Solo songwriters at the Sebastiani Theatre

On Jan. 14, FolkYEAH! productions and Bundschu Co. present a special show featuring two dynamic solo songwriters at the Sebastiani Theatre. The 8 p.m. show will give Sonoma listeners their first look at the Syrian-American singer known as Bedouine. Supporting will be Southern Californian Shannon Lay.

Bedouine has three albums to her name, all loosely based on her experiences living all over the world and traveling everywhere else. Her most recent album, one she will highlight at the Sebastiani, is called “Waysides.” She accompanies herself on the guitar, her rich distinctive voice giving credence to her lyrics.

Shannon Lay is opening the show, and she offered this description of Bedouine: “Her music is very eclectic in its sound. Her voice is very specific in the most beautiful way. She has an excellent energy on stage, you feel very comfortable watching her. Her tones are beautiful. I’m a big fan.”

Lay is excited to be opening the show, a role that is not always appreciated by the audience. Born and raised in Redondo Beach, she is a self-confessed surfer girl. “It kept me out of the weird teenage trouble people can have. I was too busy getting sunburned,” she said.

Reached at her current home in Pasadena, the joyous Lay spoke in a very friendly manner about her career. “I play folk fingerpicking-style stuff. I’ve been playing since I was 18 or so, solo since 2015,” Lay explained.

Lay said, “I had been playing around the L.A. area and kept bumping into Bedouine at the different places. She asked me if I could join her for this mini-tour, and I jumped at the chance. I am so excited!”

Lay continued, “My inspiration? It’s a lot of real-life stuff, what I’m going through at the time… real life inspiration. I like to put very little pressure on my creativity. It’s very loose.”

Lay recently toured through Europe, lugging her new nylon-stringed guitar along while there. She will be playing that well-traveled guitar, rather than the usual steel-stringed guitars people usually play, here in Sonoma.

The plan is that both musicians will perform separately for the 8 p.m. show. It will be a night of sparce, but revealing personal songs. Tickets are available at Eventbrite. COVID precautions will be strictly enforced.