Annapolis Songbird Collective: No Ordinary Performers
Words by Liz Wyatt
Photos by Steve Satzberg
The Annapolis Songbird Collective gathered on International Woman’s Day at Cult Classic on Kent Island. The day’s performers were Carly Winter, Madisun Bailey, Meg Murray, and Laura Brino, still fresh from their summer tour together as Friends and Folklore.
First up on March 8 – Carly Winter – a 17 year old Annapolis, Maryland native. She’s prospering with strong parental support and a recent Nashville recording session. You can find her upcoming album streaming soon. Her sound is a lyric driven country folk mixed with pop appeal. Her first song “Cliche” about waiting for something that will never come had refrain lyrics of “You keep getting my name wrong.” Her music is relatable and enjoyable to anyone who loves a song that tells a story.
Watch Carly Winter perform “Wildfire” live at Cult Classic Brewing on YouTube:
Madisun Bailey hit the stage with Joey Mitchell on a double bass, his signature hair blowing in a mysterious wind. Madisun is no ordinary performer. Unique intricate rhythms from guitar fingering and strumming mixed with new sounds. One of which is her trumpeting trill utterly hypnotic like a double dutch of rhythmic patterns weaving a tapestry of cool mellow in her “Ain’t That Strange.”
Watch Madisun Bailey perform “Ain’t That Strange” live on YouTube:
Her “Tornado” rang out next with more intricate and layered rhythms. Madisun and Joey kept catching eyes playing off each other; Madisun’s sultry soul funk vocals in a subtly freestyle rapped lyric mingling in a bass foundation. Her song “Glass” is full of masterful pauses that pulled us all into an united anticipation falling into the melody of slow low hanging beats. “How does she make those sounds?” Her lyrics remind us to be kind to ourselves and others.
Next up, Meg Murray hit the stage with “Rise Up,” “wise up… love is everything, everything is love.” Meg sang with her soulful emotive earthy tone. “Die Slowly” reminded us to live fast, “I wanna die slowly” and fight through fear. Her bluesy rock sound captured the movement of birds in flight in “Swirling and Diving.” We could feel the turbulence and wild currents thru her absolutely powerful vocals up and down in and out of our hearts and ears.
Meg was followed by another Songbird founder – Laura Brino – an indie folk pop singer songwriter based in Annapolis. Her lyrics are positive and uplifting. Her young children were singing and clapping from the audience, warming our hearts and forming a dance floor in the back of the room. Laura’s focus and balance are a beautiful and inspiring example of feminine strength and authenticity.
All four performers toured together this summer and it showed. The group filled the stage next, Laura on lead vocals, Meg, Carly, and Madisun catching eyes and playfully taking turns with harmonies. A mandolin appeared to accompany Laura’s “Better Days,” another uplifting positive song, “you’ll see better days soon.”
The Songbird collective exists to highlight, encourage, and platform the next generation of musicians in the Annapolis area. You can see them next March 20 at Studio 333 and May 3, 10-4 at Maryland Hall.
Carly Winter – Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Sean Jackson -Bass
Matt Tebo – Drums
Ahren Buchheister – Pedal Steel and Guitar
Setlist
Cliche
Noah
Good time sunshine
Get loud
Wildfire
Appalachia
Madisun Bailey – Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Joey Mitchell – Upright Bass and Kick
Setlist
Bourbon Breathed Brother
Ain’t that Strange
Glass
Tornado (blended into) Knocking
Feel don’t dwell
Meg Murray – Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Josh Chapman – Bass
Matt Tebo – Drums
Ahren Buchheister – Pedal Steel and Guitar
Setlist
Rise Up
Die Slowly
Swirling Diving
I Fall
Eliza
Laura Brino – Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Sean Jackson – Bass
Matt Tebo – Drums
Ahren Buchheister – Pedal Steel and Guitar
Bart Reese – Mandolin
Betsey – Vocals and Backing Vocals
Sarah Brino – Backing Vocals
Meg Murray – Backing Vocals
Setlist
Butterfly
Better Days
String Me Along
Look at Me Now
The Road
A Little Bit
Here are some photos of the Songbird Collective performing live at Cult Classic Brewing on March 8, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.
