Now based in Northampton, singer-songwriter Deb Talan has been making the rounds of folk festivals, coffeehouses, theatres, and cafés across the country since the turn of the millenium (perhaps you caught her at Passim or the Somerville Theater). Along the way, she’s picked up some impressive awards, among them the “Homegrown CD Award” from Acoustic Guitar Magazine for her 2001 album “Something Burning” and Grand Prizes at both the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival. And we just got word that Deb and co-writer Steve Tannen beat out more than 7,000 entries in the “lyrics only” category of the International Songwriting Competition for their song “Somebody Loved."

With the intensity of a Patty Griffin and the vocal agility of a Jonatha Brooke, Talan’s distinctive sound may be the first thing to capture your attention, but her well-crafted pop songs will leave you humming her choruses and craving a repeat performance.