Coffeyville Community College welcomes Heather Styka to the Spencer/Rounds Theatre on Feb. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Admission is free. Styka will perform songs from the golden age of the Grand Ol' Opry.
Styka brings a vintage familiarity to the stage drawing inspiration from Folk and Tin Pan Alley sounds. The lyrics of her songs can be described as fresh, smart and unexpected.
“Heather Styka combines the influences of a fragile Irish air, the warm effervescence of upbeat Americana, soulful country, and mournful blues,” said Folkwords.com.
As a devoted student of the songwriting craft, it’s no surprise that Styka has developed a love for the songwriters of the “Golden Age” of country music. From the 1930s to 1970s, some of the finest voices of country, bluegrass, and popular music were inducted as members of Nashville’s renowned Grand Ol’ Opry live concert radio broadcast. Styka pays homage to these iconic artists, singing songs written and popularized by the likes of Hank Williams, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Bob Wills, Carter Family, Marty Robbins, and more. Styka brings a youthful energy and a songbird-sweet voice to classic favorites as well as some tunes less often heard.
Heather Styka originally hails from Chicago, where she started writing and performing at fourteen. She spent the subsequent decade performing throughout the Chicago area, and after obtaining a degree in creative writing, began touring the Midwest and Northeast. In the spring of 2013, Styka uprooted and moved to Portland, Maine, where she quickly became part of New England’s folk community. In recent months, Styka has returned to the Midwest, with plans to move to Nashville in spring.