Jamie Anderson

Writer and singer-songwriter Jamie Anderson has written An Army of Lovers: Women’s Music of the ‘70s and ‘80s, the definitive book about a powerful women’s network that predated Lilith Faire and the riot grrrl movement. She’s also a multi-instrumentalist with twelve albums who’s played her unique original songs in hundreds of venues in four countries. Her YouTube channel has 65,000 subscribers as well as several viral videos including one with two million views.

A touring performer since the eighties and an out lesbian since the seventies, she’s available to speak about the touring life of an indie singer-songwriter, about what it was like as an out lesbian in the seventies and later, and about the unique network of women’s music. Presentations can include a PowerPoint presentation, live music, book reading, and time for questions from the audience.

Her first book, Drive All Night, was a memoir that chronicled the life of a touring musician. In 2022, Anderson will release her third book, Drive All Day, because she's too old to drive all night. It's another memoir, with true-life stories from a performer who's toured for over 30 years and taught thousands of people to play an instrument.

Her dad was a country musician, a painful thing for a teenager who would rather listen to Carole King, but it did mean there were always guitars lying around the house. In high school she memorized every chord in a Mel Bay songbook, and for the next few years played local coffeehouses and weddings. After the hundredth request for "Wedding Song," she decided to write her own songs. Anderson did her first tour in 1987 because she needed to earn gas money to get to a music festival. She’s been collecting tiny motel soaps ever since.

Anderson’s expressive voice and personable stage manner are an asset to any stage, whether she’s speaking or playing music.