Stone Cottage Studios Presents 2023 Summer Artist Series with Live Performances

Boulder, CO (MAY 27, 2023)- Stone Cottage Studios presents their Summer 2023 Outdoor Artist Series, featuring live performances from esteemed singer-songwriters in an intimate garden setting. The series begins on Saturday, May 27th and will run until early September. Guests are encouraged to bring drinks, food, blankets and low back chairs for the show. Check out show information and performer bios below!

Doors @ 5:30pm | Show begins @ 6:00pm

The Stone Cottage (3091 7th St, Boulder, CO)

Founded and launched in early 2018 in Boulder Colorado, the Stone Cottage Studios is a unique and inspiring Music Discovery space in support and promotion of local and visiting musicians. We are musicians, songwriters, audio engineers and filmmakers. We are passionate about music and the community and provide pro audio recording and cinematic video production in both our authentic, unique and inspirational studio and in our other curated live and live stream event locations. We help Artists bring Music to their Fans and the world and Music Lovers with the Discovery of new Artists. 

In addition to curating live events, we also bring Artists and Fans together Globally through High Definition Live Stream Concerts and also promote Artists through our Studio Artist Sessions. These Sessions are interview based and Artists are able to tell their stories and connect with fans through conversation and their music. We help musicians with marketing and visibility by distributing the Sessions and individual song performances across available media channels. It’s all about capturing musicians at their best and discovery across musical genres!

The original cottage was built in the early 1900’s by a local miner and stone mason. We rebuilt the studio in 2012 with Arts and Music in mind and the Stone Cottage Studios was born. The goal was to give rise to a unique, intimate and inspirational space that showcases musicians with high level audio recording and filming. Every aspect in the Studio from the gear and the expertise was assembled to create the very best experience for everyone. With the growth of our Stone Cottage Team and our expansion into the Hybrid Live and Live Stream space, we are more excited than ever to brig our unique experience and intimate stages to the Artists, Fans and the Music Community— all in the Celebration of the Beauty that Music adds to our lives.

David Berkeley’s gift as a songwriter and storyteller is that he sees the tragedy and comedy in life, writing songs capable of both breaking and healing the heart. Berkeley has been called a “musical poet,” by the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times praises his “lustrous, melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake.” That voice and his gift with words is what first sets Berkeley apart from all other guitar-slinging songwriters. But it is his onstage charisma and unparalleled between-song repartee that truly puts him in a class by himself. Each show is completely unique, and David’s humanity shines through every note he sings and every word he speaks. Berkeley has released seven studio albums, one live album, and authored two books, each of which pairs with one of his albums. He was a guest on This American Life, telling an outrageous story of a private serenade he was once hired to perform, and he has won many songwriting awards and honors including ASCAPs Johnny Mercer Songwriting Award. 

Megan Burtt is an international touring singer/songwriter decorated with national recognition.  She is the winner of the Kerrville NewFolk, Rocky Mountain Folk Festival and Westword Music Award and a finalist in MountainNewSong, Songwriter Serenade and Great American Song Contest. In 2010 she released “It Ain’t Love”, a 12-song collection she made with bandmates, among them, Louis Cato (of Jon Batiste and Stay Human, house band for Stephen Colbert, Marcus Miller, Snarky Puppy, and Bobby McFerrin). She worked with the same group for her 2015 release “The Bargain” which charts her recovery from a serious illness with songs that move from darkness to light. In 2013 she released “In Good Company: The Colorado Sessions” a collaborative album of co-writes with Colorado bands including SHEL and Covenhoven. December 2019 marked the 10th year Megan performed throughout the Pennsylvania state maximum security prison system with her band. Megan has toured as a headlining artist, and as support for acts including Gregory Alan Isakov, Marc Cohn, Brett Dennen, Glenn Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket, Lissie, Stephen Kellogg and Leanne Rimes. In 2015 she collaborated with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra as a featured artist. Megan is also a member of an Americana-Roots band called "Gingerbomb" made up of five redheads. 

