"Amanda's approach is refreshingly real.... The result is well crafted, honest and captivating art." -Carolyn Kruse, WKLB 102.5 Boston
"She's on the right track with this album... I have no complaints whatsoever. A+"
-Eric Saeger, NH Hippo (on "Looking For The Light")
"With Every Bar Downtown, Amanda McCarthy parades not only her gift for songwriting, but also her supple, graceful voice." -Randy Radic, Guitar Girl Magazine
"An emotive and dynamic soundscape circles McCarthy's image-driven and empowering lyrics perfectly." -Jennifer Gurton, Buzz Music LA (on "Don't Stop Me")
"Great singing! Keep going!" -Steven Tyler, of Aerosmith
TALK OF THE TOWN
Amanda McCarthy is a New Englander at her core. So much so, that she recently traded six years in Nashville, the songwriting capital of the world, for an eager return home to the Granite State. "I never adjusted to being away from the coast", she admits with love. But don't be fooled, Nashville isn't getting rid of this singer/songwriter anytime soon. McCarthy is no stranger to the road, boldly declaring, "I get bored if I stay in one place too long."
Most known in the New England region for running into Steven Tyler at a bar and performing an Aerosmith song for him, McCarthy's career accomplishments have reached stages across the country. She has played in every kind of setting you can imagine: coffee shops, smokey bars, house concerts, weddings, corporate events, cruises, theme parks, and opening for national headliners. Fans even love keeping up with her performances at Nashville's Taco Bell! She has graced iconic venues like The Listening Room, 3rd and Lindsley, and Bluebird Cafe (Nashville), The Bitter End, Mercury Lounge, and Piano's (NYC), Disney World (Orlando), multiple locations of Sofar Sounds, Six Flags, and Hard Rock Cafe, and hundreds more with thousands of shows under her belt.
Writing songs both for her own artistry and for other artists' projects, McCarthy was described by one of her earliest mentors as "a storyteller compelled to speak the truth" and she has held that promise true ever since. According to her, if she can make you smile, laugh and cry within a 15 min span, she is "doing her job." Blending the pop/rock spirit of Michelle Branch with the country-ish cadence of Kacey Musgraves, along with harmony-laden acoustic songs, her music is carried by the core of her storytelling. Her debut album "Road Trip" was released in 2019 to high acclaim, and her long-anticipated sophomore album "Looking For the Light" was released in 2026. More new music is already in the works.