Jacob Johnson w/ Will Easter @ Key City Sessions

Name: Jacob Johnson w/ Will Easter @ Key City Sessions
Start: 2025-09-05T19:30:00-04:00
Location: 402 E Main St., Wilkesboro, NC

Schedule

Fri, 05 Sep, 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

402 E Main St., Wilkesboro, NC | Wilkesboro, NC

Doors at 7:30 PM. Tunes at 8:00 PM. Event is free. Suggested donation of $10.
For parking, please use the driveway to the right of the home (not the left), or any public parking nearby (e.g. Yadkin River Greenway access to the left of Mavis Tire).
Since dropping out of college in 2007, Jacob Johnson has journeyed across the country in six minivans (so far), captivating audiences with his highly caffeinated brand of acoustic guitar playing. Known for his energetic performances, Jacob has had the privilege of sharing the stage with Grammy winners like Tommy Emmanuel, and Victor Wooten, as well as esteemed musicians including Phil Keaggy, Marcus King, and Tim Reynolds.
Beyond his guitar prowess, Jacob has proven himself as a talented songwriter, garnering recognition as the Don Gibson Songwriter Award Grand Prize Winner, Nashville Connection Songwriter of the Year, and a Finalist for the Freshgrass No Depression Songwriter Award. His ability to craft captivating and heartfelt songs has earned him performances at prestigious music festivals such as the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in New York, the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas, the Wildflower Music Festival in Texas, and countless others.
Jacob currently resides in Greenville, SC with his wife Jessica. In addition to his busy touring schedule, Jacob is an adjunct guitar faculty member at North Greenville University. Yes, that is the college he dropped out of.
IG/FB/YT: @JacobJohnsonTunes
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Will Easter has always been a creator. “I love seeing something come from nothing” he states as if it’s the most true thing he knows. Art, construction, or music, Will’s hands have alway been creating. Though raised in a musical family, Will wasn’t always set on being a musician. It was once he began writing and performing his own songs, that Will found his calling. Songwriting in the throughline between Will’s raising in a porch picking family and his love of bringing something new into the world.
Will’s music doesn’t neatly fit in any genre. His songs range from rollicking dance tunes like “River Song” that leave a crowd on its feet, to “Nostalgic Search” which feels like a gospel song being belted in a mountain church, to “Carolina Home” where he works through the complicated emotions of leaving home.

Will writes in a straight, plain english, that fully captures his emotions and leaves the listener feeling surprised at the emotions contained in such simple statements such as “Though I might be gone for quite some time, the only things separating us will be miles.” Much like Will himself, his writing is stripped of embellishments and flair. “I just want to tell the truth. Even if it’s messy.” states Will, and he does just that. His style of writing is specific enough that you can feel his exact emotions, but vague enough that it calls your own memories of those emotions to the front of your mind.

Will’s live shows (especially with his full band, The Nomads) are electric. A front man through and through, Will knows how to connect with his audience. You can feel him weaving a thread through each member and pulling them closer together, closer to his music.

He and his band have played the stages of notable festivals including MerleFest, FloydFest, Shakori Hills, and the Doc Watson Festival. Their performances at these events have highlighted their musical versatility and ability to connect with audiences, showcasing a blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. He has also shared the stage with acts synonymous with Folk, Bluegrass, and Country like 49 Winchester, Town Mountain, Mason Via (of Old Crow Medicine Show), The Kruger Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, and David Childers He is the 2022 winner of the prestigious Merlefest band competition. An accomplishment on its own, this was made even more joyous for Will, who attended Wilkes Community College, whose grounds host Merlefest each April.
IG/FB: @willeastermusic