She wears black leather jackets and cowboy-style booties. She has cute blond curls, but a strong will and a redhead’s attitude. She is raising a 4-year-old son and dreaming about sharing the stage with Miranda Lambert (“because she’s REAL!”). She nonchalantly dances around the stage and then belts out notes so powerful that the chatting Friday-night bar patrons set down their beers and actually begin to listen. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Christine Kindred, your girl-next-door and, potentially, future favorite country singer.

Hailing from Indiana, Christine has been singing since she was a little girl, and having gotten a taste of stage, became determined to pursue singing and songwriting professionally. She has covered a variety of classic and contemporary country hits and gained quite a following; however, the music she writes is more country on its way to rock, and it’s to be expected, considering how incredibly powerful Christine’s voice is. When I was doing my “homework” before attending her show at Hazzard’s County in Cedar Rapids, IA, I watched several videos on her Facebook page. I was “sold” when I heard her original, “California,” and her cover of “Shallows;” I am sure Lady Gaga would approve, too.

Christine Kindred | The Oklahoma Reviews

Kindred chose to use this last name to honor her maternal grandmother, with whom she is very close. She aims to remain approachable and relatable to her audience, to make them feel like she is one of them, singing about them, for them, with them. Indeed, she masterfully interacts with the crowd: after just a couple of songs she sang on that cold Friday night at Hazzard’s, where we met before the show for a brief chat about her work and creative goals, the masses left their bar stools and migrated toward the stage. Soon, the dancefloor was full, with dozens cheering, singing along, and dancing.

Having opened for Eli Young Band, Greg Bates, Colt Ford, Charlie Worsham, and Craig Campbell, Christine Kindred is now finishing her tour around the Midwest (see dates of remaining shows below) and planning to put in some studio hours upon returning; fans should expect a surprise in early February. Her website is undergoing some reconstruction in preparation for the relaunch in the new year, but you can take a listen to both her originals and covers on Facebook and Instagram. For example, here is a link to her country-rock ballad ‘California.’