NISSWA-Annie Humphrey will perform in the next Grassroots Concert scheduled at 7:30 p.m. April 6 at the Live Well Night Club and Coffee Bar in Nisswa.
Growing up on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota, Humphrey lived in a home filled with voices made of thunder and nothing could stop it, a news release stated.
"Her parents were brilliant people individually, her father a singer and musician and her mother, author Anne Dunn, an artist and poet," the release stated. "Each taught Annie the beautiful things they knew. They showed her that she carried their gifts in her hands, too. This is how creating art and music came about for her. This is what saved her. This is how she lives now."
"Things my dad taught me: skin a deer, set net, clean fish, make maple syrup, harvest wild rice, play basketball, ride motorcycle, go without if you can't afford it, play guitar. Things my mom taught me: draw, paint, sew, write, laugh, wonder, forgive," Humphrey stated.
Humphrey's music career began out of pure necessity. With two young children to care for, she began performing at coffee houses and local events. Over the years her songwriting has focused on a specific theme with a message to "be brave and have a good journey."
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Now a mother of four and grandmother to two, Humphrey continues to create through the spirit of love, sharing that love with her horseman-husband.
She is a proud Anishinaabe singer-songwriter-activist who has led gatherings of artists and speakers in support of healing justice and environmental welfare.
"Being an Indian singer, people expect certain things," she stated. "I don't want to be limited in what I can sing about. My Indian heritage is part of who I am, so some of it comes out in my music, but I sing about a variety of human conditions. I just want to tell the truth about the world as I see it."
Remaining in the spring concert season are Ann Reed on April 20 and Mark Olson on May 4. The Live Well Night Club and Coffee Bar is located at the Journey Church, next to the school in Nisswa.
Grassroots Concerts is completely operated by volunteers and is a nonprofit. The series began in 1988.
