Kicking off Maximum Ames Music Festival is BeJae Fleming, singer-songwriter and guitarist and will be playing Stomping Grounds from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.

Fleming has been performing music and touring full time since 1977. Her music is largely roots/Americana with a blues influence and a style all her own.

“I love guitar and have developed a style of playing both lead and rhythm at the same time,” Fleming says.

Fleming will be playing original music and usually performs with bassist Jackie Blount, but at Stomping Grounds, she will be playing with Andy Fleming, frontman of Des Moines band Brother Trucker.

“We are two songwriters who have each built a following in Iowa,” BeJae said of Andy. “People have heard us separately, but there aren’t that many chances to hear us together. We each bring our own approach to songwriting and to performing, but the combination results in something different, something unexpected for both of us. We admire and respect each other’s work, and I think all of that comes through when we perform together.”

BeJae’s concert is free, and conveniently located at Stomping Grounds coffee shop in Campustown. BeJae is excited to play Ames.

“I think that the Maximum Ames Music Festival is a remarkable event, and I feel so lucky and honored to be part of it,” BeJae said. “The festival is the result of a growing music scene in Ames. The development of the Ames music scene over the past few years has been fueled by a few very persistent folks who have insisted that it happen and that it flourish.”