Sera Cahoone plays a solo show on Aug. 29, 2024, at Churchill School in Baker City.

BAKER CITY — Sera Cahoone is a drummer, but this month she’s on tour with her guitar to share songs she’s written for an upcoming record.

“This will be fun to get back to my own songs,” she said.

Cahoone plays Aug. 29, at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance at churchillbaker.com or $25 at the door. Admission is free for ages 15 and younger who attend with a paid adult.

Forrest VanTuyl, a songwriter and poet from Goldendale, Washington, will open the show. His work is based on years spent packing mules and cowboying in the remote alpine and canyon country of Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon. He’s performed at The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, written music for the U.S. Forest Service, and been published in the New York Times.

Cahoone grew up in the Colorado foothills, and started playing drums at age 11.

Her first instrument, though, was saxophone.

“I completely hated it,” she said. “I was constantly banging on things — I told my mom I’d stop doing that if she bought me a drum set.”

She got her drums.

“And here I am,” she said. “It’s been a great journey.”

She played in school bands, and noted the rarity of female drummers — something that has definitely changed, she said.

She moved to Seattle in 1998 to open a snowboard and skateboard shop, and has played music ever since (she no longer runs that shop).

In Seattle, she played drums with several bands, including Carissa’s Wierd and Band of Horses. She continues to play in other bands, including for Margo Cilker who she joined on a European tour.

For the Baker City show, she’ll be solo on the guitar.

“We’re going to have a good time — even if there are some sad songs,” she said. “You need sad songs to get through life.”

She describes her music as singer/songwriter, country, folk and indie rock.

Cahoone has released four full-length records and played drums on many others. Her work has been featured on UPROXX, ELLE and KEXP.