MUSIC | ALBUQUERQUE, SANTA FE
Heart and hope: Grammy-winning folk musician Patty Griffin to play sa国际传媒官网网页入口, Santa Fe
Singer-songwriter Patty Griffin has had an illustrious career, from her critically and commercially successful 1996 debut, 鈥淟iving with Ghosts,鈥 to being honored with the Americana Music Association鈥檚 Artist of the Year award in 2007 to Grammy wins in 2011 and 2019. Her 11th album, 鈥淐rown of Roses,鈥 released in July, was nominated for Best Folk Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Griffin will perform at the KiMo Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and The Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe on Friday, Feb. 13. The set list is weighted toward her newer material, exploring themes of pain, loss and transformation.
鈥淚 made a record last year called 鈥楥rown of Roses.鈥 I have been doing a lot of that record at my shows,鈥 Griffin said.
Griffin was born in Old Town, Maine 鈥 a small town in Penobscot County whose relative isolation and unique mix of cultures have influenced her music and her outlook on life.
鈥淚 come from Maine, so that鈥檚 pretty different from most places in the U.S. My dad was first-generation Irish American. My mom鈥檚 from French speaking Acadian and Quebecois people, which spills into the U.S. from Canada into Maine and Vermont,鈥 Griffin said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of who and where I鈥檓 from.鈥
Critics have praised Griffin for her emotionally raw lyrics, with Glide Magazine calling her latest release 鈥渃hillingly introspective.鈥
Communicating openly about emotions was not something that came naturally to her family when she was growing up, however.
鈥淚 come from people who showed their love through hard work more than hugs,鈥 Griffin said. 鈥淎 lot of my work has been about them and for them.鈥
Griffin moved to Austin, Texas, in 1997 and has been living there ever since.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good to live in Austin. Texas has a gigantic music culture, a huge blend of things from all its parts and a high level of quality within that,鈥 Griffin said. 鈥淚t keeps me working hard.鈥
Griffin said she is looking forward to performing in New Mexico, a state she loves.
鈥淣ew Mexico is still mysterious to me,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot going on there. I really love and respect the place. I think there are probably a lot of grounded people that live there. I鈥檓 sure some aren鈥檛 of course, but that鈥檚 the feeling I get when I鈥檓 here. It鈥檚 ancient.鈥
Artists from Emmylou Harris to Sugarland to The Chicks have covered Griffin鈥檚 songs, and she enjoys hearing different artists bring their unique approach to her work.
鈥淚 really appreciate it all,鈥 she said.
Griffin listens to a wide range of music and often recommends underappreciated artists.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Rosa Passos is super well known in the U.S.,鈥 Griffin said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 from Brazil. She鈥檚 magical. She also posts goodnight songs on Instagram pretty regularly for her fans. I love her.鈥
Over the years, Griffin has survived many hardships, including a divorce early in her career and a battle with breast cancer.
鈥淚鈥檓 less scared of things than I used to be, because I鈥檓 older,鈥 she said. 鈥淟ife has humbled me a few times now, and there鈥檚 been a lot of good that鈥檚 come out of that.鈥
She hopes her hard-won wisdom can help other people find comfort in their own lives.
鈥淚鈥檓 a singer. I think my job is to keep doing that as long as it brings people something they need,鈥 she said. 鈥淢usic can bring comfort. I would like to do that.鈥
Rather than fearing uncertainty, Griffin has learned to embrace the mysteries of life.
鈥淲e know so little about the universe,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat gives me hope.鈥
Logan Royce Beitmen is an arts writer for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口. He covers visual art, music, fashion, theater and more. Reach him at lbeitmen@abqjournal.com or on Instagram at .