Marian Runk’s life-long fascination with storytelling evolved from book arts and comics to songwriting and performing.
A dancer, birdwatcher, visual artist, political activist, writer, and musician; the breadth of her creativity is felt in every aspect of her music.
Two Wires and a Spark - out on September 13 - is filled with the powerful imagery you expect from someone with such a diverse artistic background. Often compared to Karen Dalton and Gillian Welch, Runk writes lyrics that cover an expanse of themes, including loneliness, (mis)communication, dealing with grief, living alongside addiction, and road trips through the Rust Belt.
NEW ALBUM Two Wires and a Spark
Out on September 13
3/1/2024
Chicago, IL Judson & Moore 8 pm
3057 N Rockwell St Bldg 5
6/13/2024
On the radio Chi City Lives with Mike Rice 9 pm
Stream at Que4.org or 1680AM on the dial
7/11/2024
Chicago, IL Borelli’s 7pm
2124 W Lawrence Ave
ALBUM RELEASE TBA Sept 2024!!!
“Marian Runk writes uncannily vivid lyrics. The lovely country- and folk-inflected songs on her debut album, A Few Feet From the Ground, make it easy to picture her characters: the undertaker with a bad toupee in the sparse, dusty "Crowell," for instance, and the lovelorn snow goose pining for a missing companion in the moving ballad "The Loneliest Birds."
-J.R. Nelson (Gossip Wolf), Chicago Reader
Photo by Gillian Fry
CHICAGO CROWD SURFER #53
I talked to Chicago Crowd Surfer ahead of my album release show, in March 2019. We discussed my debut album, “A Few Feet from the Ground,” what I love about songwriting, indie comics, and the country music scene in Chicago.