Maia Sharp is taking a break from songwriting.

It's an odd career choice for someone who's written songs for -- and with -- the likes of the Dixie Chicks, Lisa Loeb and Carole King.

"For years and years it was about the writing," says Sharp, the daughter of musician Randy Sharp, who played in the Fresno area in the late '60s before moving his family to Los Angeles.

Sharp recorded her first song when she was 5 and started playing the local clubs while still in her teens. "I got on stage in the first place so I could get the songs out there," she says.

She's back on stage for the same reason.

She will spend the year focusing on touring in support of her album "Change the Ending," which was released in August. She plays Thursday night, March 14, at Frank's Place in the Warnors Theatre complex.

Of course, she tries to be humane about touring.

She's done with the 12-week trips traveling around in a van. Now she does a week or two, then gets right back home to L.A.

This time out, it's just a quick trip up the coast to Santa Rosa. She's traveling light, playing as a duo with guitarist Linda Taylor. Sharp sings, plays the guitar and keyboards and some saxophone. "We're two, but we try to sound like four," she says.

The shows will be a change from the recent string of West Coast and Southwest shows she did opening for Bonnie Raitt.

"Being her opening act is great," Sharp says.

The tone in her voice makes you think that's an understatement.

Raitt came out and sang on a few songs during Sharp's sets. Sharp sang some harmonies and sat in with Raitt's band.

"I am one of her fans. And when I get out in front of her fans, we just connect."

Playing with Raitt has been an "ongoing, fabulous thing" that started in 2005 when Raitt recorded two of Sharp's songs for the album "Souls Alike." In return, Raitt sang on Sharp's last two albums. "It's so validating having someone you think so highly of, think so highly of you," Sharp says.

She doesn't mention Raitt to name drop.

She's just been lucky enough to work with some fairly famous sorts. Along with Raitt, she worked with Art Garfunkel, singing harmonies and producing two songs on his retrospective "The Singer." She also worked with film and television composer W.G. Snuffy Walden and recently recorded a live video at his Taylor Made Studios.

Those experiences have all been fun, but also frustrating at times. Writing songs for other people and pitching music for movies and television, it comes with hurdles.

Sometimes, you overcome those hurdles.

Other times, the songs get chopped from the film, or cut from the album, "and then, there it is on your hard drive," Sharp says.

Playing shows gives an immediate life to those songs.

So, no, she's not looking to win a Grammy, she just has a collection of tunes she's really proud of. She wants them to be heard. Even in a tiny club. Even if there are only 30 people in attendance.

"It just needs to have a life."

SHOW INFO

Maia Sharp, 7 p.m. Thursday at Frank's Place, 1432 Fulton St. Show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. All-ages event. Details: warnors.org