Rochester native Amy Abts is a musician, writer, actor and artist who from the age of 7 has been performing consistently over 34 years. In 1994 she graduated from the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Minneapolis and moved to Duluth to study acting at the University of MN. During this time she began to perform her own songs (previously played only in her bedroom) in front of actual people, spurred by a chance opportunity to play live on Duluth’s pirate radio station Random Radio.
In 2006 Amy began to have some unusual medical symptoms and in 2007 was diagnosed with a degenerative cranial nerve disorder at the Mayo Clinic. This ultimately led to 2 brain surgeries in ’09 and ’10. Amy is currently booking new shows, working on new music and writing a memoir based on her unusual medical journey.
She was the first performer ever at Duluth’s Homegrown Music Festival, now in its’ 20th year. She graduated with a BFA in acting and her focus shifted to writing and performing music full time. Amy has performed with such acts as Charlie Parr, Trampled By Turtles, Haley Bonar (now HALEY), Low, the Black Eyed Snakes, the Keep Aways, Both and many others. Her new album, Fifty-Fifty, was released in February of 2018.
Amanda does not claim a particular genre of music, and in doing so enjoys variety in her music and audiences. As a solo artist and a part of a women’s contemporary folk band called Wildflower; she is a performer not to be missed.
After attending Winona State University she began a more intentional look at returning to music after her nephew was diagnosed with leukemia. In 2010 she released a children’s album called, “Trains, Cars + A Trip To Mars.” Soon after his father also passed away. Amanda wrote some songs from the experience and released, “Embrace” in 2012. “Better Life” EP is her most poignant work yet; taking her almost 2 years to complete.
She has given a yearly performance at the The Mid West Music Festival since its inception. In 2015, she performed on the first day of the Wisconsin music and art festival, Ashley for the Arts. And Wildflower joined the Boats & Bluegrass Festival in 2017.