Leah Wellbaum (she/they) is a professional musician, visual artist, writer, and teacher - a Billboard Top 40 artist who has been has been profiled in Guitar World, Premier Guitar, Consequence of Sound, Out, and many other publications and has been described by fellow artist Lzzy Hale as a "force of nature." As principal songwriter, guitarist, and singer for the band Slothrust (“Sloth-rust”), Wellbaume has recorded multiple critically praised albums, sold out headline tours nationally and internationally, and performed at such festivals as Lollapalooza, BottleRock, and Shaky Knees for more than a decade.

Wellbaum is also the guitar specialist at experimental instrument development company Eternal Research, working with filmmaker David Lynch’s custom-built five-neck guitar among other unique endeavors. She has taught music and creativity practices for nearly two decades, admires long-form improvisation, and is devoted to helping others free themselves from creative hang-ups with a curiosity-forward approach.

This free event is hosted by the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences and generously co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, the Josephine Berry Weiss Chair of the Humanities, the Humanities Institute, and the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.