Headliner Series

Northern Virginia native Lauren Calve is a self-taught singer, songwriter, guitarist, and storyteller. Her musical compositions find their ground in the sounds of blues and Americana, guitar and lap steel, but their strength lies in how they go beyond tradition into innovative melodies, structures and arrangements. Seeing her perform, one thinks of Patty Griffin’s dynamic voice, Bonnie Raitt’s smoky aura, and Ben Harper’s unique slide style. She released her debut EP, Between the Creek and the Tracks in 2014, earning a Washington Area Music Association nomination for Best Roots Rock Vocalist. This was followed by EPs Light Dark in 2018 and the critically acclaimed Wildfire in 2020 which featured the stand-out lead track, “Better Angels,” written by Calve after listening to a radio interview with Jon Meacham who cited Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address on the eve of the Civil War as inspiration for his book, The Soul of America: The Battle For Our Better Angels and it reflected what the world was going through during the pandemic. Calve has become a mainstay at prominent venues up and down the East Coast and has become known for her strong, soulful vocal style and skillful playing. Recently, she performed on the prestigious show Mountain Stage and has toured with artists such as Justin Townes Earle, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Rhett Miller, and Amythyst Kiah to name a few. Calve just finished recording her first full-length album in Nashville and will release it later in 2023.