LIZ CHIDESTER is a critically acclaimed and award winning Americana singer/songwriter, actor, teaching artist, and ukulelist.
Her solo releases include People Pumping Pedals (2014) Otter Hill EP (2015), otherside of the darkest timeline EP (2021), “Sun Sup” “The Gift That Moved You” “Whiney Whiteboy Punk Song” (2021) and “People Pumping Pedals (A Decade Down the Line)” (2023). Her band, LIZ AND THE LOVELIES, released Progress Into Simplicity EP (2017), “My Way/Your Way” “Sleep In” (2018) “great american chestnut tree” (2020). Her music awards include NPR’s NewSong Songwriting Contest 2014 - Midwestern Finalist, Chicago Music Awards 2015 - Best Female Vocalist, NewSong Leaf Songwriter Competition 2016 - Finalist, Independent Music Awards 2018 - Best Roots EP. Her song "the great american chestnut tree" was featured on NPR'S All Songs Considered in 2020. She is currently working on a new project LIZ AND NILKO in NYC with her partner Nilko Andreas. She is a member of the Recording Academy and the Folk Alliance International.
Liz is a Jeff Award winning and critically acclaimed actor, called "one of the most truthful actors in this city" by the Chicago Tribune. She is an Ensemble Member of American Blues Theatre and a Company Member of the first feminist equity musical theatre company Firebrand Theatre. She has worked as an actor, collaborator, and composer with PigPen Theatre Co, Chicago Children's Theatre, and Cabinet of Curiosity. She is an Equity member of AEA.
She was a long time private and group classes in 'ukulele, voice, piano, guitar, and songwriting at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and Education Through Music and Midori & Friends in NYC. She is a proud graduate of James Madison University's School of Music.