Sara Petite album release show for her eighth studio album HerStory: Snakes, Wolves and Honky Tonk Angels Opening performance by Americana Roundup’s Honky Tonk Angels   An American music headliner whose music reaches far beyond the genre’s borders, Petite has built an acclaimed career with songs that owe as much to the rock & roll roadhouse as they do the honky-tonk. Her music is raw, fearless, and deeply human — the sound of an artist who has spent nearly two decades carving her own lane through the Americana landscape.   A five-time International Songwriting Competition finalist, Petite has earned Top 40 Americana chart success, international airplay, and ten San Diego Music Awards trophies while building a devoted audience across the U.S. and Europe. Critics have hailed her as “the benchmark for what Americana music should be about in the 21st century,” while American Songwriter praised her work as “breathtakingly beautiful.”   Her 2023 album The Empress drew widespread acclaim for its grit, storytelling, and swagger. Americana Highways described Petite as possessing “a Janis Joplin crossed with Loretta Lynn country spirit,” while calling the album “an impressive set by a lovely energetic & sassy lady.” Another reviewer called the record “a no-holds-barred travelogue fit for lovers, fighters, and just plain folks who enjoy a rowdy ride in the country.”   Now, with HerStory: Snakes, Wolves and Honky Tonk Angels, Petite delivers what may be her most fearless and personal work yet — a record filled with stories of survival, rebellion, heartbreak, feminine strength, and redemption.   “This album is deeply personal to me. Every song comes from a real place — the heartbreaks, the mistakes, the late nights, the hard lessons, and the moments that changed me forever. Some of these stories are mine, and some belong to people I’ve loved, lost, or met along the way, but all of them are rooted in truth. I’ve never known how to write any other way. I want these songs to feel lived-in — honest, gritty, vulnerable, and authentic — because that’s what life really is.”   The album includes the fiery “Honky Tonk Angels,” inspired by Petite and her fellow female performers, the provocative “I Hate Snakes,” her reinterpretation of the Eve story, and “She Runs With the Wolves,” a song celebrating feminine intuition and empowerment.   The new album was recorded at Track Star Studios in La Mesa with producer Josquin Des Prés, whose past collaborators include Bernie Taupin and Jason Mraz. The sessions brought together an extraordinary cast of musicians, including legendary guitarist John Jorgenson and acclaimed drummers Kenny Aronoff and Aaron Sterling.   Critics have consistently praised Petite’s songwriting and live performances. Americana UK wrote, “Petite doesn’t just perform songs, she inhabits them,” while audiences across the U.S. and the United Kingdom have embraced her high-energy blend of  Americana and rock & roll.   The September 2 album release show at Belly Up Tavern will feature HerStory: Snakes, Wolves and Honky Tonk Angels performed live in its entirety. The show will open with a set from Americana Roundup's – Honky Tonk Angels — a high-energy country revue celebrating the music and spirit of country music’s most iconic women. The showcase will feature Sara Petite alongside a lineup of standout female performers delivering original songs, classic country favorites, and honky-tonk anthems in what Sara describes as a “powerhouse celebration” of women in country music.     Honky Tonk Angels are~   Chloe Lou is a multi-genre songwriter and vocalist with a passion for always trying something new, Chloe Lou has been creating her own distinctive blend of ’60s-inspired soul and rock ’n’ roll with Chloe Lou & The Liddells since 2018. Their debut EP, Storybook, won the 2020 San Diego Music Award for Best Pop Album. A versatile and dynamic performer, Chloe can also be seen with country outfit The Sidelong Glances, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion Rock Band, Good Mojo, and a variety of tribute bands and duos throughout San Diego County.   Lauren Leigh is an award-winning San Diego singer-songwriter who turns the beautiful messiness of life into songs that blend pop, Americana, and folk.  Alongside her husband, Will Stucky, she makes music as Stucky Leigh and is the creator and host of Writers ’Round San Diego, a weekly showcase  celebrating original music and the people bold enough to write it. Equal parts storyteller, community-builder, and professional oversharer, Lauren  believes the best songs often come from the things we probably weren’t supposed to say out loud.   Ashley E. Norton is a solo artist and fearless leader of the female-dominated Americana-rock band Dolly’s Revenge. She is the creator and star of Lilith  Lives: Celebrating Women of the ’90s, a live music documentary honoring the impact of Lilith Fair, and hosts the all-female Songbirds songwriter showcase in Ramona. Named Ramona’s “Citizen of the Year” for her impact through live music, Norton is a four-time San Diego Music Awards  nominee and Josie Awards nominee. Her 2024 album Call of the Void reached #20 on the Euro Americana chart, with Veteran’s Daughter arriving October 2026.   Thea Tochihara is a Cosmic Americana melting pot of country, soul, blues, and indie rock. Drawing inspiration from outlaw country and modern Americana, Thea weaves stories of heartbreak, resilience, and hope with a voice that moves effortlessly between vulnerability and defiance. From stripped-down ballads to full-band rock anthems, emotional honesty remains at the heart of the music. Unpolished, heartfelt, and deeply human, she makes music for those who take the long road, feel deeply, and find beauty amid the wreckage of love.   Sara Petite grew up in the rural town of Sumner, Washington, where wildflowers lined the backroads and classic country crackled through the speakers.  Raised on Loretta Lynn, gospel hymns, and front-porch storytelling, she learned early that music could be survival, healing, and rebellion. That small-town grit followed her to San Diego, where late-night gigs and DIY records grew into a dynamic, critically acclaimed career. With a fiercely independent spirit and a gift for honest storytelling, Petite has built a devoted following, taking her unmistakable brand of Americana to stages across the U.S. and Europe.