Songwriter Series hosted by Abigail Dowd, featuring: Mark Kano, and John Gillespie
Abigail Dowd, our fearless host, enjoys music most when it’s embedded in real life, sitting around a fire, singing harmonies around an old family piano, 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. Mark Kano’s introspective storytelling is driven by soaring melodies and thoughtful production. As the former frontman of Athenaeum, he made waves in the late ‘90s with his evocative songwriting and unmistakable voice, crafting songs that resonated deeply with listeners. His solo work builds on that foundation, blending openhearted emotion with polished musicianship to create soundscapes that feel both intimately familiar and refreshingly new. Whether weaving nostalgic anthems or quiet reflections, Kano’s music invites you in—to a space where memory and melody intertwine. John Gillespie is a singer-songwriter raised in Chapel Hill, NC. Best known as half of the folk duo Nikki Meets The Hibachi, John is also a member of several Triangle area bands: Nantahala, The Drowning Lovers, The Marigold Collective, and Pillow Foot.
An Evening w/ Eliot Bronson (Early Show)
Over the course of six albums, indie folksinger Eliot Bronson has created his own brand of atmospheric American roots music. He’s an award winner. A road warrior with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. An internationally-renowned songwriter with a voice that swoons and sweeps, making fans out of everyone from his hometown newspaper, The Baltimore Sun —who championed Bronson from the very start, hailing him as “a folk singing wunderkind” back when he was still playing local coffeeshops — to Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, whose work on 2014’s Eliot Bronson and 2017’s James placed Bronson on the same client roster as heartfelt songwriters like Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton. Talking To Myself marks the most meditative, melodic album of his career, with sparse soundscapes that are laced with acoustic guitar, light touches of keyboard, and clouds of reverb. When Eliot’s voice enters each song, it’s like sunlight piercing its way through the fog. “There’s a little bit of pedal steel, a little bit of bass, and a little bit of electric guitar,” he explains. “Other than that, it’s just me and Damon.” He’s talking about Damon Moon, the Atlanta-area producer best known for his work with regional indie rock bands. “Damon usually makes records with louder bands,” Eliot says, “and that was interesting to me. I wanted to work with someone who had a different sensibility than I did. He brought a new atmosphere to the album. Instead of playing bass on a song, we’d use a Moog. Instead of playing a shaker, we’d use a brush on the side of a tambourine. We wanted to get outside the box of what an Americana folk singer is supposed to sound like.” The result is a 10-song showcase of spacey dream-folk, with Eliot Bronson pulling triple-duty as a singer, songwriter, and co-producer. On his previous record, Empty Spaces, he wrote about the messy end of a decade-long romance and the start of something new. Portions of Talking To Myself serve as an epilogue to that story, with songs like “From Rabun Gap” and “Are You Still Mean” measuring the distance between past heartbreak and present resilience. Elsewhere, Talking To Myself finds Eliot taking stock of the world around him, turning his personal experience into universal songs about the feelings we all share. Talking To Myself is an album that balances mood and melody, intimacy and atmosphere, grounded songwriting and astral, ambient arrangements. For a songwriter who’s always dealt with the grey area between genres — or, he puts it, “the in-between colors that we don’t really have words for” — it’s the next chapter in a story that continues to unfold.