JoAnna James is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who has been writing, recording and performing for over 20 years. In addition to having released several of her own albums and singles, she has collaborated with Duane Lundy (Ringo Starr, The Lumineers), Jessy Greene (Foo Fighters, Wilco, Pink), Joshua Grange (k.d. lang, Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams), and Grammy Award winner Dan Wilson (Adele, Taylor Swift). She continues to produce songs with her long-time writing partner, Alain Whyte (Morrissey) for popular TV shows such as Riverdale and Gossip Girl and has received two consecutive “Female Vocalist of the Year” awards in her home state of Minnesota. 

Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles in 2008 where she hit the ground running with musical luminaries, she woke up one morning experiencing a sudden onslaught of debilitating physical symptoms that would eventually be diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis. After several years of being in and out of hospital rooms, doctors telling her she would never walk again, insurance battles and trying new medicines, she is thriving again and re-entering the music scene with her newest release, Walk With the Night. JoAnna currently resides in Colorado and composes for independent film projects and commercials in addition to working with various songwriters both domestically and internationally. JoAnna has a few more shows planned through the end of the year, including a Minnesota show in May, an October show in Kentucky, California (date TBD), and Arizona (date TBD). Check out JoAnna's website to stay updated on all announcements!

The Young Fables create music with classic storytelling weaved into traditional country roots music with pop sensibilities. East Tennessee (Maryville) natives, Laurel Wright and Wes Lunsford are influenced by timeless treasures like Patsy Cline, Bonnie Raitt, Glen Campbell and Chet Atkins. The duo’s unique sound has resonated with audiences around the globe as live performances have transformed into stages from which The Young Fables (TYF) discuss themes and topics typically saved for the therapy couch. Band manager Patryk Larney admits, ”Witnessing The Young Fables is like watching a tennis match of talent; her voice, his guitar work. ” Larney is not the first to notice the pair’s skillset. The sultry toned vocalist’s first break came when she won the Texaco Country Showdown at 16 years of age - the grand prize awarded her $100K and a performance on the prestigious Ryman Auditorium stage. Wright used the experience as a springboard to expand booking throughout east Tennessee and it wasn’t long before she caught the eye of Gretsch endorsed guitarist Wes Lunsford. The two discovered an instant connection and The Young Fables were born.

Wright and Lunsford joined forces with Music City’s Hope Tree Entertainment and the couple dropped their debut album Two in 2017, followed by Old Songs (a collaboration with GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Mitch Dane) in 2019. Their sound - a whimsical, distinguishable classic country-meets-Americana blend - was praised by iconic artists and taste-makers alike, with Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta calling Wright’s vocals “flawless,” and nine-time GRAMMY® Award winning artist Sheryl Crow tweeting, “Laurel’s as good as any country singer out there!” Their releases opened the door for a Rolling Stone “10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week” nod, direct support for artists like Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Lauren Alaina, Rascal Flatts and Josh Turner, and an invitation from multi-platinum songstress Shania Twain to take part in the CBS showcase celebration Real Country. “Wes is a perfect partner for Laurel’s voice. I fell in love with these guys as a genuine, authentic talent and sound,” mused Twain, and Travis Tritt added, “Our industry needs (TYF) right now!”

Now, The Young Fables have released their third record Pages (September 2022) and are gearing up for the rental release of their feature documentary 'The Fable of a Song', chronicling a remarkable series of events that rocked TYF in 2018. The story of the tragedies that the band underwent have delivered a notable platform from which the duo speaks to a global audience about depression, loss and resilience. The film, produced by Patryk Larney, has already captured multiple awards, including the 2021 Nashville Film Festival Audience Choice Award. “We didn’t set out to write an album - we just starting writing as a means of release and it happened to resonate with people everywhere,” Wright reveals. “We feel fortunate to have a space to share our music and are so grateful that our story seems to be helping others with their healing. That’s a reward unlike any other.”

