Wonder Women of Country

When Kelly Willis, Melissa Carper and Brennen Leigh – three accomplished singer-songwriters who have forged their own unique lanes in country music – joined forces as a power trio, there was no more appropriate moniker than Wonder Women of Country.

Wonder Women of Country have discovered that, together, their own individual superpowers come alive. With Leigh playing lead guitar and mandolin, Carper on upright bass, and Willis playing rhythm guitar, they support each other’s distinctive original material with beautiful three-part harmonies.

Kelly Willis 

Kelly Willis was barely 20 when a “check-this-kid-out” tip from Texas songwriter Nanci Griffith landed her on the radar of producer Tony Brown, who promptly signed her to MCA Records. An auspicious fireball of a debut, 1990’s Well Travelled Love, and a plumb spot on the soundtrack to Thelma & Louise followed.

Kelly moved to Rykodisc in 1999 and recorded What I Deserve, which changed everything. What I Deserve clinched her standing as a bona fide darling of the national (and international) alt-country scene. Writers from No Depression to Rolling Stone cheered her “comeback,” and fans in her adopted hometown voted it “Album of the Year” in the Austin Music Awards. The albums Willis has made since What I Deserve have only burnished her reputation as Austin’s reigning queen of Americana. Three of those albums, including 2019’s Beautiful Lie, were duo records made with her now ex-husband,fellow singer-songwriter Bruce Robison — who also produced Willis’ last solo album, 2018’s “richly satisfying” (NPR) Back Being Blue. 

Brennen Leigh

Brennen Leigh is an American songwriter, guitar player, mandolin player. Her songs have been recorded by Lee Ann Womack, Rodney Crowell, Sunny Sweeney, Charley Crockett, and many others. As renowned for her musicianship as for her writing, it’s easy to see how Leigh caught the ear of greats like Guy Clark, who colorfully endorsed her flatpicking. Following her album Prairie Love Letter, Leigh has continued to leave an imprint on Western music with Obsessed With The West  featuring The Kings of Western Swing, Asleep At The Wheel and the highly-acclaimed Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet. 

Melissa Carper

Melissa Carper grew up in rural Nebraska, absorbing the sounds of her parent’s classic country record collection and playing bass and singing in her family’s band. In her 20s, Carper began mining the depths of early jazz, blues, and old-time music, using those influences as the foundation for her own unique brand of Americana. Dubbed ‘Hill-Billie Holiday’ by friend and collaborator Chris Scruggs, she has been putting the foot on the gas of her solo career since 2020, with two critically acclaimed solo albums under her belt, and a new solo album slated for summer 2024.

More information: Wonder Women of Country

ADDITIONAL CONCERT DETAILS

•  Ticket purchases are nonrefundable
•  Concerts take place Rain or Shine
•  Admission gates open at 5:45 pm
•  Showtime is 7 p.m.
•  You need to bring your own lawn chair and/or blanket
•  We recommend bringing a jacket or sweatshirt as it often gets cooler after the sun goes down and sometimes a rain shower pops up
•  You are welcome to bring a picnic with drinks and beverages (no alcohol is permitted on-site)
•  There is a on-site food vendor – for larger attendance shows sometimes two food vendors, but we always recommended bringing at least some water and a few snacks in case the lines at the food vendor are long and/or they run out of food
•  Alcohol, drones, pop-up tents, and tables are not allowed in the amphitheater
•  Dogs are permitted at most shows with the following rules: dog(s) must always be on a leash, concert goers with dog(s) are only permitted to sit on the hillside above the rock walls and not in the main seating area below the rock walls, you must clean up after your pet, if your dog(s) behavior is interfering with other patrons enjoyment of the show, you and your pet may be asked to leave the amphitheater and no refund will be given 

The Bluffs Restaurant will offer food and beverages for purchase during the concert. Visitors may bring their own food and beverages into the amphitheater. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. 

Assistive listening devices are available for use during concerts. If you would like to borrow a free device, email info@blueridgemusiccenter.org in advance of your visit.

For more information, view our concert FAQs