Singer Songwriter Series hosted by Abigail Dowd ft: Maia Kamil and Drew Foust
Maia Kamil – Singer-songwriter Maia Kamil is at home in the world. Maia has spent years refining a musical style that weaves eclectic influences, vocal dexterity, and complex lyrics to create tiny worlds in which the listener can get lost. Much like her writing, Maia’s performances are an invitation to form community and create deep human connection. Her simple melodies act as launch pads for her graceful vocal runs, creating a new sound with a global soul. Her music offers transport to worlds away—the trees of the blue ridge, the salt of the seas she’s floated in, the lullabies of her ancestors—while simultaneously giving the listener a sense of sitting around a campfire with friends, singing melodies they feel they’ve always known. Drew Foust – Drew returns to the beloved Flat Iron for an In-The-Round songwriter showcase with friends Abigail Dowd & Maia Kamil A natural soul singer and blues musician, Drew Foust’s music sounds like it’s made between the bleary hours of a rock bar’s last call and a southern preacher’s early morning prayer. Hand made, self-made and arranged in dramatic structure, the music is lyrical and rhythm driven, always pushing a feeling forward. The Wheelhouse is an amalgamation of some of the best musicians in the piedmont region of North Carolina. Together, Drew and the band lend themselves to heartfelt songwriting with high test grooves, purveying their signature southern soul n’ roll sound. Current members are Jimmy Washington on rhythm guitar, Jared Church on bass, Chuck Pinckney on drums and Cole Covington on keys. The band is known for expanding beyond its core members, having collaborated in studio and on stage with DaShawn & Wendy Hickman, Sam & Eli Fribush, Maia Kamil and Jive Mother Mary. With notable performances at Shakori Hills Festival, Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, and FloydFest 24 in addition to opening for The Wallflowers in Winston-Salem, NC. Drew’s second full-length album, “Good Thing,” released on Charlie Hunter’s SideHustle record label in September of 2022, offers 8 tracks inspired by Memphis soul music from the 60s and 70s.
Singer Songwriter Series hosted by Abigail Dowd, featuring: Nicholas Edward Williams and Jack McKeon
Jack McKeon – A Nashville-based singer-songwriter with an honest, plainspoken vocal, an eclectic-roots sound and a knack for bringing crystalline characters to life, Jack McKeon harbors a deep love for the written word. First inspired by literary musical icons from Hank Williams and Guy Clark to Tom T. Hall and John Hartford, McKeon arrived in Nashville in 2021 and has since established a reputation for his own message-driven lyricism – a value which shows up in its full sonic serenity on his 2024 album debut, Talking to Strangers. Nicholas Edward Williams – Honoring and blending the American roots music spectrum in his own flair, Nicholas Edward Williams is a multi-instrumentalist, storyteller and preservationist who has spent the last 15+ years touring three continents. He’s opened for Taj Mahal, The Wood Brothers, CAAMP, Dom Flemons, Ballroom Thieves, John Craigie, John Paul White and Town Mountain, and his 2019 debut record, As I Go Ramblin’ Around, hit the Top 10 Folk DJ charts for album and song. His critically acclaimed sophomore release Folk Songs For Old Times’ Sake has been heralded by well-regarded figures such as David Holt, Oliver Wood and JP Harris, and his newest traditional record, titled Rags, Folk and Blues, Oh My! releases in the Spring of 2025. Abigail Dowd Our fearless host who still enjoys music most when it’s embedded in real life, sitting around a fire, singing harmonies around an old family piano, 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 Rick Price
Audiences all over the globe are moved by Rick Price’s amazing voice and soulful songs. A multi-instrumentalist, he is the consummate performer and master storyteller. From his humble beginnings as a child performer with his family band in country Queensland dance halls this fan favourite is known for his classic hits “Not a day Goes By,” “Heaven Knows,” “Walk Away Renee” and “River of Love.” As a self-taught Australian singer/songwriter he has multiple gold and platinum selling albums and won numerous music industry awards. Including the prestigious APRA Song Of The year award for his song “Heaven Knows” and both the APRA, Global APRA Music Awards 2020 and Export Music Australia awards for his outstanding achievements abroad. In 2009 a move to the United States sparked not only new influences and a broader style for Price but also a return to his childhood musical roots in country, rhythm and blues, though the ever-present pop influence of Price’s songwriting still rings through his albums and EP such as ‘The Water’s Edge’, ‘Tennessee Sky’, ‘Soulville’, ‘Wayfairing Stranger’ and his latest album, ‘Hometown’. Price has worked with numerous artists as a vocalist, songwriter and record producer including Tina Arena, Tommy Emmanuel, Mitch Grainger, Regine Velasque, Jack Jones and Dami Im. Currently Price resides in Nashville, Tennessee where he continues to write and record his music. His 12th studio album “Hometown” is due for release in 2024.
