PRESS KITBIOS AND PROMOTIONAL PICTURES
Solo / Duo
Donna is available for solo performances or as a duo—paired with a bass player, harmonica player, or additional guitarist—to suit the venue. Donna delivers authentic traditional Delta and Chicago blues as well as performs original songs with soulful singing, resonator slide guitar and a foot stomp board.
Short Bio
Donna Herula is an award-winning blues singer, songwriter and resonator slide guitarist that plays a range of blues and roots styles and original songs. Hailed for her “superlative guitar prowess” (Living Blues Magazine), Donna is a Chicago Blues Hall of Fame Inductee and winner of the 2022 Independent Blues Award for “Best Traditional Blues Artist” and “Best Acoustic Blues Album” for her album “Bang at the Door.” Her song, “Bang at the Door” also won best AAA/Alternative Song at the 2022 International Acoustic Music Awards.
Donna released her latest album, Cold Feet, in September 2026 which debuted at #1 on the RMR Contemporary Blues Chart.
Donna also teaches blues fingerstyle and slide guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. She has taught blues fingerstyle guitar, slide guitar and/or songwriting at blues and folk clubs, schools/colleges and guitar camps.
Donna has performed regularly at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago for over 15 years and has opened for Buddy Guy multiple times. She has performed at numerous folk and blues festivals and venues in the US, Deep South, Europe and South Africa including: the Chicago Blues Festival, Lucerne Blues Festival (Switzerland), Durban International Blues Festival (South Africa), King Biscuit Blues Fest (Araknsas) and Juke Joint Fest (Mississippi).
Donna will be joined by [name of duo partner and bio.]
Long Bio
Hailed for her “superlative guitar prowess” (Living Blues Magazine), Donna Herula is an award-winning blues singer, songwriter, resonator slide guitarist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee. She has a passion for playing traditional Delta and Country Blues, early Chicago Blues, folk, roots and Americana in addition to original songs.
She is also a blues fingerstyle and slide guitar teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music (OTSFM) in Chicago.
In 2022, Donna won Independent Blues Awards for “Best Traditional Blues Artist” and “Best Acoustic Blues Album” for her 3rd album “Bang at the Door.” She also won “Best AAA/Alternative Song” at the 2022 International Acoustic Music Awards for the title track.
Donna has performed regularly at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago for over 15 years and has opened for Buddy Guy multiple times. She has played at the Chicago Blues Festival, Lucerne Blues Festival (Switzerland), Durban International Blues Festival (South Africa), King Biscuit Blues Fest (Araknsas), Juke Joint Fest (Mississippi), Southern Indiana Blues Festival, Crossroads Blues Festival (Rockford, IL), Bayfront Blues Festival (Duluth, MN), Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival, WFMT’s Folk Stage, White Oak Folk Festival, CU Folk and Roots Festival, Lake County Folk Club, Two Way Street Coffee House, Trinity House, The Old Town School of Folk Music, The Focal Point, Indy Folk Series and numerous other blues and folk festivals and concert series.
Her award-winning songs have been played internationally, including on the BBC and SiriusXM – BB King’s Bluesville’s Top 15 Rack of Blues (most played songs). Her album “Bang at the Door” ranked #1 on the RMR “Best of 2021 Acoustic Blues Album” list and was included on Living Blues Magazine’s Top 50 Albums and IBBA Most Played Albums.
In addition to teaching at the OTSFM, Donna also teaches Blues in the Schools, blues fingerstyle guitar, slide guitar and/or songwriting for children, teens and adults at blues and folk clubs, music conferences, libraries, schools, colleges and guitar camps including California Coast Music Camp, the Great Guitar Camp (North Carolina) and Blues & Swing Week at the Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College (West Virginia).
Donna released her latest album, Cold Feet, in September 2026 which debuted at #1 on the RMR Contemporary Blues Chart.
She has been inspired by blues artists including Son House, Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, Lucinda Williams, Lyle
Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, Rory Block and Willie Nelson.
Donna will be joined by [name of duo partner and bio.]
Trio
The Donna Herula Trio is a Chicago-based folk blues group that plays fun, lively, and heartfelt interpretations of traditional Delta Blues and early Chicago Blues in addition to award-winning original songs that honor the folk blues tradition with a fresh, contemporary approach.
Short Bio
The Donna Herula Trio is an award-winning Chicago acoustic folk blues group featuring Chicago Blues Hall of Fame Inductee Donna Herula on vocals and resonator slide guitar, Tony Wittrock on guitar and mandolin, and Melvin Smith or Michael “Q” Quiroz on bass. Blending traditional Delta and early Chicago Blues with award-winning original songwriting, the group delivers powerful, soulful performances spanning gospel, ragtime, and country blues influences. Herula’s album Bang at the Door achieved worldwide praise, charting #1 on the Roots Music Report and winning “Best Acoustic Blues Album” at the 2022 Independent Blues Awards. From European festivals to concert halls across the U.S., the Donna Herula Trio delivers a set that is passionate, engaging, and unforgettable. Donna’s new album, Cold Feet, was released on September 18, 2026, and blends “intimate folk ballads, upbeat Chicago blues, and gospel-reflected tracks” (John Muller, Blue Notes and Conversations). For more information, visit donnaherula.com.
