Saturday @ 8:30 – Heather Pierson
Missouri-born Heather Pierson is a multi-genre singer/songwriter and veteran performer. Her latest CD, The Hard Work of Living, reached #18 on the FOLK-DJ charts and features her award winning single “A Hard Man To Please”. Armed with bell-tone vocals, instrumental virtuosity, and a deep passion for sharing honesty and beauty, Heather speaks the language of music in as many dialects as her abilities will allow. She is joined by Davy Sturtevant on strings and Shawn Nadeau on upright bass. Featuring intricate instrumental arrangements and tight three-part vocal harmonies, the trio’s live performances move seamlessly from jazz to bluegrass to folk.
Saturday @ 8:50 – Paddy Mills
Paddy Mills is the son of a part time DJ at the local AM country radio station. He grew up in the small fishing village of Owl’s Head, Maine and cut his teeth playing Irish music at pubs throughout New England. Over the past year Paddy has won the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Contest, the Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition, the South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition and the Mid Atlantic Song Contest. www.paddymills.com
Saturday @ 9:10 – Lyal Strickland
Full of rural grit and grace, Ozarks native Lyal Strickland is as authentic as they come, balancing songwriting, touring, and raising grass-fed beef. His songs come straight from the heart with a heavy dose of reality. “Smooth and sophisticated, Strickland’s astounding new album” (Kansas City Star) examines economic upturns and downturns and the intricacies of small town culture.
- 2013 Mountain Stage NewSong Finalist
- 2014 International Acoustic Music Awards finalist (Americana/Folk/Roots)
- 2014 Folk Alliance International Official Showcase Artist