We are delighted to be presenting American singer, violinist and songwriter Gaelynn Lea at The Old Church. We saw her perform earlier this year and Deirdre described it thus..

“I have never witnessed a more inspirational performer than Gaelynn Lea. Wonderful sonorous violin, beautiful voice and words. I was moved to tears by the Irish influences in her instrumentals and the sheer authenticity of this woman. She was fearless.”

“The way her voice resonates is so unusual and beautiful, like nothing I’ve ever heard before.” -Jess Wolfe (Lucius)

Classically trained violinist and songwriter Gaelynn Lea has been bewitching scores of fans with her experimental and ambient takes on fiddle music, an approach that incorporates her love of traditional tunes, songwriting, poetry and sonic exploration. Her work most recently won NPR Music’s 2016 Tiny Desk Contest, a competition drawing submissions of original songs from more than 6,000 musicians across the country.

Gaelynn Lea has been playing violin for over twenty years, developing an improvisational style all her own. She has performed alongside many notable Minnesota musicians over the years, including Alan Sparhawk, Charlie Parr, and Billy McLaughlin.

 

In addition to performing, Gaelynn Lea has had a busy year in the recording studio. She released her debut solo album entitled “All the Roads that Lead Us Home” It pays homage to the traditional fiddle tunes and beloved standards that Gaelynn has been playing for over a decade. But of course, there is a twist! Gaelynn used her Memory Man looping pedal to create winding layers of sound underneath these familiar melodies.

In addition to performing, Gaelynn also loves to do speaking engagements about disability, overcoming challenges, and the joy of music. She has a congenital disability called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bones Disease. Gaelynn is a strong voice in the disability community; she uses her music as a platform to advocate for people with disabilities and to promote positive social change. In October 2016, Gaelynn was invited to Yale to give a TEDx Talk titled “Disability and Sexuality: Forging Identity in a World that Leaves You Out”. Gaelynn Lea believes society must work harder to prioritize accessibility so people with disabilities can participate fully in their communities and use their talents and gifts without barriers or discrimination.