shots from the shack

Tim Grimm is a bit of a Renaissance man in the performing arts world, forging a rich and varied career that blends his love of songwriting, travel, and acting in theatre, film and television. For most of his 25-year career as a storytelling balladeer in the tradition of John Prine, Woody Guthrie, and Bob Dylan, Tim has written primarily about community, history, family, and social issues - often framed by his strong sense of place and the many years he spent on the family farm he built in rural Indiana. His songs are filled with rural characters and landscapes, written and sung with vivid warmth and intimacy.  

Tim’s album, GONE, was the #1 album on folk radio for 2021, and its title song was released as a single in October of 2020 and ended up the #1 most played song on Folk radio for the year. 

If you're not yet familiar with Tim's music, check out a few of his videos.  Dreaming of King Lear was written for his friends Eric Taylor, David Olney, and Michael Smith.

His latest song (as of May 2024), Broken Truth, is a brilliant and poignant message for where we find ourselves in the U.S.

Tim's website can be found here: https://timgrimm.com/

Matt is a troubadour of the first degree, bringing his handcrafted songs to stages across his home state of Texas, the USA and Europe. He is a winner of multiple songwriting accolades, from outfits like American Songwriter, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Billboard. He was named Singer-Songwriter of the Year in the 2013 Texas Music Awards and was featured alongside a stellar cast of characters (Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark) in the documentary, “For the Sake of the Song.”

Check out some of Matt's music if you're not already a fan . . . you will be after November!

Required listening!

What we Saw

Dresses

Best Beasts

and check out Betty Soo's rendition of Best Beasts

Many of you may know Wes as he was a New Folk winner in 2015 and quickly became a KFF favorite, playing there again this past May (2024). 

When Wes was 44, he and his wife Anita made a pact to become writers: she started writing fiction and Wes penned his first song. A few years later, they were both multi-award-winners in their fields. Wes more than made up for lost time with songs that dig deep and go to uncertain, sometimes scary places. Come for a haunting melody and some intricate fingerpicking and stay for the wit and deep literary intelligence. There is always more to find in a Wes Collins song.

              Wes has played shows from coast to coast including: The Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville, TN; The Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, TX; the Cary Theater in Cary, NC (opening for Dave Olney); and many more. He is a winner of the prestigious Grassy Hills New Folk Competition and a North Carolina Arts Council Songwriting Fellowship, and has been featured as a finalist in The Telluride Troubadour Contest in Telluride, CO; The Songwriter's Serenade Competition in Moravia, TX; and The Wildflower Performing Songwriter Contest in Dallas, TX.

Some examples of Wes' work:

Cocoon

Details

You May Do That

Robby has been captivating audiences as a touring singer-songwriter for over two decades, combining quietly impactful songwriting reminiscent of Tom Waits or Jim Croce with the graceful vocal resonance of James Taylor. 

With a remarkable blend of insightful lyricism, memorable melodies, and a voice that carries both strength and tenderness, his music resonates with audiences from all walks of life.

Robby’s dedication to the craft and collaborative spirit have solidified his reputation as a versatile and respected artist within the industry. He garnered recognition as a songwriter’s songwriter early in his career, winning a number of revered performing songwriter contests and touring across the US and Europe. His music has been the soundtrack for countless journeys, amassing over 25 million streams to date. More than 60 of his songs have been recorded by other artists and Robby has added his distinct touch to the work of fellow musicians, reaching music lovers through the voices of others.

Robby's latest album, recently released, "Not a Number" has met with critical acclaim and he is currently on tour with Grace Pettis through August 2024.

Some of Robby's songs are:

Tattoos

Old Radio

The Sea and the Shore

Grace's music is described as a little bit of folk, a little bit of country/americana, and a whole lot of soul.

Grace is the winner of many of the nation’s most prestigious songwriting contests, including NPR’s Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, the Kerrville New Folk Competition, and has received grants from the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation. 

Grace’s songs have been recorded by other esteemed artists, including Sara Hickman and Ruthie Foster, with 3 co-writes on Foster's latest, Grammy-nominated album, Healing Time (2024). 

Grace is an official showcasing artist at Folk Alliance International this year (2024).  

Her debut album on MPress, Working Woman (2021), was produced by lauded singer-songwriter Mary Bragg, mixed by 2x Grammy® award winner Shani Gandhi (Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical), and featured an all-female/non-binary band and creative credits. 

Guest contributions came from Indigo Girls, Ruthie Foster, Dar Williams, and other luminaries. This summer 2024 will see the release of Grace's next full-length album on MPress Records. You can pre-save/order it here: https://www.gracepettis.com/

Paper Boats

Mean Something (recently recorded at The Bugle Boy)

Landon

Rachel Sumner;  Lucy Clearwater; Lila Blue; Robin Bienemann; Lily Talmers and Sean Keel (not pictured)

for more info, email cabin10org@gmail.com