Melanie MacLaren
Melanie’s lyrics have been described as “haunting yet humorous” and possessing a “sentimental cynicism” that “oozes with Gen-Z relatability.” This duality shines through in all aspects of her music— she’s a classic finger-style guitar that grew up playing classical, but uses ambient beds and distorted trad instruments to punctuate her compositions. At her core, Melanie is a realist, with a gift for language that extracts beauty from even the darkest reality and a unique ability to blend a tongue-in-cheek sensibility with timeless folk style.
She released her stunning debut EP “Kill My Time” in 2022 independently to enthusiastic critical reception before gaining the attention of Tone Tree Distribution in Nashville. Within a few months of the release, she had signed with Tone Tree, landed several coveted playlist spots (most notably Spotify’s Best of 2022 Fresh Folk Finds), and released a second EP of duets entitled “Tadpole Emporium" with Dublin songwriter Lorkin O’Reilly (DUG) which they toured together in the UK and Ireland.
Melanie released her second solo EP “Tourist” in April 2023. With tracks featured on multiple editorial playlists (most notably Spotify Fresh Finds and Spotify’s Best of 2022 Fresh Folk Finds) she garnered over 2.5 million streams across platforms.
Following the release, Melanie went on her first US headline tour with Northeast and Midwest runs, playing 25 shows. Melanie has shared bills with both established and rising folk artists like Caleb Caudle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Charli Adams, Joshua Burnside, DUG, Lorkin O'Reilly, and June Henry. In 2024, she had the opening spot on Charlie Starr’s (Blackberry Smoke) solo acoustic tour in January and played to several sold out audiences.
After touring extensively in 2023 and early 2024, Melanie released a live to tape EP of her early work this May entitled “Songs are Ghosts” and an EP “Bloodlust. Coming out of a period of life marred by grief, loss and illness, the project is an ode to seeing things as they actually are— without mythology, without manmade glory. Melanie delicately lifts the veil of poetry and interpretation away from death, loss and love and demythologizes everything from the American landscape, to hot dogs, to the Space Race, to the afterlife.
Not one to shy away from life’s paradoxes and dualities of life, this project contains by far Melanie’s most high-spirited and anthemic music to date. Produced by Max Helgemo (who produced her exuberant 2023 cover of Loudon Wainwright III’s The Swimming Song) this project brings out Melanie’s inborn classic Americana sensibilities while staying true to her instinct for flipping conventions of genre and subject matter on their head.
In 2025 Melanie completed her third headline tour, performed at SXSW unofficial showcases and was selected as one of the finalist in the Troubadour Contest for Telluride Bluegrass Festival. She was also an official artist at Salmonfest in Alaska in August marking her first major festival appearances. She continues to write music and work on new projects.
Show Dates
Tour Archive
2025
8.1-8.3.25 Salmonfest … Ninilchik, AK
6.19-6.22.25 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Contest
6.6.25 Musician’s Corner … Nashville, TN
5.9.25… South Main Sounds… Memphis, TN
5.8.25… Evangeline’s… St. Louis, MO
5.7.25... Replay Lounge… Lawrence, KS
5.6.25… Mini Bar…. Kansas City, MO
5.4.25… Twangville Showcase… Dallas, TX
5.3.25…. Martin’s Music Cafe… Dallas, TX
5.2.25... Captain Quack’s Soundspace.. Austin TX
5.1.25….. The Post… Fort Worth, TX
4.28.25… Howlin’ Wolf… New Orleans, LA
4.26.25… Wake The Dead… San Marcos, TX
