MOUNT VERNON — Kim Weitkamp has been leading a double life.
Many people in Mount Vernon know Kim as the owner of The Makery, but before settling down on Main Street, Kim spent more than 15 years touring the continent, making people laugh with her humor, stories and songs.
She just returned from a small California tour, and she still does about 20 shows a year. But Kim has recently settled into Mount Vernon and slowed it down a bit. Kim has seven award winning albums, and her material is played on Sirius XM radio and NPR affiliate stations. Her latest album, “Monkey Bars, Middle Age and Other Natural Disasters”, just took home a 2019 Storytelling World Award.
Kim shares hilarious stories and songs about life, love, childhood and being an adult; all the while touching a tender, heartfelt spot in each listener.
If you like Jeanne Robertson, Garrison Keillor or Martina McBride, you’ll enjoy Kim. It’s like someone took all three of them, put them in a blender and bam….you have Kim.
Steve Perry of Highway 89 on SiriusXM says, “If we are talking Rock-n-Roll, Tina Turner was a national treasure; country has Dolly Parton and in the world of storytelling we have Kim Weitkamp.”
This Saturday, Aug. 3, 7 p.m., she’ll be doing a special show at the Woodward Opera House. Kim will be donating all the proceeds to the Ohio Eastern Star Home Dog Park Project and, thanks to the underwriting of Custom Cutters, every penny will go to the Ohio Eastern Star project.
“I love Mount Vernon. I know I wasn’t born here, but my husband and I chose to move here because of the people,” Kim said. “Some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and I’ve traveled a lot of places. My mother-in-law just moved here too and she is excited to be a part of the community.”
This benefit concert is really close to my heart,” she continues. “My father-in- law, Charlie, spent the last weeks of his life at the Ohio Eastern Star Home and this is a great way to feel like I am giving back. Plus, my husband Danny and I are major dog lovers.”
Kim’s material is played regularly on NPR affiliate stations and on SiriusXM Radio. Kim travels the continent full-time, performing at theaters and at festivals. She has hosted a successful morning show and has keynoted for some of Forbes most recognized companies and high profile national non-profits.
Seven out of her eight albums have won awards, and she has received the Blue Ridge Excellence in the Arts Award and the Toastmasters International Leadership in Communication Award.
The Oregonian stated, ‘Kim studs her storytelling performances with bits of musical Americana that match the sweet and gentle tones of her narrative.”
