Ami Williamson may be the daughter of legendary country musician John Williamson, but she is carving out a music career of her own.

While she has toured with her father, the folk singer-songwriter has a long list of achievements in her own right.

These include performing at Port Fairy Folk Festival, Canberra-based National Folk Festival (at least five times), with Opera Australia, and for the Australian troops in the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ami will perform One Woman Show at Smith’s Alternative on Saturday 9 November.

“I play a variety of instruments and most of it is original music,” she said.

“I’ve got funny songs, sad songs, I go for a well-rounded entertainment performance experience as opposed to one thing for an hour-and-a-half.”

The show has been described as a “roller coaster of fun showcasing her many talents as an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician and storyteller”.

“Her songs are wicked, poignant and sometimes downright hilarious – matched by her brilliant, versatile voice and flamboyant stage presence,” a statement about the show said.

Ami said she would be wearing unique attire for the show that featured doilies.

“I’m wearing a dress made entirely out of my grandmothers’ tea towels and aprons,” she said.

“I’ve just collected both of my grandmothers’ aprons and tea towels and my sister has very cleverly put a dress together.”

Ami said she loved performing in Canberra because of the people – she also has friends living in the capital.

Music has been a big part of Ami’s life from a young age – and it’s not something either her mum or dad pushed her into. She is also a trained dancer.

“I don’t remember a day I didn’t sing; I must have been singing since I was a very small child because it was a part of learning to walk and read, it was always there,” she said.

Born in Sydney, Ami has studied music in New South Wales and Berlin, Germany. She has toured in Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and the Middle East.

“It’s always really fascinating to learn about a culture through its language because I’ve never done that before,” she said.

“But, when I learnt German living in Germany, I felt on the surface of the culture until I actually learnt the language – I absorbed the culture more.”

Both of Ami’s grandparents were classical singers and sang duets for ABC Radio in the 1930-60s.

Her mother, Mary-Kay, the matriarch of the family, however, is not musically inclined.

“She’s the matriarch of the family and was originally a nurse, then cared for AIDS (sufferers) in the 80s when everyone was scared to touch them,” Ami said.

“(At the time) she was very wise and open-minded, a natural carer of people, she looks after everybody. She’s the rock of the family.”

Ami will perform One Woman Show at Smith’s Alternative on Saturday 9 November from 3-5pm (doors open 2:30pm).

Canberra Daily would love to hear from you about a story idea in the Canberra and surrounding region. Click here to submit a news tip.