Bozeman Magazine

“There’s nothing traditional about the path that led musician Christy Hays from her hometown in the fertile farmlands of the Midwest to the “Live Music Capital of the World.” But her unlikely journey, which took Hays from tiny Tuscola, Illinois to the seclusion of the Alaskan wilderness, from Southeast Asia to El Salvador in Central America, from the edge of civilization to the big city, and from depression and isolation to the stage and the limelight, is in some ways what makes this singer-songwriter’s songs so rich and powerful. In many ways, her story is your story. Her themes are timeless, yet her songs are very much of this time. With the release of her debut album, Drought, Christy Hays has emerged as a strong and powerful voice in the musical mecca that is Austin, Texas.

Joining Christy is Texas native Ali Holder. Holder, who began playing as a solo artist at age 16, sings with the controlled power of Brandi Carlile and the emotiveness of Patty Griffin. She counts a number of diverse performers – including Kris Kristofferson and Florence and The Machine – among her musical influences; her wide-ranging tastes have been reflected in her work, from her current Americana/folk output to Stuck in Red, the R&B album she released with The Raindoggs in 2011.