4.24.25… Beam Live… Oklahoma City, OK
4.23.25… Hi-Tone… Memphis, TN
3.13.25… Bull’s Irish Pub… Austin, TX
3.12.25… San Jac Saloon….. Austin, TX
2.22.25… World Cafe Live..Philadelphia, PA
2.6.25… The East Room… Nashville, TN
1.31.25… Brown’s Diner… Nashville, TN
2024
12.23.24… Pete’s Candy Store… Brooklyn, NY
12.6.24…. Sofar Sounds… Nashville, TN
11.10.24… The Scratcher… New York, NY
10.23.24… The Basement… Nashville, TN
10.17.24… Eddie’s Attic… Decatur, GA
10.13.24.. The Sultan Room… Brooklyn, NY
9.21.24… Raccoon Motel… Davenport, IA
6.1.24…. Musicians Corner, Centennial Park… Nashville, TN
2.27.24… True Music Room… Nashville, TN
1.31.24…. The American Legion… Nashville, TN
1.20.24…. Princess Theater… Decatur, AL
1.19.24… Capitol Theater Macon… Macon, GA
1.18.24… Buckhead Theater… Atlanta, GA
1.17.24… The Pearl at The Loft… Columbus, GA
1.13.24….. SPACE… Evanston, IL
1.12.24….. The Castle Theater… Bloomington, IL
1.11.24….. The Ludlow Garage… Cincinnati, OH
1.10.24…. The Ludlow Garage… Cincinnati, OH
2023
11.17.23… The Listening Room at Compass… Columbia, MO
11.16.23… Replay Lounge… Lawrence, KS
11.14.23… The Raccoon Motel… Davenport, IA
11.12.23… The Law Office Music Hall… Yorkville, IL
11.8.23… The Orbit Room…. Bloomington, IN
11.6.23… University of Illinois… Champaign, IL
11.4.23… Bremen Cafe… Milwaukee, WI
11.4.23… Uncommon Ground… Chicago, IL
10.14.23… Brambly Park Winery… Richmond, VA
10.12.23… The Middle East (Upstairs)… Boston, MA
10.10.23… Blue… Portland, ME
10.7.23… The Shaskeen Pub… Manchester, NH
9.30.23… Cafe Nine… New Haven, CT
9.28.23… The Bowery Electric…. New York, NY
9.23.23… Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg PA
9.20.23… The Fire, Philadelphia, PA
9.14.23… Third and Lindsley, Nashville, TN
9.10.23… Double Happiness… Columbus, OH
9.7.23… CODA… Cleveland, OH
7.16.23… Eddie’s Attic… Decatur, GA
5.26.23… Factory Underground Studio… Norwalk, CT
4.20.23… The Basement… Nashville, TN
3.4.23… Mercury Lounge… New York, NY
2.25.23… Sofar Sounds… Nashville, TN
2.1.23… Vinyl Tap… Nashville, TN
2022
12.8.22… Sofar Sounds…Nashville, TN
11.13.22… The American Bar… Belfast, UK
11.11.22… House Show…Dublin, IE
11.9.22… The Workman’s Club… Dublin, IE
11.5.22… FortyFive Vinyl Cafe… York, UK
11.4.22… Bag O’Nails… Bristol, UK
11.3.22… Penny Lane Church… Liverpool, UK
11.2.22… Nailsworth Community Workshop… Nailsworth, UK
10.22.22… The Bowery Vault…Nashville, TN
9.13.22… Sofar Sounds… Nashville, TN
8.30.22… Pete’s Candy Store… Brooklyn, NY
8.27.22… Sofar Sounds… New York, NY
8.17.22… The Bowery Electric… New York, NY
8.07.22… The East Room… Nashville, TN
6.21.22… The End… Nashville, TN
5.19.22… Sofar Sounds… Nashville, TN
3.26.22… Epsilon Spires … Brattleboro, VT
3.24.22… Avalon Lounge… Catskill, NY
2.14.22… Sofar Sounds… Nashville, TN
~ Press ~
“We’re certain that it’s only a matter of time until Melanie is recognized as one of the most exciting artists to be writing and releasing music right now” - Pillar Artists
“The universe has gifted her with the kind of voice that nestles perfectly into the folk genre, delivering lines that the listener has no choice but to receive as the truth.” Up To Hear
“If an acoustic Phoebe Bridgers had Dylan’s poetic magic.” The Wild Is Calling
”A soul-stirring folk song born of grief, love, loss, and New York City landmarks, Melanie MacLaren’s “Get it Back” aches with nostalgia and acceptance as she reckons with the ravages of time.” Atwood Magazine Video Premier
“a sound indebted to the past and the present without being beholden to either, managing to possess the timeless country spirit without sacrificing any sense of immediacy.” Various Small Flames