If you’ve never heard of the neo-traditional country artist Iris Dement, you’re not alone. She has cut only four albums in the past 15 years, has received sparse airplay and has remained a country cult-favorite.



Dement didn’t start writing songs until she was in her mid-20s, but after sharpening her skills at open mics she relocated to Nashville where she contacted famed producer Jim Rooney, who helped the young songstress land a recording contract. Her first release came in 1992 with Infamous Angel. Comprised of almost all original material, the singer/songwriter was praised for her evocative style and nod to past legends such as Patsy Cline and the Carter Family. Still a bit too “country” for country, the disc went relatively unnoticed by the mainstream.



Dement’s follow-up, My Life, was equally as stunning but again, fell under the radar because of its “uncommercialism.” Her third release, The Way I Should, featured appearances from Mark Knopfler and Delbert McClinton and was brazenly political as Dement covered such topics as sexual abuse, religion and government privacy. Again, it was another great record that was ignored by record buyers for lack of promotion. Nashville sucks.



[Capitol Theater, Saturday, Oct. 20, 87 p.m., all ages, $23-$25, 206 Fifth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.754.6670]