Berner will perform at Princeton Coffeehouse

PRINCETON — Acclaimed singer/songwriter Martha Berner will perform at the Princeton Coffeehouse at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28.

Berner, who now calls Chicago home, grew up in small town Wisconsin. “I definitely had a family that loved music,” said Berner. “My father could never quite give up his old collection of the Beatles, the Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin, so I grew up digging through his 45s.”

At 19, Berner had an epiphany that her love of music and playing guitar for her friends was more than a hobby. “I realized that I wanted to make something of it.” She held down an array of day jobs to support her music. She also traveled and began performing all over the world. She has lived in such faraway locales as Thailand, Israel and the Virgin Islands. Her performances include vocals, guitar, cornet, harmonica and percussion.

Soon to release her fourth album, Berner was described in 2005 by the Cincinnati City Beat, as having “the twang of folk/country, the burn of alternative county and the punch of indie rock on her acclaimed full length debut ... this side of yesterday.” She recruited her sister and brother-in-law and a couple of other musicians to record the emotionally charged and beautifully sung Ten Tiny Little Pieces EP in 2007, described by Performing Songwriter as “further proof this indie folkie is one to watch.”

Berner has used her music to help causes in which she believes, including contributing her song, “A Town Called Happiness,” on a recording for the Voices and Faces Project to benefit victims of sexual abuse. She has also performed concerts to raise awareness and funds to educate rural Burmese children, a cause that became close to her heart after traveling extensively in Southeast Asia.

The Princeton Coffeehouse is located at the Open Prairie UCC Church, 25 E. Marion St. in downtown Princeton. The venue is completely accessible and there is ample free parking. Admission is $10 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Fair trade coffee, tea and homemade desserts are available.

To support local families in need, the Princeton Coffeehouse encourages those attending the Feb. 28 performance to bring a non-perishable item (canned goods, crackers, paper products, etc.) to be contributed to the Bureau County Food Pantry.