Country Singer Kaitlyn Baker to Perform at Knuckleheads in Kansas City, 6/15

Nashville recording artist Kaitlyn Baker will perform in Kansas City for the first time, at Knuckleheads Saloon on Wednesday, June 15.

Baker, who has been called a new "coal miner's daughter," has sung professionally since she was a young girl in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, but recently started to attract national attention. Her single "Coal Train" was selected by the Academy of Country Music as one of a handful of songs by emerging artists for the 2015 ACM Awards ZinePak, a 2-CD album that debuted at #4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and was sold nationwide at Walmart. The ballad tells the story of a young man who is forced to leave his hometown in search of a better life, because of the declining coal industry, an issue that is especially relevant in the current presidential race.

"Southwestern Virginia is only producing about half the amount of coal it did 10 years ago," Baker said. "The economic impact has been devastating. A lot of miners have lost their jobs. For some people, that means moving away to find work. No matter what you think of the environmental issues related to coal, I think everyone can sympathize with those who are losing jobs."

The "Coal Train" music video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/D3mLivBoSnM

Meanwhile, Baker's single "Burn," which appeared for several weeks on the MusicRow Breakout Chart, is about a woman who gets revenge on a cheating man by setting his clothes on fire. (https://youtu.be/zW-is2ZlZ9A) The song inspired the creation of Kaitlyn Baker's BURN Sauce, which is produced by Tennessee-based Pepper Palace, one of the world's leading hot sauce companies with over 30 retail outlets nationwide.

Kansas City will be the first stop on Baker's summer tour, which will include a performance at the Country Jam Festival in Grand Junction, Colorado. Other notable recent projects include the nationally syndicated PBS television concert series "Song of the Mountains" and a small role in "Born in Bristol," an upcoming documentary about the early history of the country music industry, with musical direction by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Carl Jackson. Baker also recently recorded an upcoming new single, "Heart of Appalachia," which was coproduced by acclaimed songwriter, producer and singer Larry Cordle ("Murder on Music Row," "Highway 40 Blues," etc.).

"I can't wait to perform in Kansas City," Baker said. "Knuckleheads has a great reputation, and I understand it's next to railroad tracks. Maybe we'll get lucky and a train will come through when I sing 'Coal Train,' which would be cool."

Kaitlyn Baker will perform at Knucklehead's Saloon, 2715 Rochester Street, Kansas City, MO 64120, on Wednesday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. Cover charge: $5. For more information, visit www.KnuckleheadsHonkyTonk.com or call 816-483-1456.