Photo submitted to the Times Observer Sunny War, who will perform Saturday at the Struthers Library Theatre, is pictured.

Sunny War is set to take the stage at the Struthers Library Theatre this Saturday, offering audiences an intimate performance rooted in Americana, storytelling and personal reflection.

Sunny War, who began playing music at just seven years old, said her passion developed naturally due to her musical upbringing. “My stepdad was in a band, and a lot of my mom’s friends were musicians,” Sunny War explained. “Even my uncle is a professional bass player. It just felt natural to try to play.”

While she didn’t begin performing gigs until 2019, music has long been a central part of her life.

Sunny War’s sound has evolved over time. Though earlier work leaned toward folk punk, she now identifies more closely with Americana. Among her musical influences, she cited artists such as Jason Isbell, Chet Atkins, David Rawlings and Angus Young.

For the performer, live shows are about more than just music. They’re also a chance to connect through humor. “I like to try to tell jokes on stage,” Sunny War said. “I make up little stories about the songs, and they get more crazy every show.” Sunny War added that she has “always wanted to be a comedian,” and enjoys weaving that into her performances.

Much of the Sunny War’s creative drive comes from listening to music itself. She described a fascination with understanding why certain songs resonate across generations, pointing to classics like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” as an example. “Why does it still feel great to hear this?” Sunny War said. “I think I’m in love with trying to figure out what makes a song so infectious.”

Lyrically, Sunny War’s work explores themes of human nature, including struggles with mental health and addiction, alongside messages of resilience. “Writing a song about sad feelings is kind of like a therapy session,” she said. “It can be healing and you realize everything is temporary.”

Ultimately, Sunny War hopes listeners walk away feeling both understood and encouraged. “I hope they can feel like they can overcome stuff and also feel unified,” she said.

Those interested in hearing Sunny War can attend her concert at the Struthers Library Theatre on Saturday. The performance will take place in Sally’s Encore Theatre Bar, and doors will open at 7 p.m. while the show starts at 7:30 p.m. This is the first concert in the Struthers Library Theatre’s Roots Rising Concert Series with two more concerts taking place over the next few months.