Songcraft: John Brewster, Andrew Sturtz, Alysia Kraft, Ian Steele (Eastlin)

This project is funded in part by a grant from the Boulder Arts Commission, an agency of the Boulder City Council.

Songwriters are the architects of sonic emotion, crafting universes in three-minute masterpieces. They wield metaphors like paintbrushes, infuse stories with heartbeats, and turn silence into a canvas of resonance. In the grand amphitheater of musical creation, songwriters stand as the virtuoso architects, building bridges between hearts and harmonies, reminding us that life's cadence is most vividly felt when painted with the ink of their genius. With the Songcraft Series, Christopher Morse and Ian Steele will bring local songwriters to Roots Music Project to share their craft and stories.

John Brewster is a free-spirited singer-songwriter on a mission to share empowering music, cultivate inner peace, and minimize regrets. Originally from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, John's musical journey began at age of 5 when he picked up the violin at school. Growing up, sports took up most of his time, and it wasn’t until his grandmother handed him his grandfather's classical guitar in high school that an unexpected newfound passion for songwriting and singing was ignited.

After exploring music at the College of Charleston, Brewster made the decision to hit the road and start an original band with his friends. After a few years of extensive touring, John landed back at his parents' house at the close of 2018. He made ends meet by driving for Uber and eventually took another leap of faith to release his first original song in 2020. In 2021, John relocated to Colorado where he unveiled his debut album, '42°,' captivating listeners with uplifting lyrics, empowering melodies, and smooth and soulful vocals.

Fast forward to 2023, and Brewster has been sharing a series of singles, building anticipation for his eagerly awaited sophomore album.

Andrew Sturtz falls somewhere at the intersection of folk and soul, with melodic vocals soaring over the lower string instrumentals. Sturtz is based in Boulder, CO, and has toured across the U.S. opening for groups like the Eli Young Band, Trout Steak Revival, Lillie Mae, and Smooth Hound Smith. NPR’s All Songs Considered described the band as “a reassuring breath of fresh air that pulls me back to simpler times” in their April 2020 blog. Sturtz released their debut album You’ve Done this Before in August 2021, and now they are hard at work touring on this album and writing songs for their next album. When they’re not playing music, you’ll probably find them milling flour, farming, laying in a creek, or eating native foliage.

Alysia Kraft (she/they) grew up on a small family-run cattle ranch in Wyoming and graduated from from a K-12 school with eleven classmates she’d mostly known since toddlerdom. At the time, Kraft was a determined visual artist and a freakishly good basketball player who earned a Division 1 full-ride despite her (small but scrappy) stature. Beginning her music career at 22 with a very grassroots determination to bring music places it didn’t already exist, Alysia built devoted followings for projects The Patti Fiasco and Whippoorwill, and later toured and shared stages with a spectrum of icons from Bon Jovi, to Blondie to Bonnie Raitt to Big Thief. She released seven regionally-acclaimed independent records before being signed to sonaBLAST! for her 2022 solo debut, First Light. A fiercely community-oriented artist, Kraft is a prolific collaborator, producer, educator, and advocate for the queer, sober, and artist communities of Colorado.

With nimble fingers dancing on the strings, Eastlin's solo acoustic performances transport you to a realm where emotions are strummed into existence. Noted emotional ballads that tug at your heartstrings with upbeat rhythms that make your spirit soar, his music is a journey through the spectrum of human experience.

Free Show, Suggested donation of $5-$15. (No one will be turned away)

Full bar on premises; Plenty of free parking; Lyft and Uber friendly!

Roots Music Project is a non-profit local music incubator based in Boulder, Colorado. We believe in the power of music to make the world a better place. All music starts locally. We empower artists, fans, and venues to connect and create a thriving and inspiring local music scene.

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