Lanesboro Arts presents the final concert for Rhythms on the Root 2021 series, folk songwriter Pieta Brown on Friday, September 10th at 6:00 pm in Gateway Park. Tickets are $10 each; youth 12 and under are free but ticket is still required.
The daughter of two preacher’s kids, Pieta Brown’s early upbringing in Iowa was in a rural outpost with no furnace, running water, or TV. There, she was exposed to traditional and rural folk music through her father, Greg Brown, the now beloved Midwestern folk singer. Later, while living with her mother in Birmingham, Alabama during her formative years, Pieta drew on and expanded these influences and began writing poems and composing instrumental songs on piano.
In her early 20’s, after experiencing what she describes as “the songs calling,” Pieta started experimenting with the banjo and eventually picked up a 1930’s Maybell arch-top guitar during a visit to her father’s place and never looked back. Emerging from a disjointed and distinctly ‘bohemian’ upbringing, Pieta began performing live and making independent recordings soon after teaching herself how to play guitar. “I grew up around a lot of musicians and artists living on the fringe, and have always felt most at home among them,” Pieta says.
Continually revealing new layers as both a songwriter and performer, Pieta is being recognized as one of modern Americana’s true gems. In recent years Pieta has released multiple highly critically acclaimed albums, with much attention being paid not only to her distinct sound and style, but also the power of her singing and songwriting, including fan favorite, “Paradise Outlaw” (2014 Red House, which Bon Iver mastermind, Justin Vernon, called his “favorite recording made at our studio.”) Pieta has toured North America with Mark Knopfler, and toured various regions of the U.S., Australia and Canada with John Prine, Amos Lee, Brandi Carlisle, JJ Cale, Ani Difranco, Mavis Staples, and Calexico among others. She has co-written songs with and made recent guest appearances on albums by Calexico, Amos Lee, and Iris Dement. In the last few years Pieta’s songs and music have been heard in various TV Shows and indie films including Everything Will Be Fine (Wim Wenders). With a lead-role in a Swiss based indie film (Autour De Luisa, Fall 2018), and new album “Freeway” (September 2019, Righteous Babe) co-produced by Bon Iver drummer, S. Carey, Pieta’s music and artistry continue to rise.
Rhythms on the Root is a socially distant outdoor music series was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to activate the vibrant asset of Gateway Park as a safe place for the Lanesboro community and visitors to gather and celebrate with regionally acclaimed live music. The concerts will take place from 6:00 – 7:30 pm on the second Friday of every month June through September, hosting a family-friendly range of music including bluegrass, soul, folk, and blues.
Seating will be first come, first served general admission, and people will be seated in socially distanced pods. Masks will not be required as this event is outdoors, per Minnesota state guidelines. Thank you for following our COVID-19 safety precautions to allow us to host these concerts safely! Each concert will be $10 per ticket, with youth under age 12 free (but ticket reservation still required).
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