Long Bio
The Donna Herula Trio is a Chicago-based folk blues group that plays fun, lively, and heartfelt interpretations of traditional Delta Blues and early Chicago Blues in addition to award-winning original songs that honor the folk blues tradition with a fresh, contemporary approach.
Fronted by Donna Herula—a singer, songwriter, resonator slide guitarist, Chicago Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, and teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music—the group showcases exceptional musicianship and acoustic slide guitar mastery. Joining Herula are multi-instrumentalist Tony Wittrock on guitar and mandolin, and Melvin Smith or Michael “Q” Quiroz on bass. As Blues Blast Magazine’s Mark Thompson observed, “The music flows from acoustic blues through gospel, jazz, and ragtime, to the electric Chicago blues style, with nods to New Orleans, folk, and country influences.”
Herula’s critically acclaimed album, Bang at the Door, earned worldwide recognition. It charted #1 on the Acoustic Blues Album “Best of 2021 List” according to the Roots Music Report, was named to the Living Blues Magazine Top 50 Albums of 2021, and reached the “IBBA Most Played Albums – Top 40 Annual Chart for 2021” via UK Blues DJs. At the 2022 Independent Blues Awards, Herula won “Best Traditional Blues Artist” and Bang at the Door took home “Best Acoustic Blues Album.” The title track won “Best AAA/Alternative Song” at the 2022 International Acoustic Music Awards, where “Who’s Been Cookin’ in My Kitchen” was also a finalist. Tracks from the album have received international airplay on the BBC and spent eight weeks on SiriusXM – BB King’s Bluesville’s Top 15 Rack of Blues. Celebrating her artistry, Living Blues Magazine praised Herula for her “superlative guitar prowess” and for crafting an album from a unique “female perspective.”
The Donna Herula Trio has captivated audiences nationally and internationally. Notable performances include an “Official Showcase” at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference, WFMT’s Folk Stage, and the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland. They are regular performers at premier folk and blues venues and festivals, including the Old Town School of Folk Music, White Oak Folk Festival, CU Folk and Roots Festival, Lake County Folk Club, Two-Way Street Coffee House, Trinity House, The Focal Point, and the Indy Folk Series. As Bill Wilson of Reflections in Blue puts it, “Herula delivers a set that is powerful, passionate, and a great listen.”
Donna’s new album, Cold Feet, was released on September 18, 2026, and includes 8 originals and 2 cover songs “blending intimate folk ballads, upbeat Chicago blues, and gospel-reflected tracks” (John Muller, Blue Notes and Conversations).
Band
Based out of Chicago, the Donna Herula Band performs dynamic versions of traditional Delta and Chicago Blues songs as well as contemporary original songs that tip the hat to the blues tradition. With a steady, pulse-pounding bass and drum groove, the Donna Herula Band is powered by a rich interplay of guitar, slide guitar, keys, and classic blues harp.
Short Bio
Hailed for her “superlative guitar prowess” (Living Blues Magazine), Donna Herula is an award-winning blues singer, songwriter, electric and resonator slide guitarist, and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee. “Cold Feet,” released in September 2026, blends acoustic and electric styles and weaves elements of blues, soul and roots rock into a “captivating experience” (Making a Scene).
Based out of Chicago, the Donna Herula Band performs dynamic versions of traditional Delta and Chicago Blues songs as well as contemporary original songs that tip the hat to the blues tradition. With a steady, pulse-pounding bass and drum groove, the Donna Herula Band is powered by a rich interplay of guitar, slide guitar, keys, and classic blues harp.
Long Bio
Hailed for her “superlative guitar prowess” (Living Blues Magazine), Donna Herula is an award-winning blues singer, songwriter, electric and resonator slide guitarist, and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee. “Cold Feet,” released in September 2026, blends acoustic and electric styles and weaves elements of blues, soul and roots rock into a “captivating experience” (Making a Scene). Donna won Independent Blues Awards for “Best Traditional Blues Artist” and “Best Acoustic Blues Album.” Her award-winning songs, written from a “female perspective” (Living Blues Magazine) have been played on the BBC and SiriusXM – BB King’s Bluesville’s Top 15 Rack of Blues (most played songs).
Based out of Chicago, the Donna Herula Band performs dynamic versions of traditional Delta and Chicago Blues songs as well as contemporary original songs that tip the hat to the blues tradition. With a steady, pulse-pounding bass and drum groove, the Donna Herula Band is powered by a rich interplay of guitar, slide guitar, keys, and classic blues harp.
Quotes:
“A truly gifted virtuoso of the resonator guitar who also possesses the most stunning of voices. Herula is a Chicago born Blues artist of the highest order who not only sings, plays slide but also is a more than accomplished composer.” — Peter Merrett, PBS 106.7 FM, Melbourne, Australia
“Herula delivers a set that is powerful, passionate, and a great listen. The originals here draw from personal experience, giving them a level of power not found in much of the current blues scene.” — Bill Wilson, Reflections in Blue
“Through subtle tones and richly detailed phrasing, she conveys matters of the heart with a striking sense of vulnerability, a rare occurrence in these times of overwrought vocal approaches.” — Mark Thompson, Blues Blast Magazine, Blues Music magazine, and the Chicago Blues Guide website.
