Neia Lively has been performing folk and traditional music since the 1970’s. Drawn to music from the United States and the British Isles, she sings a cappella or accompanies herself on guitar and banjo. Her influences include the “high and lonesome sound” of the music of the Appalachian Mountains and the work of singer/songwriters who paint vivid pictures of ordinary people’s lives.

Early in her career as a special educator, Neia played children’s songs in a variety of venues. Moving on to music for adults, she played at PeopleArt Coffeehouse in its early days on Lexington Avenue and performed for Buffalo Friends of Folk Music. In Charlottesville, Virginia she appeared at the Prism Coffeehouse and in Urbana, Illinois she sang at the Red Herring. For many years she was a guitarist and vocalist in a contradance band in Texas, Squirrelheads in Gravy, along with twin fiddles, banjo, and upright bass.

Neia returned to her hometown of Buffalo in 2018 and is thrilled to be back. In addition to her solo work, she performs in the duo The Lively Fish (with Mike Frisch), in the duo Ol’ Paint (with Phil Knoerzer), and in The 198 String Band.

Neia presents her songs with a rich, strong contralto voice while exploring a wide range of topics pertaining to life’s struggles and joys. Audiences find her concerts to be unique and engaging.