GENOA — Singer-songwriter and Genoa native Megan Bihn, who goes by the stage title Megan Bee, says she discovered her voice round a campfire. She was touring out West within the mid-2000s, sharing a campfire within the desert with associates, when she fell in love with singing.
“Individuals began taking part in music, and I began singing, and I assumed, ‘That is nice,’” she stated.
Shortly afterward, a good friend put a guitar in Bee’s hand and informed her she wanted to study to play since she beloved to sing, so she did.
“That modified the entire monitor of my life,” she stated. “I began acting at open mics virtually instantly.”
Since then, Bee has developed right into a profitable singer-songwriter who has launched 4 albums and gained a number of awards, together with The Ark of Music album of the 12 months and The Ohio Music Awards Finest Americana and Finest Singer-Songwriter Albums. On July 21, she’s going to open for the Nitty Gritty Dust Band on the Peoples Financial institution Theatre in Marietta.
“I’m very excited. They’re an awesome band, and it’s a extremely stunning previous theater,” Bee stated.
Entertainer is daughter of Gene and Amy Bihn
Bee is the daughter of Gene and Amy Bihn, who nonetheless reside in her childhood residence in Genoa. Bee was a member of band all through her center and highschool years, and he or she joined the choir her senior 12 months earlier than graduating from Genoa Excessive Faculty in 2003. Bee left Genoa to attend Hocking Faculty in southern Ohio, the place she studied environmental schooling. After commencement, she labored in environmental schooling camps within the Hocking Hills area.
Bee has a softly highly effective and melodiously soulful voice harking back to the pure world she references in her People-Americana songs. She sings of sunsets, blue jay calls, moth wings, and moon flowers.
“I’ve been actually influenced by residing within the southern a part of the state. There’s a number of Appalachian People right here, and I blended that with present songwriting types,” Bee stated. “I draw a number of metaphors, a number of pictures from the pure world. That’s the place I get my inspiration.”
Bee could have discovered her voice within the desert and her writing inspiration in southern Ohio, however she developed her deep love for the pure world proper right here in Ottawa County.
“I really like Ottawa County. I really like that I grew up there. It’s such a wealthy place. Magee Marsh and Ottawa Nationwide Wildlife Refuge is the place I cast that love of nature,” she stated. “I journey all around the nation, and each time I am going again to go to my people, I notice how fortunate I used to be.”
Bee provides courses, camps for teens
Along with writing songs, creating albums, and performing, Bee additionally has a ardour for sharing music with kids. She has carried out and taught songwriting courses to youngsters at libraries, camps, youth facilities and colleges.
This 12 months, Bee launched a brand new enterprise, “Phrases within the Hills,” the place she provides writing retreats and workshops for grownup writers of all genres amidst the pure great thing about Hocking Hills. Retreats embody sensory hikes, writing within the woods, and open mics across the campfire.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for years, and it form of sparked up final 12 months,” she stated. “I really like getting folks outdoors, and I really like writing, and I really like educating.”
Extra data on Megan Bee might be discovered at www.meganbeemusic.com. Info on writing retreats might be discovered at www.wordsinthehills.com.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at [email protected]
This text initially appeared on Fremont Information-Messenger: Megan Bee shares her music, writing retreats in Hocking Hills