Gayle Skidmore started playing the piano at age four. She now sings and plays more than 20 instruments, including the mountain dulcimer, banjo and the balalaika. She tried her hand at songwriting at age eight and never stopped. She has more than 1,700 songs under her belt.

And she is bringing her broad array of talents to Lopez Saturday, Oct. 20 for a free show at 9 p.m., at the Galley.

Skidmore has special ties to Washington and the island. Her parents grew up in the Seattle area and her grandparents live on Lopez Island. She calls Lopez her “second home.”

Her music has been compared to the sounds of Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, Patrick Watson, Bon Iver and Brandi Carlile. According to her website her 2010 album “Make Believe” encompasses themes of hope, despair, disillusionment and love, and includes songs that wrestle with faith in the midst of loss and death.

For more info, visit http://gayleskidmore.com/.