Mama’s Black Sheep

Mama’s Black Sheep is the soulful collaboration of singer-songwriters Ashland Miller (guitar/vocals) and Laura Cerulli(drums/vocals). Together, this duo creates a blend of hit-worthy originals and covers with a unique spin.  Each song allows you to travel with time, whether you’re swinging to Country, Rocking to Pop, Grooving to Soul, or swaying to the Blues; there’s always something to move your body and stir your soul! 

Touring together since 2008, Miller & Cerulli (veterans of the singer-songwriter circuit), will make you feel like every aspect of their journey is in Real-Time. Creating a sound all of their own, Mama’s Black Sheep is driven by Miller’sversatile guitar grooves, Cerulli’s innovative percussion, and two voices that blend like honey & whiskey in perfect harmonious balance. These ladies rock to their own beat, sharing songs of life and love, and empowering the listener to live boldly beyond the barriers.

With three well-received CD’s to their credit (Unmarked Highway, 2010; Drivin’ On, 2011; Live @ The Bevy, 2016) the duos newest recording, “The Sheep Save Christmas” will be released October 2018 to celebrate 10 Years of Mama’s Black Sheep.  The new recording will feature some Holiday favorites with a “Sheep” spin and a few new original songs. Mama’s Black Sheep has been burning up the road touring extensively throughout the continental U.S. and the Caribbean, playing nearly 200 shows a year. While much of their touring is done as a duo, they are occasionally seen as a trio or full band with the addition of violin and/or bass.

Prior to Mama’s Black Sheep, Ashland toured for twelve years as part of the award-winning acoustic duo, CommondbonD, releasing six CD’s, performing on The Nashville Network (TNN), and showcasing their music in forty states, as well as overseas. Ashland’s songwriting, harmonies, and creative musical arrangements have been shared on stage with talents such as John Mayer, Ritchie Havens, Catie Curtis, and Sophie B. Hawkins.

Laura previously fronted her own band, Cerulean Groove. She toured internationally from 2005-2008 as a full-time member of SONiA & disappear fear. Her unique style has been appreciated everywhere from The Kerrville Folk Festival (TX), to The Barns at Wolftrap (VA), to the High Sierra Music Festival (CA), to The Red Roof Women’s Festival(Ontario), and even ‘down under’ at the Woodford Folks Festival (AUS).

Ashland and Laura, produce magical tapestries of songs, weaving energetic color and rich texture to create an infectious and lively conversation between guitar and percussion. Miller’s passionate voice will make you laugh, cry, feel inspired, and ultimately, desire more.  Bob Steel of “Baltimore Out Loud” writes “Cerulli opens her mouth and the world stands still as she wrings every drop of emotion out of the lyrics with her powerful, soaring voice, forged in the fires of the blues and tempered in the cool technique of her classical training.”

This thought-provoking duo will tantalize your aural appetite, regardless of your musical taste buds, with a diverse blend of blues, soul, country, pop, and more by unapologetically dipping into the well of all music genres. It’s called soulful, poetic storytelling with an irresistible groove.

www.mamasblacksheep.com