A troubadour of truth, Nashville-based Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. An award-winning, prolific lyricist and composer, Matthews blends country, Americana, folk, blues, and bluegrass into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. On a mission to “amplify the voices of the unheard, to shed light on the unseen, and to be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice,” Crys is made for these times.
A daughter of the South by way of Nashville now and North Carolina forever, and the self-proclaimed poster child of intersectionality, Crys embraces the concept of tradition with boldness and clarity on her new album “Reclamation.” As a preacher’s kid, a black woman, a butch lesbian, and a proud southerner, she is not only reclaiming space for black artists in country and Americana, for LGBTQ voices in faith communities, and for women’s autonomy over their bodies, but she is also reclaiming the south that raised her.
Sam Robbins is often described as an “old soul singer/songwriter”- a storyteller troubadour with a modern, upbeat edge. Touring across the US with a new acclaimed album “So Much I Still Don’t See,” named one of Atwood Magazine’s 2025 “Artists to Watch,” leading songwriting workshops, and performing a Jim Croce song on “The Voice,” Sam has gained a reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in the national folk music community. “So Much I Don’t See” is a testament to a singer/songwriter’s journey through his 20’s, and the culmination of firsthand experiences gathered through hard travel and big adventures. Sam has shared the stage with artists like Jason Mraz and Liz Longley, and performed at major festivals including Kerrville, Falcon Ridge, and Wheatland.
