Maiah Wynne, Photo: Buffalo James

By Stephanie Wenning

The Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness (DNACA) premieres its 37^th Performance Series at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 in Crescent Elk Auditorium at 994 G St in Crescent City with Maiah Wynne, a solo indie folk-pop artist who delivers the instrumentation of a full band.
 
At just 22 years-old, Wynne commands the attention of audiences and critics alike. “Maiah’s lyrics, music, and artistry shows maturity and talent beyond her age,” raves “Ukulele Magazine.” She won second in “The Museum of Pop Culture’s” Sound Off 2018 and has already been a part of the Tiny Desk Contest, has performed at South by Southwest, and was featured at the Sundance Film Festival. NPR Music’s Clara Maurer exclaims that Wynne’s original songs are “haunting…a fresh take on music that echoes back to the sounds of Appalachian folk tunes.”
 
Although Wynne has been compared to current artists such as Maggie Rogers and LORDE, her prolific songwriting with her own down-to-earth perspective solidifies her as a breath of fresh air in the folk-pop world. She is intentional in the subjects she writes about and has dedicated projects to causes including mental health and the preservation of ocean life. Each of her songs encompasses a specific mood or theme surrounding her earnest desire to heal the world through her music. Live, these shifting emotions translate to an engaging, immersive experience.
 
In addition to writing beautiful ballads, sweet singalongs, and empowering anthems, Wynne recreates top 40 hits with standout covers. She manages to captivate her listeners with both her stunning voice and wide array of instruments; KEXP describes Wynne as a vocalist with “a dusky, delicate voice brimming with emotion.” Among the instruments she plays on stage (sometimes simultaneously) are the ukulele, dulcimer, keys, and guitar while she uses an electronic looper pedal to create unprecedented sound.
 
As a part of Wynne’s mission, she leads engagement activities with the communities where she performs. While in Crescent City, Wynne will lead two separate workshops. On Friday, September 20 she will head to Mountain Elementary School to teach an interactive ukulele class. Then from 1:00-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 22, Wynne will host a public songwriting workshop for veterans and their family members as a part of DNACA’s Arts for Veterans program. Wynne brings with her not only songwriting expertise, but personal experience with PTSD and sleep disorders. This one-of-a-kind activity will take place at the Del Norte Senior Center at 1765 Northcrest Dr in Crescent City. Veterans and families are strongly encouraged to register as this class is expected to fill; family members are eligible whether or not the veteran participates and, as with all of our Arts for Veterans offerings, this workshop is free-of-charge.
 
Tickets for the concert are available in Crescent City at Del Norte Office Supply at 240 I St and in Brookings at Wright’s Custom Framing at 810 Chetco Ave or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maiah-wynne-tickets-68788308683. Tickets will also be available at the door, which opens at 6:15 p.m. on September 21. General tickets are $18, senior (65 years and older) are $15, transitional-aged youth (18-25 years old) are $15, and students (K-college, full-time) are $12.
 
Season tickets are also available at these locations until our second performance on November 16. They provide a significant discount to attend all five performances and are transferable and replaceable if lost. General season tickets are $70, seniors are $55, students are $45, and family passes (two general and two other) are $160.
 
DNACA, of course, would not be able to bring such outstanding performers without the generous support of our underwriters. For our 2018-19 season, they are: Anonymous, Patty Brunsing, Caldwell Clan Fund, Lisé Hamilton, Lucky 7 Casino, and Bill and Kathy Maffett. Underwriters who are a part of Wild Rivers Community Foundation are the Del Norte Area Fund and Physicians’ Community Fund. Our in-kind supporters are Bicoastal Media and the Del Norte Triplicate. DNACA’s Arts for Veterans program is funded in part by Veterans in the Arts, a program of the California Arts Council (CAC), a state agency. DNACA is also a State-Local Partner with the CAC. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov. We are also supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Maiah Wynne’s engagement activities and public concert are made possible thanks to IM Tour, a program of WESTAF, the Western States Arts Federation.
 
For more information, contact DNACA at 707-464-1336 or at dnaca_cc@icloud.com. Find us on Facebook @DNACACC for links to the artists’ websites, music videos, and event updates.

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