Abigail Dowd, Dawn Landes, and Jess Klein
Dawn Landesis a singer-songwriter based in Chapel Hill who’s penned original songs for TV, film, and musical theater (ROW on Audible). Landes has toured internationally and supported artists like Jose Gonzales, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many more. Her newest album The Liberated Woman’s Songbook was produced by Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman) and highlights women’s activism throughout history. www.dawnlandes.com Jess Klein came to this world to pull firebrand power and childlike joy from our darkest shadows. Her acoustic-driven, hook-laden story songs revel in the polychrome of human experience – joy, rage, sensuality and resilience. The New York Times calls her “A songwriter with a voice of unblinking tenacity.” Jess has toured the globe, performing in pin-drop listening rooms, cozy theaters and on raucous festival stages. She is currently based in Hillsborough, NC by way of Boston, New York City and Austin, TX. Jess has toured nationally and internationally supporting Arlo Guthrie, Josh Ritter, Damien Dempsey, John Fullbright and Jonathan Byrd and has opened for such legends as Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, and Alejandro Escovedo. She has appeared on Good Morning America and NPR’s All Things Considered and has performed at the Newport, Winnipeg, Falcon Ridge and Philadelphia Folk Festivals as well as Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. Abigail Dowd Our fearless host who still enjoys music most when it’s embedded in real life, sitting around a fire or every third Tuesday night at the Flat Iron. Each month Abigail invites musician friends to fall into space with her and the audience for what she describes as an evening in her adopted living room. They collaborate, share new songs, play old favorites, make things up, make you cry, make you laugh and most of all make you glad you came
The Rough & Tumble and Flagship Romance
Two internationally touring folk/Americana duos, The Rough& Tumble and Flagship Romance combine for a night of high energy, four part harmonies, infectious hooks and a roomful of laughter. It took over 10 years and 500,000 miles of touring the indie/folk circuit and seeing each other’s posters on venue walls before the two bands met. But it only took one meeting before they’d started a text thread and concocted the idea of the Rough Romance tour. It’s a night of open-armed, deep-in-the-belly-songs that are as intimate as they are universal and as delightful as your first cup of coffee. It’s a jubilant show that has become thehighlight of the year for many people to watch these four accomplished musicians and friends share the stage. Flagship Romance is an unforgettable alternative folk duo known for their breathtaking vocal harmonies, inspired songwriting, dynamic live show, and a remarkable on and off-stage chemistry that will leave you with the feeling that you made two new best friends. Married singers-songwriters Shawn Fisher and Jordyn Jackson effortlessly fuse technical precision in their impeccably tight vocal blend with an invigorating sense of emotional abandon in their energetic live persona. Performing each show as if it could be their last, this duo will have you questioning how their larger-than-life sound can come from just two voices and an acoustic guitar. The Rough & Tumble are a hardscrabble folk/Americana duo, made up of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler. With accordions and guitars, close-harmonies, ukuleles and oddball percussion, their commanding stage presence and engaging performances have made them a not-to-miss band when they tour through town because you won’t see the same show twice. They have been embraced by fans for their stark honesty, unique storytelling and well-crafted melodies especially after 2024’s release, Hymns For My Atheist Sister and Her Friends To Sing Along To, a collection of deeply personal, unifying and uplifting, humanist gospel songs.
Karla Davis w/ TBA
Karla Davis is a soulful singer/songwriter originally from Monroe, North Carolina. Having performed on the stages of NBC’s The Voice, Late Night with Jimmy Fal- lon, The Grand Ole Opry, and the Ryman, Karla has certainly found her voice. Often described as having a “country blue-eyed soul” sound, it’s no surprise that Davis’ inspiration is rooted in artists like Roberta Flak, James Taylor, and Bonnie Rait. You can find Karla’s recently released unique cover of the Bruce Spring- steen classic “Dancing in the Dark” on all platforms now.
An Evening with Jamie McLean Band
Jamie McLean Band creates a musical gumbo that incorporates New Orleans soul, middle Americana roots, Delta blues and New York City swagger. Jamie McLean Band is a triple threat. The group’s energetic and captivating live show is undeniable. McLean’s fiery guitar has joined the ranks of Derek Trucks, Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John and more on stages from from Madison Square Garden to Japan’s Fuji Rock. His blue eyed southern soul vocals ooze real emotion. And his top line songwriting chops have crafted profound, honest and heartfelt songs that will keep you singing along, dancing along and feeling like the song was written about you.Jamie McLean Band is touring behind a fantastic new album “One Step Forward” on Harmonized Records. The album was recorded at the legendary Grand Street Studios in Brooklyn NY and features the band’s strongest and most mainstream songwriting to date. It also marks the return of original JMB member Jon Solo on keyboards! “Summer of Who Knows When” is an immediate summer anthem. “Calendar Girl” and “New York Penny Lane” are musical love letters. And the band kicks into full gear on “Too Little Too Late” and “I Believe In Love”!The live show is where Jamie McLean Band excels and the band has shared the stage with the likes of Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty, Los Lobos, Blues Traveler, Marc Broussard and many more. Jamie Mclean Band has appeared at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Targhee Fest, Okeechobee Fest, Ottawa Blues Fest, Quebec City Summer Fest, and Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam to name a few. McLean has also enjoyed the sponsorship of Gibson Guitars, Fuchs Amplifiers, D’Addario Strings, Blue Microphones, John Varvatos and Esquire Magazine.
