Learn more about Pamela Means at https://www.pamelameans.com/

Pamela Means is a Easthampton MA-based Out(spoken), Biracial, independent artist
whose “kamikaze guitar style” and punchy provocative songs have worn a hole in two of
her acoustic guitars. Armed with the razor wit of a stand-up comic, engaging presence,
elegant poetry, and irresistible charm, Pamela Means’s “stark, defiant songs” (New York
Times) set the status quo and the stage afire.

Pamela’s commitment to interrogating social ills was fostered by her unique childhood.
“As the adopted daughter of a white mother and black father, I learned about dismantling
systems of oppression from the inside out.” Pamela received her first guitar at the age of
fourteen, just after her mother died of cancer, and it soon became Pamela’s primary
vehicle for expression. It would also serve as a passport out of a life that consisted of
poverty, foster homes, and the inner city life of hyper-segregated Milwaukee WI.

Pamela Means relocated to Boston, busked in the city subway and famed Harvard
Square, founded her own record label and began touring. Pamela has since performed
on three continents and across the country, gaining fans and rave reviews from
Anchorage to Amsterdam, Sydney to Stockholm, San Francisco to Honolulu to New
York, breaking album sales records at national festivals and sharing stages with Pete
Seeger, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Gil Scott-Heron, Adrian
Belew, Violent Femmes, Holly Near and more. Means has also been the recipient of
several nominations and music awards in multiple categories.

Pamela Means “exhibits a rare emotional fire in today’s folk world,” (Seven Days,
Burlington VT) so much so that Ani DiFranco exclaimed, “you’ve got such a deep, deep
groove, I can’t get out. And, I wouldn’t want to.” With Truth as ammunition, Pamela
Means brings the fight for social justice and human dignity to the forefront of a new
generation.

Awards • Nominations
Best Acoustic Act, Milwaukee WI (two years in a row!)
Wisconsin Folk Artist of the Year
Wisconsin Female Vocalist of the Year
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Best New Artist
Boston Music Award Nomination Outstanding Folk Artist
Gods of Indie Guitar, Silver Award, Acoustic category
Outmusic Best Album of the Year (“Single Bullet Theory”)
Top Ten Album of the Year (“Pamela Means Jazz Project, Vol. I”), Muruch Entertainment
Blog

Tour history and highlights
National touring (decade+ of playing 150+ shows and 50,000 miles per year)
International touring highlights include Canada, Australia, Europe (Sweden, The
Netherlands)
Extensive touring within New England and The Northeast
Numerous prestigious venues and festivals including Newport Folk Festival, Falcon
Ridge Folk Festival, Green River Festival, New Bedford Folk Festival, Bumbershoot
Seattle, Calvin Theater, Somerville Theater, Academy of Music, and several support
roles opening for Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Ani DiFranco, Leo Kottke, Violent Femmes,
Joan Baez, plus playing in Pete Seeger’s band for the Clearwater Folk Festival.