Nashville Songwriter & Storyteller Jesse Daniel Edwards Returns to PDX

“As a child I loved hearing my grandpa sing while strumming his ukulele. I learned to play by watching at his feet. The music was bound up with his stories of being in the war and of his huge family, all of whom were larger than life characters. To me, the stories and the songs became inseparable.”

Born with a profound love of music and a knack for weaving his own stories into his witty compositions- sometimes darkly comic and other times heartrendingly beautiful- Jesse Daniel Edwards began composing his own music with his six brothers and sisters at the age of 7. His first composition was an ode to his mother's mashed potatoes, arranging harmonies and recording his earliest efforts in his family’s coal cellar. Leaving home at 17 to busk around the US and abroad in Europe, he eventually found his way to Music City and began to cut his teeth as a songwriter in Nashville in 2008. It was there that he was mentored by Al Bunetta, (John Prine) a childhood hero of Jesse's. As he has grown in years and artistic maturity, he has continued to put forth his brand of honest and heartfelt songwriting- and his rootsy style has persisted:

“The rich traditions of towns like Nashville and Dublin affected me very strongly when I was traveling, not just the DIY sound of folk music, but also the candid stories,” Jesse says of his inspiration and sound.

Since that period, JDE has performed full-time on the college and music festival circuits both solo and with his 5-piece band. He has songs featured in radio, television, and independent films and his music may be heard on Netflix, Apple Music, and Spotify (featured artist). His latest album “Un / Becoming” releases throughout 2018.

Laura May:

Up and coming Pacific Northwest singer-songwriter blending indie folk grown in southern rock. Laura May has toured the western United States both as an opener as well as a headlining musician. She is currently performing around the PNW on the release of her “West on 309”xs album.