For more than three decades, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have created some of the most distinctive and enduring music in American folk.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Grammy-winning duo brings that unmistakable sound to Laxson Auditorium for an evening of close harmonies, masterful guitar playing and songs that feel both timeless and entirely their own.
Welch and Rawlings first met while studying at Berklee College of Music and have since built a celebrated musical partnership rooted in American folk, country, bluegrass and traditional music. Together, they have developed a sound defined by sparse arrangements, intricate acoustic guitar work and storytelling that explores longing, love, hardship and the complicated beauty of American life.
Grammy-Winning Music
Their latest album, Woodland, earned the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. The record also brought them a nomination for Best Americana Performance for “Empty Trainload of Sky.”
It wasn’t their first Grammy together. Their 2020 collection All the Good Times also won Best Contemporary Folk Album, while songs and albums including Cumberland Gap, The Harrow & The Harvest and Time (The Revelator) have received Grammy recognition over the years.
Welch was also part of the Grammy-winning soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the landmark collection that helped introduce a new generation of listeners to American roots music.
A Dynamic Folk Duo
Part of what makes a Gillian Welch and David Rawlings performance so compelling is how much can come from so little.
Melodies Meld Together
Rawlings’ distinctive guitar playing winds around Welch’s vocals and rhythm guitar, while their harmonies make even a large concert hall feel intimate. The result is music that rewards listening closely — sometimes quiet and haunting, sometimes driving and playful, but always centered on the connection between the two musicians.
After decades of performing together, that chemistry isn’t something that can be easily replicated.
It’s something you have to hear live.
Make a Night of It at Laxson
Come early for Party on the Patio beginning at 6 p.m., featuring live music from local artist Lydia Cooley. Grab a bite from the food trucks, enjoy live music outside Laxson and settle in before Gillian Welch and David Rawlings take the stage.
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Laxson Auditorium
Party on the Patio begins at 6 p.m.
For longtime fans, it’s an opportunity to hear two of American roots music’s most acclaimed collaborators in person.
And if you’ve never seen Gillian Welch and David Rawlings live, this is your chance to discover why their deceptively simple combination of two voices, guitars, and extraordinary songs has resonated with listeners for decades.