with Buffalo Nichols

The James Iowa City Songwriters Festival performances are only accesible with a festival pass. Sunny War and Buffalo Nichols are performing Friday night of the festival. Buffalo Nichols will play at 5:30 and Sunny War at 6:30.

It’s no secret that great art comes from the margins. From those who are either pushed to create from inner forces, or who create to show they deserve to be recognized. Los Angeles-based street singer, guitarist, and roots music revolutionary Sunny War has always been an outsider, always felt the drive to define her place in the world through music and songwriting. Her restless spirit, a byproduct of growing up semi-nomadic with a single mother, led her to Venice Beach, California, where she’s been grinding the pavement for some years now, making a name for her prodigious guitar work and incisive songwriting, which touches on everything from police violence to alcoholism to love found and lost.

About Buffalo Nichols:

Buffalo Nichols is an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter redefining the blues with his raw storytelling and intricate guitar work. Raised in Milwaukee, he blends Delta blues traditions with modern influences, exploring themes of struggle, identity, and resilience. His powerful performances have taken him to renowned stages, including Newport Folk Festival and SXSW, and he has toured in support of artists like Drive-By Truckers and Houndmouth, bringing his soul-stirring sound to audiences worldwide.