Jen McClung will perform Mar. 11 at the Orpheum
Tuesday / February 21, 2017
The IVCCD Orpheum Theater Center will feature Jen McClung in concert on Saturday, March 11, from 7 to 9 pm. Known as a poet, artist and musician, McClung lives in Ames, teaches at Iowa State University, and recently released her third album, Wildfire.
With a master’s degree (MFA) in Writing and several literary awards to her name, Jen McClung puts lyricism first. But as a longtime musician and the daughter of a working pedal steel guitar player, she also knows that it takes more than just good lyrics to make a great song.
McClung grew up in a place and at a time when “girl with guitar” singer/songwriters were really just coming into their own. At 16, she was offered a development contract with a major record label (we won’t drop the name here, but let’s just say the initials are WB). McClung faced a choice … ride the wave to pop stardom, risking the loss of identity and artistic freedom along the way, or stick with her own fiercely independent style, making her own road to the top. She chose the road less traveled and now, more than a decade later, has built a fan following, released three studio albums, and toured the country – all without giving up any part of who she is or what she brings to the music world she loves.
The release of McClung’s third album, Wildfire, finds her living in Ames and teaching at Iowa State. She’s made her way in the world as poet, artist and musician, and she’s pushing forward with this and other projects all the time. A performance of one of her songs can be found online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZW4fOvWFzE.
Tickets to the Mar. 11 concert are $12.50 each and can be purchased in advance at the Orpheum Theater Center, 220 E. Main St., Marshalltown. For more information, call the Orpheum at (641) 844-5921 or visit the Orpheum website at OrpheumCenter.com. There will be limited seating, as well as standing room.