Where Have They Played?
The Donna Herula Band has performed at blues festivals throughout the world, including: Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland, Southern Indiana Blues Festival, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival (St. Louis), the Crossroads Blues Festival (Rockford, IL), Broad Street Blues and BBQ Festival (Griffith, IN), Ship and Shore Blues and Soul Festival (New Buffalo, MI), Bayfront Blues Festival (Duluth, MN), Blues on the Chippewa (Durand, WI), Joliet IL Blues Festival, and the Juke Joint Festival (Mississippi).
They have also performed at venues including: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Evanston SPACE, The Prairie Arts Center, Navy Pier Beer Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, Fitzgerald’s, Madison Blues Society End of Summer Fest, Atwood Fest, The North Street Cabaret, Old Town Art Fair, Old Town School of Folk Music, and the North Center Rib Fest.
Donna has also performed at the Chicago Blues Festival four times, the last time on the main stage in 2022, and the King Biscuit Blues Festival multiple times.
Band Members:
The band includes:
• Donna Herula (singer, songwriter, resonator slide guitarist, and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame Inductee),
• Tony Wittrock (guitar, mandolin)
• Melvin Smith, Mike “Q” Quiroz, Harlan Terson (bass)
• John Jochem (harmonica)
• Alton Smith, Paul Mally (keyboards)
• Kenny “Beedy-Eyes” Smith (Grammy winning drummer), Theresa Durda, Marty Binder
Website: https://donnaherula.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaHerulaMusic
Duo w/Downtown Charlie Brown
Downtown Charlie Brown and Donna Herula form a powerhouse acoustic roots duo bridging Deep South traditions with classic Chicago Blues. Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Donna Herula is a multi-award-winning singer and resonator guitarist known for her superlative prowess. Multi-instrumentalist Downtown Charlie Brown, “Chicago’s Delta,” shines on blues piano and slide guitar. Together, they draw packed houses with playful onstage banter, historical storytelling, powerful dual resonators, and a captivating “beauty and the beast” vocal contrast that injects fresh energy into the folk-blues.
Short Bio
Downtown Charlie Brown and Donna Herula form a powerhouse acoustic roots duo bridging Deep South traditions with classic Chicago Blues. Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Donna Herula is a multi-award-winning singer and resonator guitarist known for her superlative prowess. Multi-instrumentalist Downtown Charlie Brown, “Chicago’s Delta,” shines on blues piano and slide guitar. Together, they draw packed houses with playful onstage banter, historical storytelling, powerful dual resonators, and a captivating “beauty and the beast” vocal contrast that injects fresh energy into the folk-blues.
Long Bio
The collaboration of Downtown Charlie Brown and Donna Herula is recognized as a powerhouse acoustic roots duo and a true pairing of equals that bridges the raw traditions of the Deep South with classic Chicago Blues. Their joint sets are respected by both traditional blues purists and live-music fans.
Donna Herula, a multi-award-winning blues singer, songwriter, resonator guitar player and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee, was hailed for her “superlative guitar prowess” by Living Blues Magazine. She was the winner of two Independent Blues Awards for “Best Traditional Blues Artist” and “Best Acoustic Blues Album” for her album “Bang at the Door.”
Downtown Charlie Brown, nicknamed “Chicago’s Delta” by American Blues Scene, is a multi-instrumentalist on blues piano and resonator slide guitar. He was featured in Living Blues Magazine and Buddy Guy’s Blues Music News Magazine and has performed at legendary venues including Ground Zero in both Clarksdale and Biloxi, Mississippi.
Donna and Charlie’s frequent shows together draw packed houses, and audiences rave about their playful, loose onstage banter, historical storytelling, and the sheer percussive volume two acoustic resonator guitars can push in an intimate room. Audiences also love the “beauty and the beast” vocal contrast between Donna’s stunning, clear voice and Charlie’s rugged Delta bark.
These two Hall-of-Fame caliber talents are regular performers at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, The Des Plaines Theater Bourbon and Brass Speakeasy, Juke Joint Festival and Bluesberry Café in Clarksdale, Mississippi, King Biscuit Time Radio in Helena Arkansas and numerous folk and blues festivals and conferences.
Because they regularly perform with icons like John Primer, blues and folk societies view their duo and trio configurations as vital preservation work. They don’t just mimic old records; they inject a fresh, contemporary energy into traditional folk-blues.
Together, Downtown Charlie Brown and Donna Herula are one of the top Delta Blues Duos around.
For more information, go to:
Charlie’s website: http://downtowncharliebrown.com/
Donna’s website: https://donnaherula.com/
Little Red Rooster: Video Link
Our Love Still Grows (original):
Video Link
Review of Delta Blues Trio with John Primer, Donna Herula and Downtown Charlie Brown: Review Link
