A little about Curly...

Shotgun Curly (aka Karen Maria Schleifer) is a true multi-hyphenate artist, born & bred in NYC.  She started her professional performance career on Broadway in the original production of Annie. After graduating from SUNY Purchase, she moved to CA and was inspired to play guitar by her buddy Jonathan Dyke.  It was there that she developed her skills as a songwriter, which led to her 1st studio album “Only The Ocean.” (Recorded at Magic Carpet Studios, Hollywood).  After a decade out west, she made the journey back east and started jamming regularly at 27 St. Marks Place in NYC. It was there that Shotgun Curly was born - what has become a musical adventure with rotating members playing Curly originals, rock, pop, blues and everything in between. 

These days she’s not only a working musician but also a union stage manager on the off-broadway circuit and around the country.  Curly is on the roster for Jersey Select Entertainment and has played such notable venues as The Transparent Clinch Gallery, The Asbury Hotel, Convention Hall, Triumph Brewery, Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End, Parkside Lounge, Kenny’s Castaways, Funkadelic Studios — and a whole lotta other places in NYC, down the shore and across the country. Proud member of the Bradley Beach Arts Council!  In 2026 she is releasing 1 song every 3 weeks until the end of the year - in total 21 original works (including an EP “8118” and a full length album “Yes, You Can Touch It”)!!