Gigi Love, Amtrak And The National Parks

By Robert Cox


When it comes to long distance train trips, few people expect live entertainment on board. While this is the case, Gigi Love is considered a Rails and Trails Troubadour participating in a joint program between the National Park Service or NPS and Amtrak. For, the young singer songwriter often sings songs on-board different Amtrak routes.

Singing onboard trains is only one aspect of the program. For, Gigi has now visited over two dozen National parks. While in the parks, Gigi absorbs the environment, learns the history of the park and area, then writes lyrics associated with the experience. In fact, Gigi now has an album out titled National Parks Centennial Songs in which, according to the Acoustic Outpost, singles off the album were chart toppers on a number of Folk stations in 2016 and 2017.

Later, the singer-songwriter performed on four different trips in the Summer and Fall of 2017. While visiting several National parks, the artist once again thrilled travelers with acoustic guitar and vocals. Whereas, on this tour, Gigi also performed in a number of the parks.

Love's songs are often honest, bluesy songs with a folk twist which describe the singer-songwriter's travels, dreams and vision quests. Most often, songs written and performed by the artist whether onboard a train or at a park, capture the attention of audiences by taking listeners on a musical journey. Born and raised in Texas, Gigi began singing at the age of 7, then by age 12 was performing in numerous Texas venues.

If the artist sounds familiar, it is most likely due to a televised appearance on the Winter Olympics, or having opened for David Matthews at the Columbia River Gorge. Following Love's performance at the Winter Olympics, a local label picked up the artist. After which, Gigi toured areas west of the Mississippi and Texas, appearances which has led to airplay on college and community stations around the country.

In 2016, the singer-songwriter debuted work at the New England Regional Folk Alliance at the Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase. In addition to the Olympics and opening for David Matthews Band, Love has also toured with Duncan Phillips, Kate McLeod and Utah Phillips' son. In fact, a rendition of Utah's song, Going Away is now available on Pandora Radio. Whereas, in 2011, a release on the Waterbug Label received a great deal of radio airplay on different folk oriented programs and stations.

Gigi has also graced the stage of a number of national folk festivals. The festivals at which Love has performed include Kate Wolf, Moab, Nedfest, Arise and Desert Rocks. Whereas, more recently, the singer songwriter has opened for the likes of Tim Reynolds, John Gorka and Christine Lavin.

Ultimately, the singer-songwriter's mission is to promote the care, protection and preservation of the National Park system. For, while Love enjoys writing and performing, the artist also cares deeply for the earth and all living things, of which many would no longer be alive if not for the National Park system. As such, the mission is one that is clearly defined in lyrics written by the singer-songwriter.




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