Tyler Millard Presents Eight Track: A Songwriter Showcase with a Twist
Four of your favorite songwriters or songwriter teams will be writing eight songs over eight weeks. At the end of the writing period , they will be performing at least half of the songs they just wrote as part of their sets.
Abigail hosts Colin Cutler and Carlos Rising
Colin Cutler Colin Cutler is a Greensboro, North Carolina-based singer-songwriter, folk musician, poet, and storyteller toting a banjo and guitar. Whether solo or with his band, Hot Pepper Jam, he is a wide-ranging performer whose musical roots draw from the breadth of American folk music—from Appalachian oldtime to blues to gospel to country to rock’n’roll—to form what No Depression has described as “one magnificent tapestry of roots music.” The last couple years have seen Cutler playing across the Southeast, with appearances at Merlefest, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, the North Carolina Folk Festival, Antlers and Acorns Songwriters Festival, and the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival. Carlos Rising Carlos Rising is a singer-songwriter and frontman based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Growing up as a multi-instrumentalist, he started writing original songs at 13 years old. His work covers a multitude of styles, ranging from indie rock to R&B and soul. In 2023, Carlos competed on Season 23 of NBC’s The Voice, where both Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson turned their chairs during his blind audition. Following the show, he released his first EP, it’s just a phase—a collection of bedroom-produced songs showcasing his vocal ability and songwriting. Carlos has toured the country playing solo shows and band gigs from coast to coast. He’s currently working on his debut album, Amsterdam, rooted in the Wilmington community that’s supported him from the start. 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
Abigail Dowd will host Joey Recchio & Willie Shane Johnston
Matteo Joey Recchio was born in Sparta, NC and started playing the guitar at age 12, playing his first live show at 15. He started in the rock cover scene through college, shifting to blues in the mid 2000’s. As a member of Contagious Blues Band he was a winner of the Charlotte and Triangle Blues society’s IBC competitions. In his second trip to Memphis for the IBC, his band won the Kings of Beale Street contest. In 2009 he joined forces with some of his High School friends in Big Daddy Love and transitioned to the jam band scene. They immediately won the Floyd Fest “On The Rise” competition and followed it up with 4 albums. He has opened for, or shared the stage with, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger, Los Lobos, BlackBerry Smoke, Lukas Nelson, Jimmy Vaughn, Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Keller Williams, among others. Clocking in over 2,000 live performances in nearly 40 states, his devotion to writing and performing music has never wavered. Keep an ear out for new recordings and live shows with Big Daddy Love and The Deluge, as well as a solo EP being recorded with the help of his musical comrades Jeremy Merritt and Willie Shane Johnston. Willie Shane Johnston is from Grenada, Mississippi. Between Grenada and his father’s hometown of Clarksdale, there was ample influence of Delta Blues. As a child his grandmother gave him his first harmonica, and lessons, but asked him to keep it a secret since some family members viewed blues as “the devil’s music”. Willie has played blues from Florida to International festivals in Canada; New York to Colorado. He has recorded 4 albums. He has opened for Delbert McClinton, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, George Jones, Shamekia Copeland, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Hubert Sumlin, R.L. Burnside, John Hammond and many other artists. Over the years, his bands WSNB, and The Red Dirt Revelators have won every single blues society competition in North Carolina, and Cape Fear, SC. WSNB placed third in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, with a performance at the historical Orpheum Theatre. Willie continues his pursuit of writing, recording, and performing blues music at every opportunity. 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
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
An Evening With Karla Davis
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.
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.”
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.
Laurelyn Dossett – Going To Town Series
Every Wednesday evening from January 14th til April 29th Laurelyn Dossett will be the flat for a unique performance in whatever format she chooses for the evening!
Laurelyn Dossett – Going To Town Series
Every Wednesday evening from January 14th til April 29th Laurelyn Dossett will be the flat for a unique performance in whatever format she chooses for the evening!
Laurelyn Dossett – Going To Town Series
Every Wednesday evening from January 14th til April 29th Laurelyn Dossett will be the flat for a unique performance in whatever format she chooses for the evening!