Deaf Andrews w/ The Barons
Conceived in the daydreams of adolescence, Deaf Andrews has blossomed from their roots, into a unique sonic flower of indie pop rock. Emerging from Charlotte, NC, the band is the creative collaboration of five friends—Nick Hayes (vocals), Mike Sherrard (guitar), Ross Schumann (bass), Andrew Kingsley (guitar), and Braedon Nelson (drums)—each bringing their own unique perspective and energy to make music that is both personal and universal. With a dedication to pushing creative boundaries and connecting emotionally, Deaf Andrews prioritizes capturing the raw, electrifying energy of their live performances. The result is a sound that is both organic and direct, channeling the spirit of classic rock and roll while embracing the experimental freedom of modern indie pop. With each release, Deaf Andrews continues to carve out their own space in the musical landscape, offering listeners a rich and dynamic experience that is as thought-provoking as it is electrifying. The band’s latest double-single, marks a new chapter in their evolving sound. With their tracks “Wait on Me” and “Small Talk,” Deaf Andrews continues to showcase their ability to blend catchy indie pop-rock with introspective, emotionally charged lyrics. “Wait on Me” playfully captures the tension of anticipation, weaving together vulnerability and hope through infectious hooks and layered instrumentation. Meanwhile, “Small Talk” takes a darker yet thoughtful approach, examining the awkwardness and disconnection that can arise in casual relationships with a punchy rhythm and a deeper lyrical undertone. Both tracks reflect the band’s unique talent for turning personal experiences into relatable, engaging music that resonates with listeners on a deeper level. The Barons is a US alternative band comprised of lead singer and guitarist Peyton Alley, drummer Mathes Glymph, lead guitarist Josiah Ragland, bassist Kirtland Gray and saxophonist Jack Peacock. Forming in 2016, the Virginia natives’ repertoire include various sounds ranging from heavy-hitting indie rock to a lighter fair of introspective love songs. The Barons have amassed a following among headlining colleges and venues on the East Coast as well as supporting some bigger alternative acts such as Judah & The Lion, The Aces, Barns Courtney, and Catfish and the Bottlemen. The band has released a stack of singles since its founding and will embark on their first full album release in 2025, “Le Château”.
Admiral Radio + A Different Thread
Admiral Radio, the award-winning folk/Americana act from South Carolina, is the creative partnership of Coty Hoover and Becca Smith. Named after their old wooden radio, this husband-and-wife team blends heartfelt harmonies, storytelling, and raw sincerity. Having met while waiting tables in the Lowcountry, their sound is straightforward yet powerful—rooted in tight vocal interplay, finely picked acoustic instruments, and songs that explore the quiet hustle of ordinary life and the dogged optimism that drives it all. Recently signed by Too Fine Records out of Nashville, this national touring act hopes to leave listeners better than they found them. Transatlantic Folk duo, A Different Thread, makes harmony-led Americana rooted in hope, human connection, and songs for a brighter future. Alicia Best from Durham NC and Robert Jackson from the Birmingham UK met while busking on the streets of Ireland and discovered both a musical and personal harmony that was serendipitous. Now based in Chapel Hill, the duo live in a tiny home while continuing to tour and record internationally, garnering praise from the likes of Folk Radio UK who described them as: “warm, deep songwriters that have drank from the well of 20th century folk tradition.”
Gabby Guitar & TXLIPS
Strange Fruit Music FestivalGabby Guitar & TXLIPS April 17th, 2026 FREE TO PUBLIC – accepting donations at the door! AboutGuitar Gabby & The TxLips Band is an international Black female rock collective that blends genres such as grunge, metal, and blues.MissionOur Mission is to inspire diverse rockstars worldwide to challenge the boundaries set in various industries. We provide access to music, business, and legal education.
Michael C. Parris, Mark Dillon, and Chris McGinnis
Singer-songwriter Michael C. Parris is from Millboro, N.C., most famous, perhaps, for where Daner Johnson taught Charlie Poole to play banjo. Michael’s grandfather, Red Parris, used to play with Daner in the late ’30s. North Carolina artist Chris McGinnis writes songs that exist somewhere between a hiccup and a heartache. His most recent EP, ‘Songs For You,’ touches on the peculiarity of your hometown morphing beyond recognition. It tells the story of two Baby Boomers falling in and out of love across time zones and decades. It’s about connection and disconnection alike. With the release of his debut full-length album ‘Mamaw’s Angel,’ Chris veers deeper into these familiar themes. Through tales of stolen Winnebagos and hip-shaking grandbabies, Chris’ music is Appalachian absurdity for the 21st Century. Marks music is an exciting mix of Blues, Rock, and even a little bit of Country.
Mantra, Daddy’s Beemer, and Scoby
Moonroof, Transeúnte Errante, Grace Lucia, and Liam Martin
Moonroof is an indie pop/rock band from Philadelphia, PA. After graduating from Bloomsburg University, the band moved to the Philadelphia area. Moonroof recently released their full length self-titled debut album and has expanded their reach of live shows, with performances at festivals and venues across theNortheast, Midwest, and South.
