When Katie Dahl picked up a guitar for the first time, it was the music of Cheryl Wheeler, Pete Seeger, Dar Williams—all of her favorites—that she choose to play. Today, the accomplished singer/musician/songwriter no longer needs to perform other artists’ music.  She brings her music and her unique style to the Door Community Auditorium Fireside Coffeehouse on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7 pm. Tickets are $14.

Last July, Katie celebrated the release of her debut record, County Line, which she has described as “a folk-infused exploration of love and the American landscape.” The album contains two cover songs--"Gibraltar Town," by Katie’s songwriting hero, Fred Alley, and "Paradise," by John Prine--and eight Dahl originals, including "America" (a conflicted love song to the titular nation), "Katharine Hepburn Waltz" (a whimsical look at the difficulties of falling in love), "Southern Star" (a Shakespeare-infused journey into the mind of John Wilkes Booth), and "Freedom Song" (a 1960s-style belt-it-out singalong). These songs epitomize the thoughtful, literate lyricism and straightforward melodic sense that characterizes all of Katie’s songwriting.

Katie was 19 years old when she slipped on the ice at her southern Minnesota alma mater, Carleton College, and broke her wrist. Forced to take a two-month break from playing the oboe, Katie decided to use her newfound free time to learn guitar, strumming the strings with her stiff right hand and teaching herself chord positions with the other. She started out playing covers of songs by the songwriters she’s always loved and gradually gathered the courage to begin writing songs of her own.

Since then, this honey-voiced musician has turned her musical attention entirely to the acoustic folk music she’s always loved, singing everywhere from the cliff country of Mali, West Africa, to a canal boat in southern France, to an outdoor theater nestled in the pines of northern Wisconsin. Katie currently makes her home in northern Door County, and is fast making a name for herself with her rich alto voice, honest vocals, intricate fingerpicking, and incisive lyricism.

One reviewer enthused, “In a rich alto voice, Dahl brilliantly paints to life vivid scenes of cherry orchards, wide-open deserts and early-morning cities, as well as characters of depth, introspection and purpose.

“The title track of  County Line is an infectious story about leaving home and the ache to return. Later in the album, this theme is beautifully mirrored by John Prine's " Paradise." With a nod to Pete Seeger, "Freedom Song" evokes the most classic melodies of Americana.

“Dahl's skill for combining both outstanding lyrics with sweet melodies is a rare one. These qualities are amplified by the caliber and sensitivities of the musicians who accompany her. Since I opened Robin Jay Music four years ago, I have never heard as many people harmonizing and humming along with any other recording as much as this one.”

Tickets for the Katie Dahl Fireside Coffeehouse concert are $14 and may be purchased on line at www.dcauditorium.org, by phone at 868-2728, or at the Auditorium box  office Monday and Friday from 10 am to 3 pm and the day of the concert from 11 am to 3 pm.