Jennifer Niceley, local musician and UT sophomore, will perform at

tonight’s New Rock 90 Nite at the Mercury Theatre. This is a “farewell

performance” for Niceley, who leaves this week to study in Swansea, Wales,

through the university’s Direct Exchange program.

Under the exchange, Nicely and another UT student trade places for a year

with two students from Swansea, who are already in classes at UT. While she

hasn’t decided on a major, Niceley is enthusiastic about continuing her

liberal arts studies abroad.

“I’m excited to be close to London,” she said. “I’ve been there once before

and I really liked it.”

Niceley has performed in Knoxville both as a solo artist and as lead

vocalist for Soul Penny. Soul Penny played at Knoxville venues for two

years before disbanding this past spring. Though no longer making music

together, Nicely says she is still friends with former bandmates Matt

Juroff, Rus Sites and Mike Dougherty.

“We all felt the need to do something different,” she said of Soul Penny.

“I think we’d all enjoy playing together, but back then it got to be the

same old routine.”

Niceley may try to continue her musical career in Swansea.

“I don’t really know what kind of city it is,” she said. “I know there are

pubs. I’m taking my guitar, so maybe I will play there.”

Nicely rejects the “folk” label that she might receive as a solo performer

with an acoustic guitar.

“I don’t think it’s completely accurate to just describe me as folk,” she

said. “I’d really like to have an electric guitar, actually. There are some

things that sound better with an electric.”

She said she mostly follows songwriters, not necessarily types of

music.

“I like a wide variety of music, but mostly I like really good

songwriters,” she says. “I’m always interested in finding female

songwriters who do something new with solo performing.”

Niceley enjoys contemporary artists like Lou Barlow and Liz Phair, as well

as her all-time favorite Joni Mitchell.

There are some things Niceley hates to leave behind.

“I’ll miss the Mercury Theatre,” she said, “because I like going there a

lot. I’ll miss Kevin.” Kevin Niceley, owner of the Mercury Theatre, is

Jennifer’s first cousin. “Maybe I’ll miss a lot more when I get there,” she

said.