Joe Craven

Joe wears a lot of hats. As a creative, he enjoys “playing forward” folk tradition by mashing ideas and sound tools from a variety of unexpected places, creating new music altogether. Joe’s been a sideman to many stars, including Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, David Lindley, Alison Brown, Howard Levy, and Vassar Clements. Director of RiverTunes / JAMboree Music Camps, he’s presented at over 500 schools and universities. A celebrated festival emcee, Folk Alliance Far-West Performer of the Year, Swannanoa Gathering Master Music Maker, and a PBS featured artist, Joe has taught for many years at the Gathering’s Fiddle Week and Contemporary Folk Week.

Elise Witt

Elise’s concerts of Global, Local & Homemade Songs™ and her Impromptu Glorious Chorus™ workshops create and connect singing communities around the world. Born in Switzerland, raised in NC, and living in Atlanta since 1977, Elise speaks 5 languages fluently and sings in at least a dozen more. She has released 12 recordings on EMWorld Records and recently published her original songs in All Singing: The Elise Witt Songbook and Imagine A Circle: The Global Village Songbook, from her work using singing and songwriting for newcomer English speakers. Elise loves teaching and collaborating with multidisciplinary artists around the world.

Laurie MacAllister

In November 2024, Laurie MacAllister launched her solo career with a sold-out show at Club Passim. Two decades before, she co-founded the beloved Americana trio Red Molly, who for 16 years toured the US and abroad, including appearances at MerleFest, Cayamo, and Boston Symphony Hall. Along the way, Laurie was tapped to sing the iconic Folgers Coffee jingle in a national TV commercial. Her 2018 self-produced solo album The Lies the Poets Tell was hailed by SiriusXM as "Defining. A curated collection packed with emotional vibrancy.” Laurie's Solo Debut Tour 2025 includes headlining shows at Caffe Lena and Godfrey Daniels.

Don Henry

Grammy-winner Don Henry has written songs recorded by a number of artists, from Ray Charles and Patti Page to Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. Lambert had a big hit in 2013 with Don and Phillip Coleman’s song “All Kinds Of Kinds.” (That’s Don singing background vocals on her record!) He’s played with performers as diverse as Joey Ramone at New York’s Bottom Line to Keith Urban at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. Kathy Mattea’s version of Don and Jon Vezner’s "Where've You Been" won song of the year awards at the Grammys, ACMs, the CMAs, and the N.S.A.I.

Buddy Mondlock

Buddy Mondlock’s songs have been recorded by Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Janis Ian, Garth Brooks, Art Garfunkel, and Peter, Paul and Mary, among others. In 2003, he toured internationally with Art Garfunkel and Maia Sharp in support of their trio album Everything Waits To Be Noticed. With a string of acclaimed solo recordings on EMI and his own label, Buddy’s most recent, Filament, hit #4 on the folk charts. He has taught at the Kerrville Song School, Sisters Folk Festival, the New England Songwriters Retreat, Cedarsongs, and the Swannanoa Gathering, in addition to leading workshops in Dublin, Copenhagen, and at Berklee College of Music.

Cliff Eberhardt

Contemporary Folk Week coordinator Cliff Eberhardt has written songs for TV, movies, plays, and an Emmy-winning theme song for CBS News New York. His songs have been covered by over 30 artists including Buffy Sainte-Marie, Richie Havens, Lucy Kaplansky, and Erasure. Cliff has nine internationally distributed albums and frequently tours. He has also produced over a dozen albums for other artists, teaches at several song camps, and offers private instruction one-on-one.

Kari Sickenberger

Kari has been coaching and leading singing classes and workshops since 2004. With NC artist Laurelyn Dossett, she is a founding member of the original roots country band Polecat

Creek. With another musical partner, Vollie McKenzie, she sings country and honky-tonk in various configurations. She has toured widely, recorded four albums, and performed and recorded with WV musicians Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz. She draws on her experience as a Spanish and English teacher and her lifelong love for and experience with traditional and original roots music to create a safe and encouraging teaching environment for new and experienced singers alike.

David Wilcox

More than three decades into his career, quintessential folk singer/songwriter David Wilcox's music tells stories full of heart, humor, hope, substance, and style. Wilcox’s latest release, My Good Friends, is a fan-requested record with stripped-down, acoustic renditions of some of his recent prodigious output as a songwriter. My Good Friends is a true showcase of his devotion to and mastery of the craft. Wilcox’s prior album release, The View from the Edge, featured “We Make the Way By Walking,” the Grand Prize winner in the 2018 USA Songwriting Contest.

Nora Jane Struthers

Nora Jane Struthers is guided by fire. “Struthers has come up with some of the most quietly powerful narratives within the new wave of Americana artists” – Ann Powers, NPR. A singer-songwriter and bandleader with a clear, powerful voice, Nora Jane grew up in New Jersey singing bluegrass brother duets with her banjo-playing dad. Based in Nashville since 2008, she has recorded and released nine full length studio albums of original material. After over a decade of touring, Nora Jane stays closer to home these days with her three young children. She is thrilled to be back with the Swannanoa Gathering community!

Ellis Paul

Ellis Paul doesn’t just write songs—he’s a guitar-carrying reporter who covers the human condition and details the hopes, loves, and losses of those he observes. He turns their stories into luminous pieces of music that get under your skin and into your bloodstream. Paul is a songwriter, author, illustrator, and teacher. He has been a constant presence on the American folk circuit for almost 30 years, with 24 albums recorded and 5,000 shows played. His songs have been featured in major films and recorded by country stars. His latest album, released in 2023, is called 55.

John Gorka

John Gorka, born 1958, in Newark, New Jersey, is an American folk singer-songwriter renowned for his role in the New Folk movement. He began his career at Godfrey Daniels coffee house and gained notoriety after winning the New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1984. Gorka's debut album, I Know, was released in 1987. Known for his rich baritone voice and poignant storytelling, he has collaborated with many artists and continues to perform in the U.S. and internationally. Gorka resides in the St. Croix Valley area of Minnesota.

Vance Gilbert

In 1992, Vance Gilbert rose to prominence as a special guest on Shawn Colvin’s Fat City tour. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram swooned over Vance in a review, saying he had “the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god.” His songwriting/performance combo workshops are legendary at the Rocky Mountain Song School, UC Denver, and Berklee College. After 14 albums, two years with George Carlin, opening for The Milk Carton Kids and Paul Reiser, and songs recorded by rocker Mike Posner and Trout Fishing In America (on their Grammy-nominated Infinity), his workshops are essential.