Michigan singer-songwriter Claudia Schmidt has covered a lot of musical ground since she made her performing debut with a stirring rendition of "Tammy" at age four around a neighborhood bonfire. Over nearly three decades as a touring musican, Claudia has enthralled listeners across America and Europe with her explorations of folk, blues, and jazz idioms, featuring her masterful guitar work, mountain dulcimer, and incredible vocals.

A musician who has always hated categories, Claudia describes herself as a "creative noisemaker," delighting her many audiences who learn to expect anything at any of her concerts, including (but definitely not limited to) hymn, poem, bawdy verse, torch song, satire, and the full gamut of emotions.

Her latest recordings hint at the scope of Claudia's work: a studio album of original songs, Wings of Wonder (RedHouse), an album of jazz classics, I Thought About You with her swinging quintet the JumpBoys, and a spoken-word album, Roads. But it is in her unforgettable live shows -- described by one San Francisco Bay Guardian critic as "A lot like falling in love" -- that the full range of Claudia's talent comes to bear as she weaves the elements of music and stage into a joyful, spontaneous program. Pianist Michael Smolens lends a hand for this memorable two-night stint.