Indie folk songwriter and ukulele enthusiast Katy Pearson, otherwise known as Bearkat, will take the stage in Wieden Auditorium on Saturday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Bearkat’s sound has been compared to Feist, Tom Waits and the Ditty Bops. UMPI officials are pleased to be able to bring Pearson – who has been taking the indie folk pop scene by storm with her quirky songwriting, clever arrangements, uncanny instruments and unbelievable vocal style – to campus.

Bearkat’s music is influenced by her love of French culture, her Russian heritage, and her exposure to a plethora of different music at a very early age. Pearson, who is based in Austin, Texas, said this is her third trip to Maine.

“The Maine folk scene is booming,” she said. “It’s refreshing to see that and to see people that excited for new music and for new music to come in. I’m very thankful people are wanting to come out and see and hear the new music.”

Bearkat was invited to perform at UMPI after cultural officials saw her perform in 2009 at the Arootsakoostik Music Festival, which takes place every summer in New Sweden. After hearing Bearkat, officials wanted to bring that sound to UMPI and the greater community, and also help to spread the word about this year’s upcoming Arootsakoostik Music Festival, which will take place on Aug. 7, 2010.

Travis Cyr, the organizer for the Arootsakoostik festival, will serve as the opening act for Bearkat’s performance at UMPI.

This concert is sponsored in part by Channel X Radio. Tickets are $10 for adults, $2 for students, and free for UMPI, NMCC, and SAGE students with valid ID. For more information, call 768.9452.