Jan. 25, 2020 – Southern Rail

Southern Rail‘s performances are high-energy exuberant fun, with riveting harmonies, irrepressible humor and sparkling banjo, mandolin, and guitar solo work. Southern Rail celebrates over three decades of performing with the long awaited release of their 12th CD , “Voices in the Wind.”

Feb. 22, 2020 – Andy & Judy | Kala Farnham
a split bill

New England natives Andy & Judy Daigle have been singing together since 2009. They began writing songs in 2011. Today, this talented folk duo performs regularly at coffeehouses, festivals, libraries, and stages where they have been featured artists, openers and headliners. Andy & Judy do a masterful job of involving the audience in their performances. Armed with a voice, entourage of instruments, and faith in the power of story, songstress Kala Farnham set out into the world with one vision: To inspire through the transformative power of musical storytelling. Farnham, who won the 2019 Rose Garden Performing Songwriter Competition, has garnered numerous awards and recognition, and is an alumni of the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project.

March 21, 2020 – Brooks Williams

At the crossroads of blues and American roots music you’ll find Brooks Williams, who last played the Rose garden in 2001. “Setting new standards and a fresh direction for the blues,” says Blues In Britain, and creating a “beautiful fusion” (Keys And Chords). Just when you think he can’t sing a bluesier note, he sings it. Just when you think he can’t strum a deeper groove, he strums it.

April 18, 2020 – John Gorka

Rising from a milieu of lovelorn singer-songwriters, John Gorka illuminates instead with his trademark wordplay, twisting, turning and tying words and phrases in the way a balloon artist creates complex creatures from simple balloons. Few contemporary songwriters coax language as deftly as Gorka. For over two decades, Gorka’s keen ear has picked up the stories of those along his path, folding them into poetry and song. His keen perceptiveness inspires people from all over the world to share their stories. By involving those tales in his music, he escapes the trap of introspection that hobbles less gifted singer-songwriters.

May 16, 2020 – Peter Mulvey
+ Our 28th Performing Songwriter Competition

Peter Mulvey is a veteran singer and songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began his career on the streets of Dublin, Ireland, as a busker, and from there moved on to performing in the subways and streets of Boston, Massachusetts. This led to his first record deal and a leap to full-time national and international touring, beginning in the early ’90s. The night will also feature performances by three people in our 28th Performing Songwriter Competition.