Kate Waters makes soulful Americana sounds from the heart of Texas. A classically trained pianist, and raised on a steady diet of folk, jazz, and bluegrass in Oklahoma and New Mexico, she has always been most inspired by any great female singer. Kate exposes her human fragility and emotional strength from within the heavy framework of a well-crafted song, with plenty of good hooks. This may be in part because Kate is also a Board Certified Music Therapist, currently working primarily with kids with autism and veterans with PTSD. She has released one album, entitled Near, about her mother’s passing, and will release her upcoming full length studio record in summer 2026.

Hudson Mueller has always been something of an outlaw philosopher. Like his spirit guide Willie Nelson, he follows his musical instincts wherever they lead – even when those paths aren’t particularly convenient or commercially strategic. On his stunning debut solo album Welcome to Earth, Mueller delivers a collection of songs that showcase his gifts as a storyteller while expanding the sonic possibilities of the Americana genre.

Houston-native and 2026 Kerrville New Folk Finalist, Sarah Golden, is an independent folk singer/songwriter whose rich vocals, soulful storytelling, and heartfelt performances have captivated audiences since the release of her debut album, Truth, in 2002. Since then, Golden has gone on to become a top contender on NBC’s The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and earned multiple awards and nominations, including Best of North America – Folk in the 2025 InterContinental Music Awards. Her forthcoming full-length album, Live Wire, highlights her sociopolitical activism and human rights advocacy and is slated for launch in early 2026.