Solo | Trio | Full Band

Alicia Healey - a Seattle-based performing songwriter specializing in Americana, folk pop rock music. She writes and performs original songs as well as steals a song now and then. She performs as a solo performer, as part of a trio and with a full band. Alicia is a storyteller who taps into the significance of insignificant moments. Come see a show, watch a video or buy a song. Take her characters home with you.

Band Members

Alicia Healey (vocals, acoustic guitar)
Alicia Healey is a powerful vocalist, rhythm guitarist and bass player. She performs as a solo performer, with a trio (it adds harmonica, harmony vocals and electric guitar) as well as with a full band. She learned to sing from Barbara Streisand, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon and Olivia Newton-John and learned to write from John Prine, Gretchen Peters, James Taylor and Cat Stevens. However, performing is musical rubik's cube. She is also a sound mixer, sound consultant/co-ordinator, vocal and performance coach, and producer. The specialty is acoustic pop and folk; the approach is fun. In her new studio, The Winterblue Room, she has works with several local musicians on their projects. Her songwriting is featured on the CD "Quiet Here" and her new recording "Live at the Mansion."

She spent several years with the acoustic country/folk group Rodeo Lagoon a group well-known in the Pacific Northwest for its amazing harmonies and fresh arrangements of folk and bluegrass songs. Rodeo Lagoon recorded an 7-song CD in 2001 (available for download and order), which highlights both the lead-vocal prowess and the magical blend of the three voices.

Lisa Mills (harmonica, vocals)
Known best for her outrageously fantastic vocals and as front woman for Swamp Mama Johnson, Lisa is now with Alicia Healey's band. She still rocks the R&B/Blues kazbah every once in a while with Sugar Mama. She is also a hypnotherapist with a practice in West Seattle (Millshypnosis.com).

Laurie Miller (electric guitars)
Laurie claimed her fame as the hard-driving, heavy-drinking... uhm, I mean the amazing lead guitarist for Swamp Mama Johnson. She has tone and lines that can stop a truck. She also played with the Aerosmith tribute band Dream On, Sugar Mama, Nicole Campbell and Amy Stolzenbach.

Kelly Paletta (drums)
Kelly is the 'go-to' guy. In addition to playing with Alicia, he plays with Andrea Wittgens, The Ramp, Sugar Mama, Jimm McIver, Summer Mayne, The Higgins, Val D'Alessio and Amy Roberts. He's also played with Mudbug, Island Time Steel Band, Raccous, The Herbivores, Andy Narell, Rob McConnell, Bobby Shew, Abel and Allen Reggae Review.

In 2004-2005 he contributed a monthly column to Modern Drummer magazine entitled "Reading Basics." More MD articles are currently in the works. Kelly has studied with Dan Tomlinson, Gary Cook, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, Alex Acuna, George Marsh, Steve Houghton, Ed Soph and Zorro.

Joel Grow & Doug Hayman (bass)
Sharing duty as the bottom end, the band grabs whichever one isn't already playing that night! Joel Grow was bass player for Sugartown and Andrea Wittgens. Doug Hayman is an accomplished electric player who moonlights as a bass player.

Victory Music Review
Original review on Victory Music website.
Local Singer Songwriter
Alicia Healey - Live at the Mansion
(Winterblue Music)
I first met Alicia Healey at the 2007 FAR West conference in Vancouver, WA. The various showcases were packing the rooms of the Hilton and I was seeking some refuge in the Puget's Sound Productions room. Alicia was just about to start singing, so I settled in. I didn't know her but I'd heard her name mentioned. I'd been learning a lot. When Alicia started singing, I learned a lot more. I learned how a person can come alive in a performance. I was instantly envious, but nonetheless, Alicia has a wonderful ability to project her emotions and feelings through her songs. I felt it that day and I feel it in "Live at the Mansion".

Recorded on April 29, 2006, Alicia, along with Vince Gates performed for a small but enthusiastic audience. All of the energy and fun is there. It's clear that the audience and Alicia are having a good time. There probably wasn't enough room for a drum kit, but I love the full band version of "Earthquake" on Alicia's website (www.aliciahealey.com). I would've loved a better recording. Nine of the ten tracks are original. They are solid, tight songs that reach people as individuals. The tenth, "Jolene" by Dolly Pardon, is the sole dim spot in a great album. It doesn't shine with the rest of the tracks. You write better stuff and I'm kinda fussy where covers of well known songs are concerned, so take this with a grain of salt. Thank you, Vince Gates, for getting this project going. It's been about ten years since Alicia's last release. We've been waiting far too long for this CD. Alicia, please don't keep us waiting like that again.
(Matthew Moeller)

Seattle Gay News
posted Friday, July 24, 2009 - Volume 37 Issue 30

A Dyke About Town Seattle's summer music pleasures
by Mercy Moosemuzzle - SGN Contributing Writer

Alicia Healy Trio
Mercy and Cuteness' favorite act at the Laughing Lady Café Music Festival was the Alicia Healy Trio. They had found Alicia Healy's solo act earlier in the week to be a knockout. Lisa Mills' harmonica added magic. Laurie Miller's electric guitar added power to the music. Both women used to play with Swamp Mama Johnson.

The warm-up act, singer/songwriter Val D'elessio, had spunk and skill. High points of her songs were "There Ain't Nothing Like a Train," and "Home Highways and Bad Hair Days."

Healy's music held up well with Mercy and Cuteness, so they liked the fact that she repeated some of their favorites, "You'll Be Safe Tonight" and "Waiting for the Moon." Cuteness has been irritated with performers who say they are going to do a country song, but no idea what that means. Alicia's "Another Round" is a fine exception. Mercy was impressed with the imagery and wordplay in Alicia's lyrics. The band rocked out on Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and "Earthquake," which is Mercy and Cuteness' new favorite of Healy's songs.

Healy expressed appreciation to café owner Angela Rinaldo for her dedication and risk-taking in inaugurating the festival. Mercy and Cuteness agree that Angela is quite amazing, and they want you to know she is also single and cute.

Seattle Gay News
posted Friday, July 17, 2009 - Volume 37 Issue 29

A Dyke About Town: Lots of hot summertime performances
by Mercy Moosemuzzle - SGN Contributing Writer

Mercy and Cuteness went back to the second night of the festival. Cuteness liked how beautiful the venue was, its ambience fed by good art. Alicia Healey warmed up the evening with a rendition of her beautiful song, "You'll Be Safe Tonight," which Mercy and Cuteness decided to add to their commitment ceremony play list: "You'll be safe tonight/ cause here in my arms nothing bad can harm you/ music down low, candles flame by the open window/ You'll be safe tonight."

Healy's voice was rich and guitar playing right on. Her songs "Another Round" and "Fly the Moon" were also high points.

Amber Darland then took the stage with her big voice and lively guitar. Alicia Healey backed her up on vocals and various instruments. Darland's song "Fall Down," about falling in love on a motorcycle, made Mercy and Cuteness smile. "What If" and "Learn to Bend" were pleasing love songs by Amber. "Without Blame" and "Time for Today" were good reminders to stay present. Darland's "Super Eight" made Mercy and Cuteness laugh and shout "Yee-haw!"

Check out the home page for her schedule and recordings page for past recordings and new experiments