Orchard Sessions Return

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: April 2024

Mike Kinnebrew

Mike Kinnebrew’s indie-inflected take on folk and Americana sound has earned him the hearts of Highlanders and visitors since he first took the stage at Old Edwards nearly a decade ago. His polished sound and expressive voice will resonate once again amidst the boughs of fruit trees at the Orchard Sessions at The Farm at Old Edwards on Thursday, April 18.

Born in the South to a Baptist preacher father and a mother who was a nurse – Kinnebrew soaked up music from the tunes his father played on the radio in the family station wagon – the Beatles, the Monkees, and Elvis.

But he also respected songwriters that seemed to be saying something meaningful, and he fell in love with the sounds of James Taylor, and Jackson Browne. At age 14 the family moved to Atlanta and Kinnebrew turned his attention to the guitar.

Amassing a repertoire of popular covers, he cut his teeth playing in bars and restaurants throughout high school before trying his hand at songwriting.

From the start, he was mesmerized by the way a song could, “reach out and grab you by the heart.” It has been said that one of the hallmarks of good songwriting is that anybody can put themselves into the song and take something from it.

To Kinnebrew, who considers that one of his roles as a musician is a that of storyteller, the premise feels correct. “I talk, write and play to feel less alone. When I am singing and feel a connection with the audience it hopefully makes us all fell less alone.”
And it reaffirms what he’s been doing right — his love for the language burns through each of his songs.

By now with two previous albums and a new full-length album release slated for spring 2024, in collaboration with Nashville Grammy winners Charlie Lowell and Matt Odmark, Kinnebrew has amassed enough fans to have performed at Scotland’s 2023 Fringe Festival and the 30A Songwriter’s Festival.

Sessions’ audience can expect a preview of his new album which he describes as introspective and honest with, “bright and shiny songs about family and life, along with some darker more searching tunes.” As he says, “That’s life to me, it’s good and bad, beautiful and tragic.”

Joining him on the stage will be his wife, Lindsey and recent addition to his band, Ramsey Wynn who dazzles on the electric slide guitar.

Concerts are held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and the public is welcome. There’s a $25 cover charge for Old Edwards Inn and Half-Mile Farm hotel guests and members; and a $40 cover charge for the public. There’ll be a cash bar and complimentary light bites.