Iowa’s own country singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters will perform at the Maintenance Shop Saturday at 8 p.m.

Hailey Whitters released her debut album “Black Sheep” in 2015 under Carnival Music, an independent music publishing company based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Describing her own music as “grunge country,” heavily influenced by growing up in the 1990s on country music, Whitters hopes her audience can hear something they relate to or that they feel something when listening to her music. Her sound definitely carries country vibes and it translates in the importance of her lyrics, but at the same time it can give off a moody and electric feel. 

Having been on a number of artists-to-watch lists in 2016, being featured in “The Journal of Roots Music: No Depression” and “The Bluegrass Situation,” and performing on “Daytrotter,” Whitters is making her way in the music industry.

“Make sure you’re having fun doing what you’re doing. If it’s not fun, it’s going to get old really fast and you’re going to want to give it up,” Whitters said. “I always say this industry is ‘survival of the fittest mind.’ [I]t’s going to be trying, but try to keep a positive attitude & you’ll make it farther than most.”

She seems to be making headway as a songwriter as well, having her songs recorded by the likes of Martina McBride and Alan Jackson. Her latest hit, “Happy People,” was recorded by well-known country music group Little Big Town and was performed at the 2017 ACM Awards. 

Whitters is excited to play her first show at her sister’s alma mater and hopes for a good crowd.

Tickets are $8 with a student ID and $10 for the public, with a $2 increase in the day of show. Tickets can be purchased at the M-Shop box office or online at Midwestix.com.