Liam Lawson

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GENRE: Folk, Americana, Fingerstyle Guitar

SOUNDS LIKE: Josh Ritter, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Rhiannon Giddens, Jake Blount, William Tyler,

INFLUENCES: Chet Atkins, Blind Blake, Lenny Breau, Elizabeth Cotten, Rev. Gary Davis, Tommy Emmanuel, Archie Fisher, Jerry Garcia, Stefan Grossman, Mississippi John Hurt, Burt Jansch, Scott Joplin, Joe Pass, Richard Smith, Doc Watson

DESCRIPTION:

Liam Lawson is a folk singer, multi-instrumentalist and music educator based in upstate New York.

His repertoire includes a mixture of old-time Appalachian music, folk ballads from the British Isles, and pre-war country blues. There's some swing-era jazz thrown in there too. About half of the music is sung, half instrumental. All of the music is either original, or an orginal arrangement of a piece of music taken from the public domain.

Liam's main instrument is his guitar, which he plays in the American "fingerstyle" tradition of Mississippi John Hurt, Chet Atkins, and Tommy Emmanuel. His original compositions are strongly influenced by ragtime music.

Throughout his set, Liam switches to other instruments, including the mandolin, five-string banjo, and bodhran drum. For this reason, his performances are very different from the typical singer-songwriter set, with a focus on providing a wide variety of sounds, timbres, and rhythms.

Liam is a music historian and folklorist - he meticulously researches every song he plays, and takes the time to tell the story behind the music. Often funny, always interesting, these stories bring important context and humanity to the music.

PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE VENUES: Lucky Hare, Aurora Brewing, Lake Drum, Grist Iron Brewing, Homer Hops, Bike Bar, Two Goats Brewing, White Springs Winery, Knapp Winery, Montezuma Winery, Toast Winery, Garrett's Brewing, Atwater Vineyards, Birdseye Hollow Distillery, The Inn at Waneta, Azure Hill Winery, Barnstormer Winery, Hector Hideaway, Brick, O'Malley's Lakeside Tavern, Corning Harvest Festival, Idol Ridge Winery, Solera Taphouse, Big Alice Brewing.

RECENT AWARDS: Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes - Recipient of 2025 Round 1 Individual Artist Grant.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram Facebook