Robert Ellis w/ Spencer Thomas
Recorded live to tape in just two days, Robert Ellis’s exquisite new album, Yesterday’s News, is as stripped-down as it gets, with the celebrated songwriter and producer’s delicate, reedy tenor accompanied only by nylon string guitar, upright bass, and the occasional piece of handheld percussion. The arrangements are harmonically sophisticated here, drawing on the open tunings and intricate fingerpicking of English songwriters like Nick Drake or Richard Thompson, and Ellis’s performances are similarly subtle and nuanced, tapping into the bittersweet longing of Chet Baker and the playful poignancy of Bill Evans and Jim Hall. While that might seem surprising coming off 2019’s raucous Texas Piano Man, subverting expectations is nothing new for Ellis. Born and raised outside Houston, he gained early acclaim for his piercing introspection and absorbing narratives, but over the course of five solo albums, he flirted with everything from Paul Simon and John Prine to Elton John and Joni Mitchell in a series of sonic and visual transformations that ran the gamut from Redneck Steely Dan to Lone Star Liberace. NPR hailed his “musical daring and impeccable songcraft,” while Rolling Stone praised his “sharp eye for storytelling,” and the New York Times lauded his writing as an emotional “gut punch.” Yesterday’s News marks Ellis’s debut LP for Niles City Records, an outgrowth of the famed Niles City Sound studio he and longtime collaborator Josh Block run in Fort Worth, TX.
Singer Songwriter Series (hosted by Abigail Dowd) ft: Abigail Dowd, Ben Gage, and Sam Tayloe
BEN GAGE – Ben Gage is a songwriter from Akron, OH. Ben Gage grew up in the rust belt of Northeast Ohio, spread out in the countryside along the great Lake Erie. His roots run deep beside the hard working blue collars that Ohio has to boast. That tenacity, love of family, and respect for a long day can be seen in his music. He doesn’t shy away from life’s ups and downs and sews human experience within all his songs, artfully, without the need to bash you over the head with ideas. In Fall of 2021 Ben quit his job in the tech-sector to pursue music full time. Now he travels the US sharing stories and songs and always collecting more. SAM TAYLOE: Through his full band vehicle, Time Sawyer, Sam Tayloe is interested in “real people and real songs” and that’s just what the listener finds in his music – a sense of realness. Blending a grassroots feel with heart-felt lyrics, Tayloe pulls the listener in with introspective ballads that land in that rootsy sweet spot where folk, alt-country, and rock gather for a good time. ABIGAIL DOWD – singer/songwriter/guitarist AND host of the songwriter series, Abigail grew up under the longleaf pines of North Carolina and comes from a long line of musicians. Known for her storytelling and command of an audience, she has been called “a writer of the highest caliber” (All Scene Eye). Her soulful voice and unique classical guitar style have been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as “The guitar-driven introspective folk of the 1970s is a touchstone, but so are blues and roots rock ’n’ roll.”
Singer Songwriter Series (hosted by Abigail Dowd) ft: Abigail Dowd, Sam Frazier, and Jon Shain
SAM FRAZIER – Sam Frazier is a guitarist (and pianist and bassist), singer and songwriter from Greensboro, NC. He has released two solo CDs (Half a Million Years and Sam Frazier). He was a member of the band Tornado with whom he released a long playing record album (First Alert) and a CD (When a Breeze Breaks Your Bones). He has also performed and recorded with Martha Bassett (The Goodbye Party, Magnificat, Mortal Flesh), The Piedmont Songbag (Try and Spread Some Cheer), Bruce Piephoff (Hamburger Square, The Chestnut Tree, Clockwork), Buddha Hat, Lisa Dames, The Numbers, The Prizzi’s House Band, The Sky Kings, Mary Lyon (Hopscotch) and The Hall Monitors. He has opened shows for Joan Armatrading, The Neville Brothers, America, The Funky Meters, The Duhks, The Del McCrory Band, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Eric Church, Craig Morgan, Root Boy Slim and others. JON SHAIN – Hailing from Durham, NC, Jon Shain is a veteran singer-songwriter who’s been turning heads for years with his words, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his evolved musical style – combining improvised piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime. Jon has released nine solo albums to date, along with two albums with duo partner FJ Ventre, a Jon Shain Trio live album, and one album of co-writes with Joe Newberry. Shain’s newest album, Restless Soul Syndrome, recorded at Good Luck Studio this past year, was released April 9, 2024. Shain is also the author of the music books Gettin’ Handy With the Blues – a Tribute to the Legacy of W.C. Handy and Jon Shain’s Fingerstyle Guitar Method, both published by Mel Bay Publications. In 2019, Shain won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the solo/duo category. ABIGAIL DOWD – singer/songwriter/guitarist AND host of the songwriter series, Abigail grew up under the longleaf pines of North Carolina and comes from a long line of musicians. Known for her storytelling and command of an audience, she has been called “a writer of the highest caliber” (All Scene Eye). Her soulful voice and unique classical guitar style have been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as “The guitar-driven introspective folk of the 1970s is a touchstone, but so are blues and roots rock ’n’ roll.”
