Born and raised twenty miles south of Pittsburgh, Nicki Sbaffoni began her music career early at age 12, singing in church and participating in chorus at school. It wasn’t until college that Nicki expanded her musical involvement, learning to play the guitar and writing original songs. “My whole life I’ve been interested in music,” she explains.
In her twenties, Sbaffoni played with bands and performed original songs before moving to Philadelphia in 2002. After spending a few years at a day job she tossed caution to the wind and decided to start playing covers at venues around the region full time. Nicki’s extensive list of songs helps audience members stay actively engaged.
“I have a laminated song menu of almost 500 songs I leave around at the bar and tables,” describes Nicki. “I can go weeks without playing Margaritaville or Brown-eyed Girl.”
Because her “menu” is so long it is rare she repeats the same tunes. In addition to covers, Nicki also has an EP, “Where My Light Guides Me”, that is a collection of acoustic pop genre songs that deliver strong emotional lyrics and hypnotic melodies.
Nicki has been playing in Cape May County now for five summers starting at Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grill in Cape May where she still performs to this day. She has also added The Lobster House to her schedule this summer as well as the Dead Dog Saloon in Sea Isle City which she states is fun due to the younger college crowds. “By the end of the night, I’ll have people screaming songs at me to play next.”
One of her most memorable performances was at a concert benefitting the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital for the Cardiology Department where she got to open for Brett Michaels. She also had the opportunity to perform at the Treasure Lake Music Festival in DuBois, PA, where the Gin Blossoms were featured.
If you would like to see Nicki perform more locally, you can check her out on Saturdays until September 27th at 4 p.m. at Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grill and later at 9:30 p.m at the Dead Dog Saloon in Sea Isle City. Nicki also performs on July 20th and 27th and August 10th, 17th, 31st at 4 p.m. at The Lobster House.
For more information about Nicki please visit her website at www.acousticnicki.com.