Classically trained violinist, songwriter at Morley Theater

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Gaelynn Lea, a classically trained violinist and songwriter, will come to Purple Cat Productions at 7 p.m. Tuesday for a concert at the Morley Theater, 260 W. Boardman St. (formerly the Oakland Center for the Arts theater).

Lea’s experimental take on fiddle music incorporates her love of traditional tunes, songwriting, poetry and sonic exploration. “My aim is to create a meditative, layered sound that allows the listener’s mind to drift,” she said.

Lea won NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest in March of 2016. The competition drew submissions of original songs from more than 6,000 musicians across the country.

The Youngstown show is being hosted by Golden String Radio, a unique online station that is operated by adults with disabilities. It will include musical performances by the Purple Cat Players, Casey Malone and Jimmy Sutman, and will be followed by a reception with Lea, with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, at the theater.

Tickets to both the performance and the reception are $40 at brownpapertickets.com Tickets to just the reception are also available. Contact Coni at 330-503-2584 or coni@goldenstringinc.org for information.

Lea, a native of Duluth, Minn., is currently collaborating with Alan Sparhawk in an atmospheric alternative duo called The Murder of Crows. The duo released an EP, “Imperfecta,” in 2012.

Lea also regularly performs solo sets of experimental fiddle tunes, sprinkled with her original songs.

She released her debut solo album, “All the Roads that Lead Us Home,” in 2015., using a sound looping pedal to create layers of sound.

In August, she released at EP titled “The Songs We Sing Along the Way.”

In addition to her music, Lea also does speaking engagements about disability, overcoming challenges, and the joy of music. She has a congenital disability called osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bones disease. In recent years, she has used her music as a platform to advocate for people with disabilities and to promote positive social change, including accessibility for people with disabilities.