Andrea von Kampen plays from her kitchen, and I’d be sorely tempted to say she is cooking in her AUK Mini-Gig performance. But that would be trite. Instead, the focus should be on the Lincoln, Nebraska, singer-songwriter whose music blends intimate storytelling, poetic lyricism, and warm acoustic arrangements. She switches between two guitars, one a Taylor 7-16CE and the other a gorgeous cutaway model Martin Custom Shop OO-14F. Coincidentally, those are almost identical to my two main guitars, so great choices, Andrea. “I also play my dad’s classical guitar, and I have other guitars that are cheaper and nice for touring, but those are the three main guitars I write and record with.”
Von Kampen has three full-length albums to her credit: Old Country (2019), That Spell (20210, which was her first for Fantasy Records, and Sister Moon (2024), inspired in part by the writing of Richard Powers; the album explores themes of climate change, environmental stewardship, and humanity’s relationship to the earth. Her latest is an EP, Before I Buy a Gun, on which she protests the resurgence of hateful rhetoric in American politics, offering an urgent yet hopeful collection of songs calling for justice, solidarity, and compassion.
Her strength is live shows, which are rich with storytelling and humour. She is an engaging performer, and folks in the UK will have a chance to see this up close in person in August, when she is booked for several gigs.
Besides her musical career, she made her acting and film debut starring in the independent feature A Chance Encounter, distributed by Samuel Goldwyn. Von Kampen also wrote and recorded the film’s soundtrack, released via Fantasy Records, showcasing her ability to translate narrative storytelling across mediums.
If you like what you see and hear from Von Kampen, look to her website, Bandcamp and YouTube to learn more. She plays four of her songs on the Mini-Gig and offers insight to the tracks below.
Black Flag — I wrote Black Flag in a moment of deep anger in response to the people who empowered a leader whose return to office in the winter of 2025 brought swift and devastating consequences. The first two verses came easily, but for a long time, I couldn’t find the right chorus to hold the song together. Then I remembered a quote I’d once read on a box of incense, a line from Thomas Merton. This idea that there’s no point in journeying to the stars if we haven’t first made the journey inward. It felt like the perfect commentary on a regime so obsessed with power and spectacle, yet so lacking in self-awareness and compassion.
Juniper — The Juniper tree is a symbol for the “holy fool” in literature. This archetype is relaxed and silly, but ultimately a truth-teller who works for the greater good. I wrote this song thinking of this type of character and what good they could do to combat the stressful environment we live in today.
August — This song is my dystopian lullaby about climate change.
Portland — From my first album, Old Country, this song is about a journey to find yourself and to find happiness in contentment.
