Winkler

• Rock

Written and recorded on 4 and 8 track tape recorders salvaged from thrift shops and garage sales, the music of Justin Schaefers and Christian Schmidt is warm, witty, and quietly genius – the inevitable product of two friends bonding over their shared love of surf rock, proto punk, and the folk revival of the 1960s. Along with their friends Alex Blair, Danny Edlin, and Maddy Simpson, they form Winkler, crafting live shows that are as electric as they are silly and full of fun.

Nnalumansi

• Indie Folk
• R&B

Ugandan Indie Folk, R&B singer/songwriter and guitarist Nnalumansi can only be described as a force. With a mix of influences, ranging from Freak Folk to R&B, and Punk to Pop music, Nnalumansi has created a sound that sends waves of nostalgia and light over listeners through her hauntingly beautiful storytelling. The poetic parables in her lyrics tug at a longing and evoke intense emotion, while Nnalumansi’s powerful raspy voice
captivates you and takes you on a journey through sound.

The Little Mercies

• Old Time

The Little Mercies have rapidly grown from three friends at the local jam to headlining festivals in two years time. A force to be reckoned with, their distinct sound has garnered recognition and awards nationally as Official Showcase artists for the Southeastern Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) and finalists for the Freshgrass Awards. Known for their powerful vocal harmonies, raging twin fiddles, and tear-wrenching lyrics, their music promises an authentic, exuberant experience.

Multi-instrumentalist songwriters, Bronwyn Chelette, Shanice Richards, and Rosalee Walsh united through their love of oldtime music. With individual expertise in bluegrass, reggae, jazz, folk, and classical, their collective sound respects tradition while blending genre lines. They also believe that music and dance are two sides of one coin. Their alter-ego contra-dance band combines oldtime melodies with New England stylings.

‘Boy Genius meets Dixie Chicks,’ The Little Mercies’ music has been compared to inspirations such as Gillian Welch, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Iris Dement. Separating them from the mix is their unique collaboration of musical backgrounds. Bronwyn grew up in the Florida panhandle with her mother singing Appalachian ballads as lullabies, Shanice played reggae percussion and fiddle in her family’s Jamaican church and Rosalee was raised in rural Colorado on the Grateful Dead and bluegrass festivals. Together, their music exists in a multitude of genres, delighting fans of oldtime, folk, americana, soft-rock, bluegrass, and punk, while attracting its own following. Their performances promise an unforgettable experience, ranging from emotional originals to high-energy dance tunes.

At the core of their artistry is community. With professional backgrounds in music therapy, teaching artistry, and nursing, they create interactive performances for community centers, schools, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. The Little Mercies believe in surviving and thriving together and to that end they use their music beyond entertainment as a tool for encouraging connection.

Passion and joy brought The Little Mercies together; in music, community, and perseverance. While it might seem simple, joy in spite of all odds, is its own form of protest and The Little Mercies will continue to grow, perform, and travel, spreading joy in every way they can.

Ever More Nest

• Alt-Country
• Americana
• Folk

Rooted in Southern musical traditions and infused with confessional 90s angst, the music of New Orleans Americana artist Ever More Nest can likewise lull you to dream and rock you right off a front porch. Ever More Nest’s dynamic, homegrown voice—hugged by lush, church-pew harmonies—is complemented by expansive arrangements and rhythm section steady as a country train. Whether in a cinematic crescendo of all-consuming sound or in a quiet soliloquy of only voice and guitar, Ever More Nest allows audiences to wade deep into the waters of their humanness or stay safely ashore, where the rhythm of waves—the steady rock and roll—bring contentedness and joy.

A native of North Louisiana, Ever More Nest’s Kelcy Wilburn (“Kelcy Mae”) was equally influenced by the gospel, country, and blues of her Bible Belt hometown as she was by the emotional rawness of the artists that consumed her generation: The Cranberries, Counting Crows, Tori Amos, Radiohead, et al. As a teen, she moved to New Orleans, where open-mindedness and acceptance gave her the freedom to be herself and to find her voice. As Ever More Nest, Wilburn has been called “Lucinda-esque” and compared to “vintage Emmylou Harris.” For video, streaming, and more, visit evermorenest.com.

Nine Athens Music

Since 2012, Nine Athens Music has provided resources to the musicians, venues and events which make up the New England music scene. We work alongside artists, providing free services aimed at helping them develop their careers and facilitate the creative process through better branding, networking, and financial support for their projects. Through our partnership with Club Passim, Nine Athens Music strives to bring undiscovered Folk music directly to the fans who want to hear it most.

Chuck Honnet is the founder of Nine Athens Music, dedicated to the discovery, encouragement and support of local musicians, venues and events – all focused on his love of Folk, Americana/Roots, bluegrass, and celtic music.