(This week, in honor of this weekend's St. Pete Pride festival and next week's GaYbor Days, we're spotlighting some of the local scene's best GLBT musicians. Today: Lorna Bracewell.)

It’s almost difficult to believe that Lorna Bracewell is only 25 when going over her long list of concerts in the Tampa Bay music scene.

The lesbian rocker-balladeer/activist has shared billing with Chris Isaak, Chrissie Hynde, Colin Hay, Amy Grant, Melissa Ferrick, Sarah McLaughlin, Little River Band, Patty Larkin and other national headliners.

She’s gotten kudos from local papers and even a shout-out from Pretenders frontwoman Hynde, which can be read on her SonicBids page.

Wielding a guitar with the fierce confidence of a soldier maneuvering a bayonet, Bracewell emotes with unhinged expressiveness. Her no-nonsense passion, articulate lyrics and flowing-meets-staccato vocal style have inspired comparisons to Ani DiFranco.

Bracewell also directs her heartfelt energies to human rights.

"Last November, in the wake of the passage of Amendment 2, I became director of ImpACT-Florida," she says. "In that capacity I've helped organize various actions including a demonstration for marriage equality outside of Gov. Charlie Crist's wedding."

"Our current project is a support group for GLBT youth and their friends and families called GLBTQ Connect." The group meets from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon at Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 Fifth St. N, St. Petersburg. 

Be sure to catch Bracewell soon, because she will be scaling back on the live shows to pursue a Ph.D. program in political theory at the University of Florida. "I've been awarded an appointment as a graduate school fellow," she shares.

This Friday, Bracewell is performing a "farewell show" at 7 p.m. at the Pro Star Sound Stage, 3220 28th St. N, St. Petersburg. Tickets are $10.

Click here to listen to Bracewell's Forever Girl.

-- Julie Garisto, tbt*. Photo by Erik Mathre.