Though she began her career as an actress/director/playwright, Speace proved a late-blooming musical artist, picking up guitar at age 25 and composing her first song at age 28. She was discovered on the New York acoustic scene by GRAMMY winner Judy Collins, who has since recorded Speace's songs and toured with her. In 2002 Speace released her debut album, Fable, which Billboard described as "undeniably earnest and commercially accessible." Her sophomore effort, Songs For Bright Street, was released in 2006, with the album's 13 tracks earning favourable comparisons to GRAMMY winners such as Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss and Gretchen Wilson. Speace followed with 2009's The Killer In Me and 2011's Land Like A Bird. Her 2013 album How To Sleep In A Stormy Boat was released to great critical acclaim and helped her start a European touring career. The stand out track was no doubt the duet The Sea and The Shore with John Fullbright.
