’s composing and recording has harkened back to her Windham Hill roots, with a popular 3-part, all women “Chillogy” series, produced by Lisa Vogel, featuring the brilliant Jami Sieber, cello, Vicki Randle, guitar and Michaelle Goerlitz, percussion. December 2023 marks the release of her new “Solstice” album. In addition to composing, recording, playing festivals and touring, Barbara loves playing for Olivia audiences. She has performed on over 35 Olivia trips and counts them among the best experiences of her life.
Poppy Champlin
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Poppy Champlin
Poppy Champlin is a veteran comic whose sharp wit and intuitive jokes can penetrate the heart of any discerning audience’s funny bone. She has a hip, fearless and in your face style of comedy. Spitting out jokes, quips, songs, impressions, interactions, and yes bird calls. Her shows can be described as spin art – “No two alike.” Not to mention her voice, every show ends on a good note. Her stand-up pedigree is flawless; as witnessed in her SHOWTIME SPECIAL: Pride The Gay and Lesbian Comedy Slam hosted by Bruce Vilanch, her LOGO SPECIALS: One Night Stand-Up, and Oprah Winfrey, and a featured story on Entertainment Tonight. Champlin was the winner of America’s Funniest Real Woman on The Joan Rivers Show, and a panel guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen.
Now residing back in Rhode Island, she has been inducted into the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame. Poppy is a crowd favorite in in P-Town every year for the past 24 years. She is teaching stand-up comedy and just won best comedian in the Ladies of Laughter 2024 competition in New York City.
