Donna Herula
Chicago, Illinois, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF
Music
Press
“Donna Herula from Chicago…tended towards the Acoustic Blues/Americana corner. Thanks to her impressive slide guitar playing and her fine songwriting, Donna is one of the discoveries of the festival.” - Marco Pizzalonga, JNM - Jazz’N’More Magazine, Marco Piazzalonga,
“This album certainly will be destined for awards — it’s the best acoustic blues and roots album I’ve heard in at least a year, if not longer. I most highly recommend this CD for all lovers of traditional and acoustic blues. It’s a wonderful mix of Delta and Chicago blues with some great folky overtones. I don’t think I can pick out a favorite cut here because they are all superb. Eleven fine originals and three marvelous covers make for some really interesting and classic performances from top to bottom.” - Steve Jones, Chicago Blues Guide
"People are going to start talking about Donna Herula, beginning with her superlative guitar prowess. Herula managed to bring out an album with the female perspective." - Frank Matheis, Living Blues Magazine
"A truly gifted virtuoso of the resonator guitar who also possesses the most stunning of voices. Herula is a Chicago born Blues artist of the highest order who not only sings, plays slide but also is a more than accomplished composer." - Peter Merrett
“Herula delivers a set that is powerful, passionate, and a great listen. The originals here draw from personal experience, giving them a level of power not found in much of the current blues scene.” - Bill Wilson, Reflections in Blue
“Black Ice” and [Donna’s version of] Lucinda Williams’ “Jackson” are the kind of masterful performances that I’d like to say should be mandatory listening in music class.” - Mary 4 Music, Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro,
https://donnaherula.com/reviews/ - See Link to All Reviews
Discography
Donna Herula's 3rd album won "Best Acoustic Blues Album" at the 2022 Independent Blues Awards where she also won "Best Traditional Blues Artist." Her second album "The Moon Is Rising: Songs of Robert Nighthawk" (duo with a harmonica player) was released in February 2011. Her first solo CD, "Donna Herula," was released in June 2009.
Photos
Bio
Donna Herula is a blues and Americana singer, songwriter, resonator slide guitar player and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee. Playing a variety of blues styles, her songwriting tips the hat to the tradition while creating a fresh, contemporary perspective on blues and roots music.
In October 2022, Donna Herula won "Best Traditional Blues Artist" and her album "Bang at the Door" won "Best Acoustic Blues Album" at the 2022 Independent Blues Awards.
Donna is also a blues fingerstyle and slide guitar teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.
Donna Herula Trio Memebers: Donna's band includes Donna on vocals and resonator guitar, Marc Edelstein on upright bass, and Tony Wittrock on guitar and mandolin.“The music highlights a musical palette that flows from acoustic blues through gospel, jazz, and ragtime to the electric Chicago blues style, with nods to New Orleans, folk, and country influences" – Mark Thompson, Blues Blast Magazine
2022 Performances:
- Pritzker Pavilion Main Stage at the 2022 Chicago Blues Festival (Chicago, IL)
- Lucerne Blues Festival (Switzerland)
- Champaign Urbana Folk and Roots Festival
- Official Showcase artists at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest
- CU Folk and Roots Fest (Champaign-Urbana, IL)
- Bayfront Blues Festival (Duluth, MN)
- Juke Joint Festival (Clarksdale, MS)
- Delta Cultural Center (Helena, AR)
- Southern Indiana Blues Festival
- The Old Town School of Folk Music (Chicago, IL)
- Old Webster Jazz and Blues Fest (St. Louis, MO)
Quotes:"People are going to start talking about Donna Herula, beginning with her superlative guitar prowess. Herula managed to bring out an album with the female perspective." - Frank Matheis, Living Blues Magazine
"A truly gifted virtuoso of the resonator guitar who also possesses the most stunning of voices. Herula is a Chicago born Blues artist of the highest order who not only sings, plays slide but also is a more than accomplished composer." - Peter Merrett, PFS 106.7FM, Melbourne, Australia
Website: https://donnaherula.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaHerulaMusic
Electronic Album, "Bang at the Door": On Spotify, Apple Music, etc.: https://blind-raccoon.lnk.to/Bangatthedoor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnaherula/
Donna Herula Trio Videos:
- Write Me a Few of Your Lines (traditional/Fred McDowell)
- Black Ice (original instrumental)
- Who's Been Cookin' in My Kitchen (original blues song)
- Soul of a Man (traditional/Blind Willie Johnson)
- Promise Me (original folk song)
Donna Herula Band Videos (with drummer):
- Fixin' to Die (Bukka White): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hZr8QGKcfM
- I Got No Way Home (Original): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkVk1rOnroY
- Crying Won't Help You (Tampa Red): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSqbVE7Fh80
- Up Above My Head (Rosetta Tharpe/Traditional): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1z_ziJp_jU
Links
