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Description
Gunhild Carling is an amazing nostalgic entertainer who will take you back to the Simon Theatre’s start as a Vaudeville house. Her post-modern music artfully bridges the gap between the 2020’s and the Roaring Twenties of a century ago.
With Big Band Swing and New Orleans Jazz as her foundation, Gunhild is a joyous singer whose style reminds you of Billie Holiday. She also dances, juggles, and plays ten instruments – sometimes all within a single song. She even plays three trumpets at once!
This high-energy “circus” act masterfully takes you back to another era with vintage songs like Minnie the Moocher, Sweet Georgia Brown, All of Me, It Had to Be You, and an endless repertoire of old favorites.
Carling is often featured with big bands, symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, and as a diva vocalist with Postmodern Jukebox. She has over 50 million online followers.
She is a TV celebrity in Sweden, starring in Allsang Pa Skansen, Let’s Dance (Dancing With The Stars, Sweden), Fangarna pa Fortet (Fear Factory), Sa Skall Det Lata (Songwriter’s Board), America’s Got Talent, and ABC News.
With the Carling Family, Gunhild has appeared in several TV programs: Affären Ramel, Nygammalt, Cafe Sundsvall (Polish TV), Sommarkonsert Askersund, Aktuellt SVT, Sommarkonsert Grona Lund, RTL Germany.
In 2014 she performed at the Royal Palace in Stockholm with her Big Band for the celebration of King Carl XVI Gustaf's Ruby Jubilee. She returned to the Palace In 2016 to perform at the King’s 70th birthday celebration.
In total, Gunhild has released eleven albums starting in 1985 with her debut, I’ve Lost My Heart In Dixieland. Some albums were recorded with orchestras and some with her Big Band.
From 2006 – 2016 Gunhild managed and starred in the annual Stockamollan Swing & Jazz Festival in her hometown Stockamollan, with artists from all over the world.
In 2018, Gunhild moved to northern California with her family. She had performances scheduled throughout the US but, when venues closed due to Covid, she often performed on social media where she amassed millions of followers.
Today she tours with her Big Band and also performs as a featured singer with orchestras and symphonies. She sometimes records and performs with the touring band, Postmodern Jukebox.
A Few Achievements
1985 The Louis Armstrong Scholarship
1986 Soloist with Visby Big Band in Swedish national TV
1998 Actor in “När karusellerna sover” on Swedish national TV
1999 Held a position at the Gothenburg opera playing orchestral harp
2006 Kobe Jazz Street Award
2009 The SKAP Scholarship
2009 The Anita O’Day Award
2010 City of Malmö “Glädjespridare” Award
2010 Hosted the music series “Dansbandskampen” on Swedish national TV
2011 Honorary citizenship in Eslöv (Sweden)
2014 Woman of the Year, Skane, Sweden
2016 The Thore Ehring Scholarship
What People Are Saying
Gunhild Carling is one of the most important musicians and ambassadors for the arts in the world today. She is recognized globally for her outstanding musicianship as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, entertainer. - Scotty Barnhart, Director, Count Basie Orchestra
Gunhild Carling and The Carling Family are the Family Circus. They are, literally, a musical act right out of Vaudeville, in one family. Never mind any comparisons to the Trapp Family Singers or that family band in that Disney movie - this is the real damn thing, live and in person, and they are astounding. This writer, who sees as much nightclub, cabaret, and concert action as is humanly possible, can honestly say I have never seen anything like this before. In simplest terms: The Carling Family is amazing. - Stephen Mosher, critic and contributor, Broadway World.com
I have worked all over the world with stars like Liza Minnelli and Tony Bennett, among others, and can honestly say that Gunhild captivates an audience in a way I’ve never seen before. - Billy Stritch, pianist, singer in New York
I’ve had the pleasure of performing on stages throughout America with Gunhild Carling. Wherever Gunhild goes, she spreads joy and love through her incredible musical talents and her inspiring positive energy. I don’t know anyone who works harder to bring music and entertainment to audiences, and I’ve never seen audiences respond more enthusiastically to a performer. - Michael Andrew, singer, composer, arranger
Learn more on her website: https://www.gunhildcarling.net/
Watch her perform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGfKKlTFAwI
Venue Details
The Barnhill Center - Hasskarl Auditorium
111 West Main StreetBrenham, Texas 77833
The Barnhill Center
Built-in 1925, in the grand architectural style of Beaux-Arts Classical Revival, the Simon Theatre provided a splendid setting for many theatrical performances, film screenings and ballroom dances. The James Simon family commissioned Houston architect Alfred C. Finn, whose career included designing a number of prominent Houston buildings as well as the San Jacinto Monument, to design the theatre for the community of Brenham. Today, after a meticulous million-plus dollar renovation, the glamour and grand style lives on for future generations in the newly named Barnhill Center at Historic Simon Theatre.