Known for her graceful melodies and intricate fingerpicking, singer-songwriter Ava Earl has grown up in the Alaska music scene, performing at the state’s major music festivals, playing sold–out listening room shows and opening for the likes of Maggie Rogers. Seeds for her new album The Roses were planted years ago at the Sydney Laurence Theater following a performance by celebrated husband–wife duo Birds of Chicago. “You should really know about Ava,” a local music enthusiast said to the Birds’ JT Nero. That interaction prompted a musical friendship that culminated in a dream–come–true Nashville recording session just before the global pandemic shut down live music. Blooming once again and backed by a full band, Ava is heading back to the Sydney Laurence, this time on the stage, to perform The Roses and tell stories of its making.