SHOUT BOX

Cody is a folk-singer's folk-singer and a poet's poet. He was born and bred in Delavan IL, population 25, surrounded by the endless skies of the American Midwest. Before moving to Chicago in 2003, Cody tried his hand at sessions in Nashville and carefully hewed and tested his art in college town bars and honky-tonks around the Midwest. He now plays regularly in the city and it's not uncommon to see whole rooms full of strangers erupt and sing along to the choruses of his songs on their first listen (I've seen it happen). Cody's voice is powerful and gritty, emotionally piercing while subtly imbuing additional layers of meaning and poignancy in his lyrical delivery. His song-writing is deeply rooted in the American Folk tradition and all of its grit but with a post Dylan sense of wit, perspicacity and that certain savior-faire. He didn't go to college but he drank all of their beer.

Every folk-singer has to migrate to the city, in a way it seems to be hidden in definition of a folk singer anymore. Cody has come to remind Chicago that it is in Illinois. And to remind the rest of the world that when Louis Armstrong redefined, some say invented the art of Jazz in the 1920's he brought his Hot Fives to Chicago to do it. When Robert Johnson wanted to put his Mississippi Mud on wax, his hellhound chased him to Chicago to do it. And same like, Cody has come to Chicago to deliver what it needs, when it isn't even sure itself. He is currently recording a collection of songs from his vast back-catalog and performing across the heartland.

Chicago Farmer

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ARTIST Q&A

How would you describe your musical style?
the lovechild of Tom Waits and Janis Joplin but with only a fraction of the talent.

How long have you've been performing?
It's been my only job and passion for about 8 years now.

What songs will you be playing at the Widow's Peak Music Festival?
I'll be playing all original songs and hope I can come up with a theme song for Widow's peak!

What other musicians in the line up for the Widow's Peak Music Festival are you really looking forward to hearing?
The Hooten Hallers, Musikanto, Clifton Roy and everyone else I possibly can!