HOT SHOW - Sept. 25,2026: Donna Herula, Album Release, Old Town School, Chicago
Old Town School (Chicago)
Donna Herula will celebrate the release of Cold Feet at the Old Town School on Friday, Sept. 25.
For tickets and info click HERE
Website: www.donnaherula.com
When: Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Old Town School/ Myron Szold Theater
4545 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
Donna Herula is an award-winning singer, songwriter, slide guitarist, Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee and teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music who continues to expand her musical horizons on Cold Feet. The new collection weaves together an inspired blend of original and traditional folk, soul, gospel, roots-rock and Chicago blues, showcasing heartfelt songwriting, expressive vocals, and masterful musicianship.
Joining Donna for this special album release concert are Tony Wittrock (guitar), Michael 'Q' Quiroz (bass), Alton Smith (keyboards), John Jochem (harmonica), and Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith (drums). The evening will also feature special guests Steve Eisen on saxophone and back-up singers Rebecca Toon and Kary Ream.
From deeply rooted blues and gospel grooves to folk storytelling and catchy pop melodies, Cold Feet reflects Donna Herula's broad musical vision while staying true to the spirit of Chicago's rich folk, roots and blues tradition.
Join the fun for the live debut of Cold Feet—a celebration of new music, community, and the many sounds that have shaped Donna Herula's remarkable artistic journey.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Donna Herula is a Chicago-born blues singer, songwriter and slide guitarist who has a passion for playing traditional Delta and Country Blues, early Chicago Blues, folk, Americana, and roots music. Using electrified resonator guitars, her sound combines her love for the music of the Deep South and Chicago with her love of blues guitar improvisation. Her songwriting tips the hat to the tradition while creating fresh, contemporary perspectives on blues and roots music.
Donna recalls her musical upbringing: “I began playing piano at age 5 and guitar at 10-years-old. I took piano lessons but really wanted to learn guitar. So when I was 10, I asked my older brother’s friend to teach me how to play the blues and that’s how it started. I took jazz guitar lessons in high school and played in my high school jazz band. I also wrote, arranged and performed my first original blues song when I was 15-years-old, a song called, “Mid-Term Blues,” at my high school variety show – including back-up singers and a full band including horns.
I learned classical guitar in college, took boogie-woogie piano lessons from Erwin Helfer, and, more recently, learned mandolin and a little harmonica. I learned blues fingerstyle and slide guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Now I am an instructor there and teach blues fingerstyle, acoustic slide guitar and electric slide guitar.”
Donna has been a regular performer at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago since 2012 and has opened for Buddy Guy numerous times, including for his January residencies.
Also in 2012, Donna was a semifinalist in the Yamaha Six String Theory international guitar competition. She placed in the top 6 of the blues guitarist category among contestants from 58 countries.
The versatile guitarist was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame on October 16, 2016 at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago.
Donna was the co-winner of the Chicago Blues Challenge, solo/duo category two years in a row; in 2010 with harpist John Jochem and in 2011 with blues singer/songwriter, Liz Mandeville. She competed at the 2011 and 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis as a semi-finalist and made a name for herself there. Donna also won the 2008 Illinois Central Blues Clubs blues challenge as a solo performer and competed at the 2009 IBCs, where she met the producer (Jon Shain) and sound engineer (FJ Ventre) of her 2021 release, Bang at the Door.
The album hit No. 1 on the 2021 Acoustic Blues Album Chart and was named Best Acoustic Blues Album by the 2022 Independent Blues Awards, where Herula also was named Best Traditional Blues Artist. The title song won Best AAA/Alternative Song in the 2022 International Acoustic Music Awards. Donna leads the acoustic folk-blues group Donna Herula Trio and the electric blues band Donna Herula Band.
Website: www.donnaherula.com
