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xBk and Nos Books presentGaelynn Lea: Book Discussion & Performance
with special guest DEĀ EX MACHINĀ
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25TH
Doors: 5pm | Show: 6pm
All Ages
$22 at the door (if not sold out in advance)
*SEATED PERFORMANCE. All general admission seating is available on a first come, first served basis so we encourage you to arrive early for best choice of seats. If you require ADA accommodations please reach out to [email protected]*
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Join musician and author Gaelynn Lea for a celebration of Disability Culture and the release of her new memoir, It Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect. She will be joined by disabled Des Moines musician Torina Gedler for a short performance followed by a discussion about Gaelynn's memoir and the importance of Disability Culture in today's world. The evening will be topped off with a musical performance by Gaelynn Lea.
Gaelynn's book will be available for purchase at xBk, courtesy of Nos Books.
Masking is welcomed. Extra masks will be available at the door.
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•• GAELYNN LEA ••
Gaelynn Lea got her big break when she won NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest in 2016. Since then, she has captivated audiences around the world with her haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes. Gaelynn has collaborated with Michael Stipe, The Decemberists, and Wilco. In 2022, Gaelynn composed an original score for Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. She released the album version — Music From Macbeth — in May of 2025. Music aside, Gaelynn Lea is a sought-after public speaker about disability culture and accessibility in the arts. In 2021, she co-founded RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) with fellow artist-activist Lachi. She released her first book, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect, in April 2026. It is a love-letter to everybody — a warm, funny and deeply felt memoir about disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist’s life.
•• DEĀ EX MACHINĀ ••
Torina Gedler is a songwriter, composer, producer, and pianist based in Des Moines, Iowa and collaborating across the globe. Member of RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), the Advocacy Committee of the Recording Academy (Chicago/Midwest chapter), Des Moines nonprofit Allies in Advocacy, and ASCAP. Currently taking meetings for April 2026!
Release in July 2026, APO/THECARY is a 5-track EP, written and performed by DEĀ EX MACHINĀ — the musical moniker of Torina Gedler. The EP, produced by Grammy nominated (“Love Cure (feat. Lachi)”/ The Colors in My Mind by Chris Redding) and Wavy award-winning producer Medusa (“Danny Phantom”/ Residuals, “King of Prom Queens”/ S.O.B. Story), as well as sync industry star Colby Lapolla, chronicles Gedler’s rise from internalized ableism toward self-actualization, confronting layers of damage inflicted on them by perfectionism and people-pleasing tendencies to pave the way for radical joy as a Disabled and Queer person existing in a country where autonomy and basic liberties face mounting threats.
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Event venue
1159 24th Street Des Moines IA 50311, 1159 24th St, Des Moines, IA 50311-4331, United States
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