Society Hall  "where community celebrates!"

2026 Kerrville New Folk winner Sarah Golden is an independent contemporary folk singer-songwriter from Houston, Texas whose soulful storytelling and heartfelt performances have captivated audiences since the release of her debut album, Truth, in 2002, which earned her a spot as a Kerrville Folk Festival Ballad Tree performer. Since then, Golden has been a top 30 finalist on Season 2 of NBC's The Voice, Team CeeLo Green (2012), a top 100 finalist on Season 4 of America's Got Talent (2009), and garnered numerous accolades, including winning “Best of North America - Folk” in the 2025 InterContinental Music Awards for her co-write with Nathan K., “Who is Gonna Rebuild LA”.

A finalist for “Best of North America - Folk” in the 2026 InterContinental Music Awards for her song Live Wire, Sarah was selected as a 2026 Official Showcase Artist at Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA), was a 2025 Official Showcase Artist at Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA), a 2025 Folk Alliance International (FAI) scholarship recipient, and awarded one-of-ten grants from Howlin' Dog Music Group in 2025. Her latest nominations include Favorite Local Musician and Favorite Female Entertainer in OutSmart Magazine's Gayest & Greatest 2025 Reader's Choice Awards.

Known for her rich vocals and meaningful lyrics, Sarah Golden has shared the stage with such acclaimed artists as Amy Ray, Shawn Colvin, Mary Gauthier, Ruthie Foster, Susan Gibson, Shake Russell, Michael Hearne, and Melissa Ferrick. Her Sessions EP showcases her signature sound and builds anticipation for her forthcoming album, Live Wire, which highlights her sociopolitical activism and human rights advocacy, scheduled for release on November 13, 2026.

The first single from the Live Wire album, “A House Divided” was released on all streaming platforms on July 24, 2026.

The dynamic musical duo of Hilary Tipps and Steve Obermiller have captivated audiences around the country with their heartfelt songwriting and emotive performances. Their tight vocal and guitar harmonies, folksy wisdom and unabashed emotional vocabulary combine with craft and charisma to create this unexpectedly magnetic experience.

Their artistic journey has been deeply intertwined with their personal lives; the couple met in 2011 and soon married, navigating the challenges of caring for sick parents, raising teenagers, and pursuing graduate studies and career changes over the next decade. In 2022, they made the decision to fully commit to songwriting and performing. Since releasing their debut album in 2023, Tipps and Obermiller have quickly built a reputation for their engaging performances. The connection to their audience is undeniable as they share their stories and songs like only a bonded couple can. This has quickly taken them from local stages in their hometown of Fort Worth, Texas to becoming touring artists playing listening rooms, house concerts and festivals across the country.

2026’s “Little Kid Heart” marks their third and most polished studio effort with songs that explores love, loss, resilience and the courage to keep your heart open. They spent the previous two years writing, workshopping, performing and re-writing dozens of songs to select these ten for this album. When it came time to record, they chose producer Taylor Tatsch (Maren Morris, The Droptines, Rich O’Toole) to take their best songs yet and create an album that evokes the beauty, pain, hope and joy that life brings.

“Tipps and Obermiller are charismatic, engaging personalities who write a wonderful mix of poignant, thoughtful and downright fun songs. They harmonize together perfectly. We heartily recommend them!” 

- Phil Hennen (host Granite Shoals House Concert)

Remarks Society Hall board member and Alamosa musician and producer Don Richmond, “This is an incredible opportunity to see two masters of their craft swap songs and stories, and stir up a stew that will leave you feeling full of life and inspiration for a long time. Don't miss it!”

During the 60’s Houston Folk Music scene George Ensle was sharing stories, songs, and stages with Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver. And after more than five decades he still maintains the essence of that folk tradition, the story song. George has released 15 albums in the US and Europe and was inducted into the Houston Folk Music Archives, the Corpus Christi Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the South Austin Pop Culture Museum. He's been awarded government grants to serve as Artist in the Schools in economically disadvantaged school districts and published two books of his students' work. His song, “Build A Bridge” was adopted by the Build a Bridge Foundation for Healing through the Arts, and included on the “Music to Life” CD. Five songs he wrote with children at the Hill Country Youth Ranch for abused and abandoned children were included on their “Brand New Start" CD. He created PortraitSongs, a custom songwriting service, and partnered with Swan Songs to write songs honoring the life stories of those on hospice. His songs have been featured in movies, and his own Movie-In-Song, “Small Town Sundown,” includes poetry and songs he's performed as a one man song-play. His songwriting has won numerous competitions, including the American Songwriter Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Songwriter U. He has been an official showcase artist at Southwest Regional Folk Alliance conference, and served as producer on album projects for other songwriters. He was nominated as Songwriter of the Year by the Texas Music Academy.

Martin Gilmore is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in Denver, Colorado. He is an instructor of folk and bluegrass music at the University of Northern Colorado where he teaches guitar, vocals, and directs the bluegrass ensemble. He has recorded two solo records which feature members of Hot Rize, The Infamous Stringdusters, and FY5. In 2017 he recorded a collaboration project titled East-West with famed oudist Eslam Elabaty in Cairo, Egypt where he lived from 2015-2017. He is an acclaimed songwriter and teaches songwriting at Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver, Colorado. Martin is the lead singer and plays guitar and bouzouki in the MG3. Martin is also a member of the bluegrass band Long Road Home featuring Pete Wernick on banjo.