Iris Dement graces the Capitol Theater in Olympia for a good cause. By Timothy Radar

From her debut album Infamous Angel through her Grammy winning collaboration with John Prine on In Spite of Ourselves, Iris Dement has offered a raw blend of politically charged country and folk making her one of the most celebrated folk singers of her generation. On October 20th, the Prairie Home Companion frequent brings her voice and guitar to the Capitol Theater in Olympia.

In what is turning out to be an annual, autumn tradition, Dement will perform a benefit for the Olympia Film Society and the Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America. The Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America (FSSCA) works in partnership and solidarity with low-income communities in Central America organized to achieve environmental sustainability, economic self-sufficiency, social justice and peace.

Dement, born in rural Arkansas to devout Christian parents began her career as a singer songwriter by the way of gospel. Raised in Southern California, after her family relocated, Dement soon sought out country and western records by the likes of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Before long, Dement began composing her own songs and moved to Nashville, TN in hopes of landing a record deal.

It would be four long years before Dement would record Infamous Angel, and with little mainstream radio play and virtually no label support from her small independent label, Dement began drawing attention by word of mouth landing a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records. Dement’s career took more boosts with well received duets with Emmylou Harris and John Prine, and found a growing fanbase with the song, “Our Town.”

1996’s The Way I Should placed Dement with contemporaries such as Steve Earl, Jim White, and Alejandro Escovedro in the growing “Alt-Country” market. The record also showcased Dement at her most politically focused, with songs about abuse, religion and government policy. Dement’s most recent album, Lifeline, was released in 2004.

Tickets for the event are twenty three dollars per person and can be purchased in advance from Rainy Day Records in Olympia, or at www.buyolympia.com.