ABOUT

Liz Longley studied under Livingston Taylor at Berklee College of Music, and the beloved folkie was proud enough of his star pupil’s talents that he invited her on stage during his performance at our very own Shalin Liu Performance Center. It’s not just Taylor who has noticed Longley’s impressive songwriting ability. NPR Music recorded her set at the Newport Folk Festival and posted it online as an artist to watch. She has been singled out by SiriusXM Radio and invited to play in their studio and was named one of their Coffee House Discoveries of 2011.

Her self-titled debut album received critical acclaim, being described as “something more; a cleverness, a wit and a mix of musical styles” (Dallas Morning News) and “stunning” (HuffPost). Her follow up album Weightless, released in 2016, was praised as “a thing of beauty” (Pop Dose) and “packed with instantly memorable pop rock songs…” (Popmatters).

Longley worked alongside 5-time Grammy-nominated producer Paul Moak on her sixth album, Funeral For my Past. The journey of her self-release made music industry headlines when her devoted fanbase raised over $150,000 to help her purchase the rights to and independently release the album. Longley became the #4 most funded solo female musician in Kickstarter history – a story covered by Billboard Magazine.

Embraced by the press and music fans alike, Funeral for My Past was described as a “…stunning new album!” (Forbes), “…from Americana to gospel-flavored soul to shimmering pop anthems” (Billboard) and included in “100 Albums Released in 2020 to Put on Your Radar” (Newsweek). The Nashville-based musician has found a loving give-and-take with listeners: Longley shares her music with the world, enriching fans’ lives, and in return, they provide her with the means necessary for her to make music on her own terms.

“a world-class singer, one of the best I’ve ever heard”- Livingston Taylor

About Sam Robbins

Sam Robbins is often described as an “old soul singer songwriter.” A nationally touring musician whose music evokes classic singer songwriters like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. An avid performer, he has gained recognition from extensive national touring, from sharing the stage with artists like Jason Mraz and Liz Longley, and as a main stage performer at national festivals like the Kerrville and Falcon Ridge Folk Festivals. Leading songwriting workshops and exciting performances across the country, Sam Robbins has gained a reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in the national folk music community.