The latest performer for the Bermuda Folk Club has humbly requested that no capitals letters be used on her name.

"The name is meant to keep my ego in check," said singer/songwriter ellen cherry, of Baltimore, Maryland.

Miss cherry looks to women's history for inspiration for much of her music and many of the women she focuses on led very humble lives.

"I was a history major in college," she said. "I find a lot of inspiration in books and diaries and letters from women from the past. I find their stories fascinating."

Her style has been described as "spunky downer pop for history buffs".

One of her favourite songs is '1933 to California' which was inspired by a famous Depression era photograph taken of Florence Owens Thompson called 'Migrant Mother'. It was shot by Dorothy Lange in 1936.

In it a woman, who looks prematurely aged, looks out sadly from under a tent as two children lean on her with their heads turned away.

Her cuffs are frayed, the children's' hair is unbrushed. Mrs. Owens was working in a migrant workers pea picking camp to feed her seven children when the photo was taken.

"That photograph speaks volumes in itself," said Miss cherry. "When I saw it, I wondered about the woman in the picture.

"I wanted to do an imagining of what her life would be like. I wanted to save her life from history."

Although Dorothy Lange became famous for the photograph, Mrs. Owens never received a penny for appearing in the series of photographs, and her name went unknown for decades.

Miss cherry described what she did as "storytelling through songs". "So when I perform, there will be a lot of introspective thinking songs balanced by random, hopefully hilarious songs," she said.

She said musical influences include Lyle Lovett , a nice dash of classical music, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Carol King and Simon and Garfunkel, amongst others.

As a child, she was classically trained in piano, then switched to cello. In college she finally found the right instrument when she picked up a guitar.

"I think that it is the instrument I was meant to play," she said. "It is more portable. I find that when you pull out a guitar people tend to get happy. It is kind of a community builder. It is a pleasant instrument and it is easy going."

After a series of office jobs, she decided to become a full-time musician at the age of 27.

"Let's just say it is a very lean living, but I can't complain," she said. "My job is to entertain people and to perform and to hopefully offer some kind of temporary comfort. Music can offer a calm space for people to let go of what is happening in their lives and meditate through music."

She started producing original recordings in 1997 and kept up a steady recording schedule. "The album I am proudest of is 'Dizzy Pleasure Club'," she said. "That came out about six years ago. From there I built my own recording studio."

She lives in Baltimore with her two dogs, a miniature schnauzer and a Jack Russell terrier, and recently bought a rambling Victorian home, which she hopes to set up as a base for travelling musicians.

"I want it to be a space for travelling musicians and artists," she said. "It can be a place to relax."

She will be performing at the Spanish Point Boat Club in Pembroke on Saturday, September 11. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m.

There will be a cash bar. Tickets are $12 for non-members and $7 for members.

For more information go to 295-1030 or e-mail info@folkclub.bm or go to the Bermuda Folk Club website at www.folkclub.bm.

For more information about Miss cherry go to www.ellencherry.com.