From 2005 onward, the Lonely Coast (Valerie Holt & Anne Mathews) have performed close-harmony duets, lullabies, and folk and traditional music from Europe and the Americas. They've sung and played on the Duwamish River, in the King County Library System, at Smoke Farm in Arlington, at the Arts in Nature Festival, as part of the Seattle Center's Next 50 celebration, in the City of Seattle’s parks (as part of the Parks & Recreation Busker Program), and at clubs and venues in Seattle and far beyond. The duo is on King County 4Culture’s Touring Artists Roster; as teaching artists Valerie and Anne can offer singing workshops together or individually.
Valerie Holt studied music, theater, and dance at Interlochen Academy and Western Michigan University. She has performed with Xiranda, Dunava, the Bicycle Choir, the Infernal Noise Brigade, Filastine, Rhinestones, the d9 Dance Collective, and many others. She is also a solo artist and vocal instructor.
Anne Mathews has written, arranged, and played music with projects including Orkestar Zirkonium, The Toy Boats, Rhinestones, Nu Klezmer Army, the Bicycle Choir, and the Infernal Noise Brigade. She's available to arrange and teach music for choirs and other ensembles.
Mathews and Holt together fronted the now-archived dance-pop project Eurodanceparty USA, a joyous seven-piece band of Seattle musicians who performed popular music from Eastern Europe. You can find EDPUSA on Bandcamp or enjoy their lone, slightly bonkers music video (dir. Doug Arney).