NISSWA - Grassroots Concerts welcomes Haley Bonar for her inaugural performance in the series at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Live Well Night Club and Coffee Bar at the Journey Church, Nisswa.
Bonar is more than a hard-working musician. She is an innovator and a visionary dug into the trenches of living. She writes genuine, epochal and poetic tales that feel like our heartbreak, failure, frustration and joy, Grassroots Concerts organizers write in a press release.
In a clear, insistent and often haunting voice, she tells real stories back to the audience, as if they were our own.
Bonar had already recorded an album as a teenager before leaving Rapid City, S.D., for Duluth, where she immediately recorded again. Alan Sparhawk of the hit group Low heard her at a local Iron Range club and a week later, she went from college student to ambitious dropout with her guitar and a drummer crammed into a Honda Civic opening for Low. She was 19.
In the last decade, she has released eight more recordings to critical acclaim and mounting success: lots of touring, playing festivals, capturing awards and artist grants, inventive video productions, placing song tracks on prime TV shows and popular film, appearing on myriad Best-of lists while continuing to write and perform locally.
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National Public Radio Music describes her style as "wonderfully ornate pop." Bonar recently wowed a packed house as one of several outstanding musicians in Grand Marais for the taping of NPR's popular radio show, "Mountain Stage."
She adds new dimension to her music and she looks up to Joni Mitchell, Mark Mothersbaugh, Laurie Anderson, Amy Sedaris, Maria Bamford, Louis C.K., Margaret Atwood and Cookie Mueller. She remains true to her artistry regardless of trend, politic or scripted gender barriers.
The Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar is located in the Journey Church next to the school in Nisswa.
Grassroots Concerts are made possible in part by a grant provided by the Five Wings Arts Council with funds through the Minnesota State Legislature.
At each concert, non-perishable food and cash donations for area food shelves are welcomed.
General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 with listening attention, when accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for seating preference.
For information go to www.grassrootsconcerts.org or by calling 218-829-4092.
