Heather Styka.
Chicago songwriter Heather Styka cuts to the truth with gutsy vulnerability. With a heartfelt croon that brings to mind Billie Holiday or Patsy Cline, Styka combines the lyrical intricacy of folk with a catchy melodic pop sensibility and the grit of classic country in songs that are smart and disarming.
She has toured across the U.S. and Canada, and traveled to all 50 states. With five studio albums to her name, Styka's honest, image-heavy songs have garnered her a number of awards, including being a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival (2015, 2017) and official showcases at Folk Alliance International, NERFA, SWRFA, and FARM.
Styka is looking forward to returning to Coffeyville to share her new program, “Good Times in Tough Times.” She’ll be focusing on popular songs from the Great Depression and World War II — Tin Pan Alley, pop, folk, and the origins of country — that show optimism in the face of adversity. Some of the most positive and upbeat songs we still enjoy today were written in dark times, from cultures faced with financial strains or the dangers of war. Learn about the history and origin of these songs, while lifting your mood with catchy classic songs designed to make you smile.
Styka will perform at the Coffeyville Community College Spencer/Rounds Performing Arts Theatre at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12th, as part of the CCC Humanities Project. The performance is free and open to the public.