Amanda Penner

BIO/DESCRIPTION

Amanda Penner is an Alberta based singer with a voice that alters the very texture of your emotional experience. Her songs walk across a tightrope, threatening that the end could be near, but with a careful optimism and quiet hope that we’ll make it to the other side safely.

The summer of 2022 saw her realizing a life-long goal of performing at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival where she was embraced by thousands of music lovers. Though just 20 years of age, Amanda has been actively performing from the age of 14 and has connected with listeners in intimate coffee shops, house concerts, venues and festivals across Alberta.

It all started with songs about backyard trees and roller coasters, quickly moving on to carefully crafted lyrics about her struggles with mental illnesses and a commentary on the state of the world that is comparable to an unnerving dream you can’t quite shake.

After two agonizing years of lockdown during the global pandemic, Amanda started to find her voice again in 2022, and began crafting new songs comparable to poetic journal entries and reflective on her life thus far. Like a bear coming out of hibernation, she is taking tentative steps back into the world with more stories to share and a newfound grace – inviting you, with love, to see what comes next.

Amanda released her first EP “Honey & Heartache” in 2019 prior to her debut at the Canmore Folk Festival and is currently recording new bodies of work set to be released in 2023. In 2021, Amanda attended the Musicians in Residence Program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Her songs have been recognized by the Edmonton Music Awards where she was nominated in 2018 & 2019 for the Rising Star Award and the People’s Choice Award (2019). Amanda was a top 5 finalist for her song “Home” at the Canada 150 Songwriting Contest, a SPIRIT of Vimy finalist for her song “What Would you do”, and was nominated for the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Awards in 2019 & 2020.