In recent years, New Country music has featured artists from all over the globe whose actually "country" roots might be as limited as growing up in Buffalo and having owned a Garth Brooks CD while in elementary school.

At 27, though, singer-guitarist-songwriter Clare Dunn has a bonafide C&W pedigree. She grew up on a farm in Colorado hard to the Oklahoma border, raising cattle, hauling water, and driving combines, tractors and eighteen wheelers. Dunn knew early on she wanted to be a country songwriter and worked at her craft, studying music at Nashville's Belmont University and paying her tuition by working harvests during semester breaks.

She signed a publishing deal after graduation and started earning a reputation as a songwriter and performer. On the strength of tunes like "Get Out" and "Cowboy Side of You," Dunn has begun touring, opening for such artists as Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, Colt Ford and Jamey Johnson.

Dunn performs a free headlining show Thursday in the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den.

- RICK KOSTER

Clare Dunn, 8 p.m. Thursday, Mohegan Sun Wolf Den; free; 1-888-664-3426.