Hear two of the country's most celebrated independent folk songwriters as they take the stage together in Philadelphia for the first time.
Learn more about John Elliott and Kelly McFarling.
John Elliott writes gripping stream-of-consciousness songs that often take unexpected turns en route to delivering a powerful message. Chuck Schiele of The San Diego Troubadour wrote about Elliott's lyrics: "They get in, make their statement, kick you in the teeth, and get out before they start talking too much...And this lends to the urge of rolling any track to its beginning for another spin."
Watch him perform his epic 'Concerning the Lincoln and Douglas Debate' here, his layered 'Ballad of Wallce Green' here or his high-energy 'Stars and Bars' here.
A native of Minnesota who now resides in California, Elliott began playing at various Hollywood venues in 2001, had expanded throughout southern California by 2003, and later became an international touring artist. He has performed in several countries and every state except Hawaii. His music has been featured on hit TV shows including Grey's Anatomy and Californication, as well as in PASTE Magazine, on NPR and Neil Young's "Living With War" website.
In the last decade, he has released eight genre-less studio albums on his own record label (Garland Lane) to an ever-expanding audience. All can be streamed at his website (www.thehereafterishere.com/recordings). The newest releases are an unedited live performance (“Live in Austin”) and a compilation (“The Greatest Recordings According to Me: 2003-2013”). Both are available for purchase at shows on USB drives. Cassettes are also for sale. Also, hoodies and t-shirts. And yes, compact discs.
John produces an almost monthly podcast of sorts called “Audiodes.” Audiodes defy explanation and must be heard to be understood (seven are included on the USB compilation). They include interviews, meditations, sound collages, alternative versions of already released songs, covers, and more. Audiode Six is a stripped down, acoustic rendering of his “Good Goodbyes” album; Audiode Fourteen is a new concept album about technology called “21st Century Bicycle.” For more about Audiodes, please visit here.
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Kelly McFarling is an Atlanta, GA born, San Francisco based singer songwriter. Sometimes she plays clawhammer banjo, sometimes she plays guitar. Often she plays a telecaster fronting her five piece band, The Home Team. She loves the vibe of pedal steel, songs in three four, and strong melodies. She writes songs reflective of transitions, movement and landscape, evoking nostalgia and the natural world. Her main influences are the space between things, the wilderness, and its navigation.
As a vocalist, McFarling is versatile and soulful, skilled and singular. She has sung with the likes of Terry Reid, Y La Bamba, Goodnight Texas, and she is one third of the all female folk trio, Glittersnatch. She has shared bills with Shovels and Rope, Sean Hayes, Chris Pureka, and Jolie Holland. McFarling has recorded two full length studio albums of originals, Distractible Child (2010) and Ridgeline (2013), a covers EP Others (2013) and two live albums, Live at Pirate Ship Laguna (2009) and Live at Eddie’s Attic (2011). She is currently working on releasing her 3rd full length of originals, in summer 2017. Find her website here.