Pop-folk songwriter Karl McHugh is the amalgamation of his upbringing in Donegal, Ireland and his current home in the San Francisco Bay Area. The retro-style folk music falls somewhere between the purview of Paul Simon and CCR, evoking a house party singalong vibe: fun, warm, inclusive, and good for a laugh!
His latest release, “Keep Dreamin,” was written as part of his Patreon Song Series in which patrons receive a new original song every month. It describes the thoughts going through a musician’s head when playing background music in a coffee shop, all the while yearning for some attention. The song’s inspiration comes from experience – for years Karl has played 4-hour sets at Farmers Markets throughout the Bay Area, summer stints in San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square and busked in Shop Street, Galway; Grafton Street, Dublin; Kawasaki, Japan and countless other cities. “Keep Dreamin” received an “Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting” award from The Great American Songwriting Contest.
Karl’s previous release “Easy Life EP” contains songs written while deep into the US immigration process. The title track “Easy Life” talks of leaving society and all the hoops involved. The second single “Welcome Home, I’m Leaving,” co-written with Annie Hendrix, tells the story of a dysfunctional singer/songwriter and a partner who has had enough.
ALEX STURBAUM
Alex Sturbaum is a traditional musician based in Olympia, WA. Alex is a singer, songwriter, dance musician, and multi-instrumentalist, and performs across the country at festivals, contra dance weekends, and more. A versatile and engaging performer steeped in folk music from both sides of the Atlantic, they draw influences from Celtic, American, English, Canadian, and martime music to create something at once old and new. Alex's performances are known for high energy and an instant rapport with audiences. Alex is best known for their powerhouse guitar and accordion playing, their sharp, traditional-sounding lyrics, and their enthusiasm and appetite for collaboration - the latter of which has led some to call them "one of the most get-sh*t done people in folk music". They tour regularly as a solo artist and as half of the duo Countercurrent with Brian Lindsay. They also teach, record, and produce projects such as The Vashon Sessions (a collaborative music project connecting musicians across the Pacific Northwest) and Raise the Rafters (an annual traditional singing weekend). They have performed on many albums, and have released three solo albums: River Run Wide, Loomings, and Atlantic Dreams.