Drew Kennedy, Courtney Patton

I write songs for a living, and have been doing so since 2004. I have two favorite guitars, one being a 1964 Gibson Country and Western, which (with the help of a fine luthier) I was able to return to a playable condition after finding it in a state of total disrepair. I love the way it sounds, and I think it likes having me around, as well. My second guitar is a 2004 Gibson J45, which held a starring role in the movie Infamous. Unfortunately, Infamous lost the Hollywood Truman Capote Sweepstakes, and Capote beat it out of the gate. Infamous saw limited release and went to DVD pretty quickly. That being said, the guitar is probably still more famous than I am, even in all of it's DVD glory. If The Smoking Gun ever publishes an extravagant concert rider with my name on it, rest assured that the requests for seedless watermelon slices and Caciocavallo cheese came from the guitar, and not from me. I love music. I love hearing songs that are intelligent, thought provoking, and honest. They give me hope, and their songwriters give me inspiration. I recently finished recording my third album, which I plan to release soon. I decided to call it An Audio Guide To Cross Country Travel. I think it's a clever title, but I am often wrong about these types of things. I live in New Braunfels, Texas with my wife, three dogs, a cat, and a generous school of fish that I try not to forget to feed when my wife assigns me the task (the fish, that is… the dogs let me know if I'm forgetting about them in their unmistakable way). We like it here. I travel a lot for my job. There's not much of a point in writing songs if you don't share them with an audience. Besides, the dogs can't clap, I can't hear the fish, and the cat generally doesn't care about what I do… and everyone needs a little positive affirmation in their lives from time to time. So, I hope to see you at a show. If you'd ever like to say hello, you can reach me via email ( info at drewkennedymusic.com ), smoke signal, telegraph, or carrier pigeon. Whichever is easiest for you.

Singer/songwriter Courtney Patton has flown a little under the radar in recent years, far from a household name but a welcome discovery for listeners who’ve found their way to her sweet, soulful, and subtle approach to classic country music. Her first full-length record, "Triggering A Flood", was released in May 2013. Her expansive voice, laced with deep Texas twang but bearing the influence of favorite songwriters from the ‘70s folk-rock scene all the way through the present day, gives new life to old themes of finding love and freedom where you can and trying to hold yourself together when it slips away. She’s already a favorite of some of the scene’s brightest artists, having collaborated and played with the likes of Mike McClure, The Trishas, and new husband Jason Eady. With new material in the pipeline and a renewed interest in taking her music to a larger audience, she’s becoming not only a peer in talent but an indispensable part of the regional independent country music world herself.

"I suppose realism is what I look for in new music. I want to believe a new song. That happens when I hear Courtney's music. Her voice is rich and unique and that's something that's been a dormant quality in the "woman's world" of country music for a long, long time!" - Adam Hood

"Over the years I've watched CP grow into a singer/songwriter to be reckoned with. Top shelf." - Mike McClure