Jaden Carlson performs ‘Open Your Eyes’

Jaden Carlson performs “Open Your Eyes” at the Second Story Garage in Boulder, Colorado.

You almost need to witness it to believe it.

Jaden Carlson is a local guitar player and singer/songwriter with three albums to her name, and she’s only 11 years old.

When she came into our studio, Jaden was an average, energetic kid. Once she started playing, however, it was obvious why other local musicians want to work with her and how she landed a gig opening for Michael Franti.

C. Alan Crandall ran down her accomplishments for the Longmont Times-Call in February:

Jaden has played at multiple festivals, including Doug Fest, Desert Rocks, Telluride Blue & Brews Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, Harmony Fest, Knock the Blues out of Hunger and NedFest. She has played throughout the Front Range with her trio, which features The Motet’s Scott Messersmith and Garrett Sayers, including such venues as the Gothic Theatre, Cervantes and Fox Theatre.

Jaden, who takes her inspiration from such acts as Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Lennon and U2, opened Franti’s headlining set at 2010’s Power to the Peaceful Festival in San Francisco, where she performed in front of an audience of 80,000.

What she brought us: Jaden delivered a feather, but what she made us on the spot was even cooler. She drew a picture of the main character of a book she’s writing. It’s a bird named Garrett. As in, Garrett Sayers.

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