You might recognize Lauren Frihauf from Season 19 of NBC's "The Voice", where she made it to the Knockout Rounds on Teams Gwen and Legend, or lately, from her feature in NPR Music's Tiny Desk 'Top Shelf'!Lauren's first original releases are part of a collaboration project, culminating in her debut album, 'The Latona EP'. Her songwriting is intricate, personal, and authentic, and her vocals have been compared to Joni Mitchell, Amy Winehouse, and Madison Cunningham. Lauren's music is indie singer-songwriter with folk and neo-soul elements. The urban vibe of her music is a surprising contrast to the rural farm where Lauren lives and creates. She is currently recording a solo project she can't wait to share with the world! 

Anna Cutler is a singer/songwriter and keyboardist based out of Boulder, Colorado. She started playing the keyboard at the age of six, by 13 she had booked her first gig, and by 18 she had performed to a crowd of 3,000 people. Above anything else, Anna is an entertainer. Inspired by other singer-songwriters like Norah Jones and John Craigie, she loves to connect with fans through lyrics and storytelling. She often sings about the romance of life and the downfalls of love, and offers her audience a bit of comic relief in-between songs. She shines brightest when performing live, and captivates the crowd, whatever the size, with her witty charm and truthful portrayal of life. It is not easy to stick Anna into a single genre. Her voice is raspy yet sweet and she writes music as if she were the lovechild of Adele and Regina Spektor; call it Americana/Folk-Pop with ballad undertones if you must.

Based in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Natalie Spears brings listeners in touch with the warmth of community, the quiet awe of wild places, and the intimate corners of humanity. Inspired by her father's English Folk heritage and talents as a Jazz pianist, Spears carries a deep love for both porch picking music and music that swings. Drawing on these roots and pulling from a quiver of instruments (banjo, bass, piano, and guitar), her sound is both nostalgic and contemporary, sassy and sweet, contemplative and playful.Born and raised in the heart of Washington DC, Spears took after her father, and began playing piano at age five. By fifth grade she was schlepping an upright bass on the school bus, playing saxophone in a band, and taking drum lessons. Music fell by the wayside after high school but in her early 20’s, Spears stumbled upon American Roots music. While playing bass in an Old-Time string band, she became enamored by the driving rhythm of the clawhammer banjo, and since then, has dedicated herself to learning the instrument and its history. Spears currently performs and tours with her duo project, Lizzy Plotkin & Natalie Spears. In 2021, their debut EP, “Just Over the Ridge,” reached #10 album of the year on the Folk Alliance International Dj Folk Charts and her song, Seasons Change, reached #4 song of the year. She has toured throughout the United States performing at the John Hartford Memorial Festival (Bean Blossom, IN), Blackpot Festival (Lafayette, LA), and Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival (Palisade, CO), and has shared the stage with musical greats like Peter Yarrow, the Infamous Stringdusters, Drew Emmit (Left Over Salmon), and Jamestown Revival.

Gabrielle Louise & Ryan Dilts are a pairing of sensitivity and force, performing songs that combine Americana and bluegrass traditions. Gabrielle’s emotive vocal delivery and honed songwriting is elevated by the nuance and precision of Ryan’s agile guitar work. His flatpicking has a crystalline quality that converses with her voice eloquently, subdividing the time to create layered rhythmic interest and weave hypnotic spells. While their material harnesses the authenticity of folk music, it is arranged with a sophistication that aims to honor both of their personal heroes: Joni Mitchell and Tony Rice. Gabrielle joins Ryan in this project on the heels of a long career as a recording artist and touring musician. Known for her authenticity and candor on stage, her performances delight and enchant. After graduating Berklee College of Music in 2007, she crossed the country many times over in a veggie oil powered tour van, released nine records of original work, and has been entrusted to open for greats from Joan Osborn to the late Guy Clark. Career highlights include giving an original TEDx talk on storytelling, taking first place in the Songwriter Serenade Competition, and watching her record "If the Static Clears" climb to #6 on the National Roots Music Report for Contemporary Folk Album.

