Songs in Ursa Major

In 1969, there is only one name circulating at the Bayleen Island Folk Fest: Jesse Reid. With just one headline show, Jesse Reid—who is tall and soft-spoken with eyes the color of stone-washed denim—and his deft guitar riffs and flexible baritone could become legendary. Until his motorcycle breaks down en route to the show, that is.

Local to Bayleen Island, Jane Quinn's music comes from her beautiful blond hair. It almost seems unreal when she and her bandmates are asked to perform at the festival in Jesse Reid's place. But Jane steps onto the Main Stage barefoot and gives a performance of a lifetime that stops Jesse's disgruntled followers cold: a celebrity is born.

While recuperating on the island from his near-death experience, Jesse befriends Jane and helps her with the recording of her debut album. Jesse stands up for Jane when she battles the misogyny of the music business, and what begins as a mutual passion quickly develops into a passionate relationship. While on tour with Jesse, Jane is so enthralled with the massive stadiums, the late hours, the crazy parties, and the press coverage that she is taken aback when she discovers the sinister truth hidden behind Jesse's songs. With nowhere else to turn, Jane is forced to face the ghosts of her own past, and one of the most famous albums ever is born as a result.

Songs in Ursa Major, infused with the lyrics, iconography, legend, and exhilaration of the early 1970s music scene, throb with emotional longing and pose the issue that so many female musicians must confront: What are we prepared to give up for our dreams?