Natalie Spears - Guilty Pleasures Concert Series

Natalie Spears brings listeners in touch with the warmth of community, the quiet awe of wild places, and the intimate corners of humanity. Inspired by her father's English Folk heritage, his talents as a jazz pianist, and her own explorations, Natalie carries a deep love for both musical tradition and evolution. Drawing on these roots and pulling from a quiver of instruments (banjo, piano, and guitar), her performance is dynamic as she navigates between tonal worlds. Natalie’s angelic voice threads together a sonic language of both nostalgic and contemporary colors, creating a vibrant musical narrative of her own.

Born and raised in the heart of Washington DC, Natalie took after her father, and began playing piano at age five. By fifth grade she was schlepping an upright bass on the school bus, playing saxophone in a band, and taking drum lessons. Music fell by the wayside after high school but in her early 20’s, she stumbled upon American Roots music. While playing bass in an Old-Time string band, she became enamored by the driving rhythm of the clawhammer banjo, and since then, has dedicated herself to learning the instrument and its history.

Natalie’s duo project, Lizzy Plotkin & Natalie Spears, released their debut EP, “Just Over the Ridge,” in 2021 and it reached #10 album of the year on the Folk Alliance International Dj Folk Charts and her song, Seasons Change, reached #4 song of the year. She has toured throughout the United States performing at the John Hartford Memorial Festival (Bean Blossom, IN), Blackpot Festival (Lafayette, LA), and Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival (Palisade, CO), and has shared the stage with musical greats like Peter Yarrow, the Infamous Stringdusters, Drew Emmit (Left Over Salmon), and Jamestown Revival. Natalie is currently touring her solo project in listening rooms, theaters, and house concerts across Colorado.