Forest Sun was born in upstate New York to folksinging back-to-the-land hippie parents. His dad used to chop wood with neighbor Garth Hudson of the Band and literally built the floor that Bob Dylan stood on at manager Albert Grossman’s Bearsville studios in Woodstock, NY.  His mom heard Pete Seeger and Joan Baez play when they filmed a TV show in her uncles living room in Boston, and dated one of the Chambers Brothers before she met his dad.  Weaned on a diet of Jackson Browne and Toots and the Maytals, some of Forest’s earliest memories are of his dad playing “Poncho and Lefty” by Townes Van Zandt and his mom singing Elizabeth Cotton’s “Freight Train”. Forest wrote songs with Rory Block when he was six years old, learned to juggle with WavyGravy when he was 9, and studied drumming with the late African master percussionist Babatunde Olatunji as a teenager.  In college he played in a band with SNL star Maya Rudolph. They opened for No Doubt at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz before Forest left to study art in Spain. 

A pioneer of the DIY movement he recorded his first record in his bedroom in San Francisco with bassist Seth Ford Young (Tom Waits, Edward Sharpe) and toured Europe for the first time, including playing at the Rally on Dam Square in Amsterdam for the Tibetan Freedom Concert where he first met Ben Harper, Alanis Morrisette and Thom Yorke.

With over 78 million plays on Pandora, troubadour and award-winning songwriter, Forest Sun, enlivens audiences around the globe with his wealth of songs and stories, all sung and told in a laid-back California style. Sun's soulful music draws on a deep well of Americana and is compared to everyone from Jack Johnson and The Avett Brothers to Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.  He’s played festivals from California (Strawberry Music Festival, American River Music Festival) to Europe (Belladrum in Scottland, Fiesta City in Belgium),opened for such luminaries as Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Rait, Steve Earle, Keb Mo, and toured with folks like Brett Dennen, Mason Jennings and the Beach Boys (Forest met famed Beach Boys producer Van Dyke Parks at a festival porch jam and later swapped songs on his piano at his house in LA). Musical collaborations on his records include members of Bob Dylans band, members of Calexico/Iron and Wine, Heather Massse(The Wailin' Jennys, Prairie Home Companion) Jolie Holland (The Be Good Tanyas),  JT Nero(of Birds of Chicago), Sean Hayes, jam band ALO, and bluegrass band Hot Buttered Rum. His latest album has been featured on Songpickr and Folk Alley playlists and delivers the introspective depth and playful, uplifting, soul-nourishing songwriting fans have come to expect. 

Singer/Songwriter, Dave Tamkin, currently resides in Boulder, CO. He has created his own unique style of rhythmic-acoustic sounds that's based around a fresh musical vision. His shows vary from intimate solo acoustic performances to a full band experience (DT&CO.) encapsulating a mixture of personal lyrics and skilled songwriting set against a high-energy percussive backbone.He's shared the stage with Guster, The Samples, Brendan James, Rusted Root, Donavon Frankenreiter, Butch Walker, Freddy Jones Band, Eric Hutchinson, Willy Porter, The Violent Femmes, and Peter Mulvey to name a few. Tamkin has a style that's hard to resist. His lyrics are unabashedly honest and his passion for playing is undying.

Lucas Wolf is a South Dakota born, Arizona raised singer songwriter currently touring the western region of the United States. He has supported bands such as Robert Randolph and the Family Band,  Leftover Salmon, Lion Vibes, Gipsy Moon, Mountain Standard Time and more.  He writes heartfelt, thoughtful lyrics and his songs are delivered with passion and sincerity each and every time. Once upon a time he lived as a wandering, hitch-hiking busker playing his music from town to town, never knowing where he would end up next.  As time went on, life on a never-ending road lost its allure and he decided to stay put a while and pour himself fully into his music.  He is currently working on his second full length record out of Boulder Colorado.

Colorado-based singer, songwriter, and pianist Pamela Machala (“MOCK-uh-luh”) writes "catchy, heartfelt, thought-provoking songs" (Westword) with influences ranging from jazz and soul to musical theater and folk. She was awarded the Grand Prize in the 2019 SongDoor International Songwriting Competition, was a 2021 Finalist in the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase, and has opened for icons including Lisa Loeb and Rachel Price. Her all-female band (featuring Adrienne Osborn on bass, JJ Jones on drums, Amanda Morin on guitar, and Kate Farmer on vocals) takes her sound to the next level, reminiscent of 70's favorites like Carole King and James Taylor.