Aurora Baer Performs Throughout Door County

Photo by John Stromquist.

If you’re into checking out live music in Door County, you may have already been introduced to the music of singer/songwriter Aurora Baer. She’s here for the summer, playing weekly gigs throughout the county.

Baer describes her music as “Americana,” a blend of different genres including folk, rock and roll, roots and country. Some of her original work could even be considered R&B, she said.

When performing, Baer plays a mixture of her original songs, as well as covers well-known to her audience. “I know that people I’m playing for are on vacation and want to hear familiar songs. I want to make them happy,” she said. “At my shows, I try to make an atmosphere that people enjoy so they hang out and have a good time.”

Baer originally hails from Aitkin, Minnesota, but arrived in Door County via Duluth, after attending college. She has a friend that knows James Larsen, General Manager at Husby’s, and he offered her a weekly gig at The Garage Bar.

She often plays solo, but you may catch her with a musician friend or two sitting in on a set. Later this month, T. Bruce Bowers, the in-house fiddle player for Big Top Chautauqua will be joining her on a handful of gigs. They’ve been playing together for awhile and he’s also the producer of her upcoming album. “He’s a such a pro,” she said.

Baer started playing guitar when she was 15, but didn’t take it seriously until 19, she said.

She attended the Boundary Waters Blues Festival knowing just five songs, but played all weekend long and met people that really inspired her.

After that, she started playing a regular, weekly gig in Duluth, which forced her to “learn more material and really start writing.”

“Music is my life,” she said, “it’s the only thing that’s been obvious and that I’ve stuck with.”

One of Baer’s musical influences is Brandi Carlile, an artist who performed at the Door Community Auditorium during the summer of 2012 and 2010. “She’s successful, writes all of her own material and hasn’t sold out,” Baer noted.

Another strong influence of Baer’s is French singer Melody Gardot. “Not a lot of people know her, but I’m deep into her music. She’s the single biggest reason I play and sing the way I do.”

She’s currently working on her first studio album that she plans on finishing this fall when she returns to Duluth.

For the time being, Door County is a great stepping-stone, she said. She is able to take time to be creative, write some new songs and “live life on vacation.”

Looking toward the future, Baer’s “real goal” is to make a living playing her own music. “I want to sell tickets to concert halls – that’s making it.”

As Baer works toward, “making it” you can catch her playing Mondays at Husby’s Garage Bar and Fridays at Cooper’s Corner, as well as many other gigs almost nightly, throughout the county.

For more information about Aurora Baer, including a look at her complete schedule, visit aurorabaer.com.