About Me
Donna Herula is a Chicago born singer and guitarist who plays traditional Classic, Country and Delta blues. She plays fingerstyle and blues slide guitar on her 1930's Duolian and National Tricone resonator guitars.In her solo acoustic act, Donna performs the songs of the early blues women, including Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie, who had once achieved great commercial success in the 1920’s and 1930’s.In addition to playing songs by female blues artists, she plays traditional roots music by musicians such as Robert Johnson, Furry Lewis and Blind Blake.At the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival, Donna will be performing an hour of songs by slide guitar legend Robert Nighthawk, for the Robert Nighthawk Centennial Commemoration.Donna has played a number of venues including bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants, schools, benefits and festivals.Venues played: Chicago Blues Fest, Mr. Handy's Blues Hall (Memphis, TN), Glenwood Avenue Art Festival (Chicago), Cuneo Gardens Art Festival (Vernon Hills), Deerfield Festival of Fine Arts, Northbrook Art in the Park Festival, Highwood Fine Art Festival, Duke’s Bar (Rogers Park, Chicago), The Heartland Cafe (Rogers Park, Chicago), Red Line Tap (Rogers Park, Chicago), Bill’s Blues Bar (Evanston), The Horseshoe (Chicago), Toby’s Tavern (North Chicago), Peanuts Bar & Grill (Naperville), The Vine Martini and Wine Bar (Grayslake), Mocha European Cafe & Wine Cellar (Highwood but now closed), The Common Cup (Rogers Park, Chicago), The Buzz Cafe (Oak Park), Potbelly Sandwich Works (Gurnee), Hersey High School (Arlington Heights), College of Lake County (Grayslake), Central Lake YMCA (Vernon Hills), Farmer’s Market (Grayslake), Highland Park Country Club (Benefit for Juvenile Cancer), and Westmoreland Country Club.
