8:00pm. - $10-$20 Suggested donation for the artists.
Local Cream rises again!
Every first Wednesday of the month, Annette Wasilik curates and hosts this showcase of the area's finest singer/songwriters at Hank Dietle's Tavern in Rockville, which has literally risen from the ashes and it looks, sounds and feels fabulous! $10-$20 Suggested donation for the artists.
John Linn
John Linn is an award-winning, Washington, D.C.-based singer-songwriter. A true believer in the
power of storytelling, John uses carefully crafted lyrics to paint vivid pictures of imperfect
people. John’s music vibrates with strains of longing, reflections on loss and regret, as well as
the driving rhythms of social justice. Discography and more information available at John Linn Music
Michelle Murray
Michelle Murray is an award-winning performing songwriter in the Maryland D.C. area. She
plays a combination of originals and covers that span genres including Americana, Folk,
Bluegrass, Country, Singer Songwriter and a touch of the blues. Many of Michelle’s songs have
been signed to various publishers and libraries for Film and TV, and she’s had songs placed in
several episodes of The Young and the Restless, including her recent single, Home Away From
Home. She’s had other songs placed on MTV and The Lifetime Channel.
Michelle’s latest EP “In Your Warmth,” was released on January 22, 2021, and was recently
nominated as best folk album for the Wammie Awards (Washington Area Music Awards) and
her song “Home Away From Home” was nominated for best folk song
Her EP, “This Life, My Life,” was released on March 11th, 2018. This EP includes songs signed to
several prestigious music publishers.
In addition to her solo work, is the leader of a bluegrass/Americana band, No Part of Nothin’
and also performs in a duo with fellow singer/songwriter Buck Stone, as Murray & Stone.
http://www.reverbnation.com/michellemurray1
https://www.facebook.com/michellemurraymusic
https://www.instagram.com/murray152/
https://soundcloud.com/michelle-w-murray
Bill Starks:
For 30 years, Bill Starks has been primarily playing sideman to Washington, D.C. area luminaries while balancing his passion for music with raising a family and the demands of a busy TV news career. Bill has shared his piano chops and vocals with rock and roll band SmallTalk, played and sung sweet soul music with Junior Cline & The Recliners, played the Blues and Boogie-woogie with the Cathy Ponton King Band, and currently performs as a member of his musical soul mates Americana Country, Honky Tonk and Rockabilly band Ruthie and the Wranglers. He remains a key performer on many sold-out BandHouse Gigs and Newmyer Flyer concerts—both organizations who for 10 years have specialized in producing tributes to nationally known musicians who had an impact on our national musical landscape.
With a lovable, lived-in voice, amazing piano chops, and a distinctive Blues-infused style, this new CD I See Trouble is a long awaited treasure of eclectic tunes showing Bill Starks’ versatile and charming songwriting style.
Bill is also a songwriter. His anthem “300 Miles From Memphis to New Orleans,” won Song of the Year at the WAMMIES. “300 Miles” has a coordinating video filmed and produced by Jim Robeson. “Repo Man” (a funny lament about reaching your financial ceiling) was featured on NPR during the mortgage crisis and has become a live show-stopping favorite. Bill recorded those songs for his album along with nine other diverse and solid tracks (including one co-write with longtime friend and musical cohort, guitarist Chuck Underwood) plus a Shel Silverstein song “Last Morning” gleaned from a 1970’s movie soundtrack, for a total of 12 tracks of ingenious entertainment.
“Bill Starks is continuously surprising us with his unique arrangements and spectacular songwriting skills” — Ruthie Logsdon
Apparently the Washington Area Music Association membership agrees! Bill was named Songwriter of the Year and took home the WAMMIE at the 30th Annual Music Awards in April 2016
Annette Wasilik
Annette's performances are marked by her compelling alto and moving songs that "touch you to the bone". In the tradition of the poet songwriter, with rich tones reminiscent of Linda Thompson or Natalie Merchant, she weaves a spell both startling in its intimacy and expansive in its vision. Her songwriting influences include Jane Siberry, Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier and John Prine. Both down to earth and deeply atmospheric, Annette’s songs are explorations into longing, love, loss, God, home, homesickness and hope.
In her late teens and twenties. Annette was performing in local cafes, small venues and eventually festivals. When her daughter was small, Annette took a break from performing to attend her family and grow her massage practice. Now she is out performing again and becoming known in the DC area and nationally as a powerful songwriter and performer. Annette's debut CD, Songs from the Talking House, was awarded Contemporary Folk Recording of the Year by the Washington Area Music Association in April 2016. She has won Honorable Mentions for her songs Don't Look Down, Highway and Love & Fire in the MidAtlantic Song Contest. Her January 2020 release, Love & Fire, is her first album on the Azalea City Cooperative label. On release, it landed at #6 on FAI Folk DJ chart and #1 on the NACC chart and ended up #40 for the year. In 2019, Annette created a new concert series, Local Cream, showcasing the best local and regional songwriters.