Jefferson Park resident to bring psychedelic folk sound to Jeff Fest

by BRIAN NADIG

Jefferson Park resident Jessica Risker has been involved in music – in one form or another – since she was a child.

“I always loved music,” said Risker. “It’s neat with what you can do with it.”

Risker will be bringing her self-described “psychedelic space, folk” style of music to the 19th annual “Jeff Fest” arts and music festival the weekend of Aug. 2-4 at Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave.  Risker is set to hit the Community Stage, sponsored by Jefferson Park Forward, at 6:45 p.m. Sunday. Fest admission is $5.

Risker’s set will include some of her new music as she gears up for her next album. “It’s going to be about going to mars. … it’s a metaphor for (life’s) journeys,” she said, adding that she is experiencing one of those journeys as the mother of a newborn. “There’s no going back.”

Risker said that she has recorded 10 self-released albums, starting in 2007 when she did an online challenge to record an album in a month. She said that the challenge’s deadline forced her to focus and get the songs written and recorded.

“I did a lot of open mic to work out my songs and get use to performing,” Risker said. “I think a real turning point was in 2017. I was assigned to a label out of Austin  — Western Vinyl.” Her album “”I See You among the Stars” was released in 2018.

“The title track … trots the album in with bouncing acoustic guitar, lulling the listener into perceived safety before curious chord changes and synthetic chimes remind us we’re entering the land of the slightly askew,” her record label says of the album.

Performing with Risker at Jeff Fest will be Joshua Wentz, Adam Wiebe and Jarrett Hothan.

(photo by Rachel Winslow)