Flamy Grant, Jennifer Knapp, and Crys Matthews
Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Charts, and she is a winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition. A powerhouse vocalist, intrepid songwriter, and irreverent comedy queen, Flamy drags you into a therapeutic, theatrical mix of music and storytelling. Armed with a bold lip and a blistering voice, Flamy is proof positive that nothing is sacred (but everything is holy); shame belongs in the closet; and you are a brilliant, resilient badass ready to take on the world. Jennifer Knapp, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, author, speaker, and advocate, has spent over two decades leaving an indelible mark on the music industry. Selling over one million albums with her first three releases, including the Gold-certified “Kansas” (1998), she’s a four-time Dove Award winner and two-time Grammy nominee. Already being hailed as “the next Woody Guthrie,” Nashville resident Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. A powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality,” Justin Hiltner of Bluegrass Situation called Matthews’s gift “a reminder of what beauty can occur when we bridge those divides.” She is made for these times and, with the release of her new album Reclamation and her 2021, hope-fueled, love-filled social justice album Changemakers, Matthews hopes to take her place alongside some of her heroes in the world of social-justice music like Sweet Honey in the Rock and Holly Near. Of Matthews, ASCAP VP & Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.”
Abigail Dowd’s Songwriter Series featuring: Abigail Dowd, Jonathan Byrd, and Alexa Rose
JONATHAN BYRD: Jonathan Byrd is a preacher’s kid, Gulf War veteran, and award-winning songwriter with a near-cult following. With twenty plus years of touring and over a dozen albums, Byrd’s deceptively simple, working-class songs have become campfire standards and crowd favorites for artists like Sam Bush and Tim O’Brien. A Jonathan Byrd show will take audiences on a journey from hell-raising sing-alongs to heart-wrenching ballads and back across the backroads of his native North Carolina. A lifelong collaborator and innovator, Jonathan Byrd’s latest project is Song Miners, a project to not only write and release new songs, but also to teach others how it’s done. Leading powerful online songwriting workshops and creating free songwriting education for social media, Byrd seems on a mission to fill the world with great songs- not least, his own. Not to be missed. ALEXA ROSE: Alexa Rose was born in the Alleghany Highlands of western Virginia, raised in the tiny railroad town of Clifton Forge. Though no one in her immediate family played or sang, she inherited a deep musical legacy. That sense of place and storytelling spirit became woven into Rose’s voice and songwriting. In 2019, she released her debut album Medicine For Living, the title track of which won Merlefest’s revered Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Her 2021 follow up Headwaters garnered national attention from American Songwriter and Rolling Stone, among others. Rose wrote most of the album in the early stages of the pandemic, which she astutely characterizes as having “that weird lucid feeling of not-time.” Perhaps following in the steps of her great grandfather, Rose’s songs feel like oil paint landscapes of her own life in the mountains, often wringing out the beauty in mundanity and exploring timeless topics. Her earnest, well crafted stylings are a multi-layered merger of old country music and traditional folk songs, colored by rock and roll and mountain soul. ABIGAIL DOWD: singer/songwriter/guitarist AND host of the songwriter series, Abigail is grew up under the longleaf pines of North Carolina and comes from a long line of musicians. Known for her storytelling and command of an audience, she has been called “a writer of the highest caliber” (All Scene Eye). Her soulful voice and unique classical guitar style have been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as “The guitar-driven introspective folk of the 1970s is a touchstone, but so are blues and roots rock ’n’ roll.”
