About
Hello & Welcome! I am a folk musician, writer, and rancher residing in one of the most remote counties in the contiguous United States, Perkins County, South Dakota.
About My Work
Writing
I write a weekly column about rural life, Little Pasture on the Prairie, that is carried by 18 different print publications, write and produce seasonal audio “postcards” from my ranch for different NPR affiliates, and my first book of essays, Accidental Rancher, was just selected as the Siouxland One Book 2023. My writing on rural life has also been featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, and I am a regular columnist for The Daily Yonder, a national publication for and about rural people.
TV Show
My latest project is an Midwest Emmy nominated traveling concert television show for PBS called Wish You Were Here with Eliza Blue. The show celebrates rural culture & arts and is now in its third season.
Residencies
In addition to filming for WYWH and touring with my one-woman show: “Songs from the Soil,” I spent the past year collecting stories via a community recording studio I created in the Bison Public Library as part of a Residencies for Recovery grant through the South Dakota Arts Council.
Community
I also founded the Kithship Collective with Lakota flutist and hoop dancer Kevin Locke, and North Dakota folk-singer and rancher Chuck Suchy, a partnership to preserve, share, rediscover, and reimagine stories and songs from the grasslands. The Kithship Collective also hosts artists and artisans at my ranch, and offers free workshops to the community via an artisan residency program.
Music
I’m a classically trained musician with over 15 years of performing. Career highlights include performances at SXSW, Red Ants Pants, CMJ, and Sioux River Folk Fest. My song “Let There Be Light,” was recently featured on All Songs Considered
After years on the road as a traveling musician, I now work in regenerative agriculture raising fiber sheep and grass-fed cattle with my husband and two children.
Creative Influences
Lessons from the Cottonwoods
There is an ancient myth about the cottonwood tree: Through her deep roots, she draws prayers from the soil. Prayers that are then released into the sky as stars, or returned as fallen leaves to feed the grasses that surround her. My creative work is based in this circle, deeply rooted in the wonder of this life. Whether it be songs that become stories, stories that become songs, or gatherings designed to share this work, my artistic and activist endeavors are nourished by the soil of the Northern Plains, and are inspired by its wind and weather.
Thank you for being here and being a part of this creative journey. It’s a joy to have you as part of the circle.
Selected Interviews
2014 Spotlight Series
Video: Musician Eliza Blue shares her story of music, growth, city-life, and the shift to living on the prairie outside of Bison, SD.
Fresh Words Direct to Your Inbox!
Sign-up for my monthly newsletter for more stories from my little pasture on the prairie, information about upcoming events, and access to the audio versions of my weekly columns. There will be fun extras from time to time as well.