Sara Beck at the Music Hall

Sara Beck’s music has carried her far from her hometown of Ellicott City, Maryland – to arenas, theaters, and clubs all over the world. As a songwriter, Beck draws from the same roots-folk tradition as Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, and Brandi Carlile, with a straightforward approach to storytelling and a melodic focus that evokes early Joni Mitchell. Sonically, she and her co-producer Park Chisolm (Kevin Costner & Modern West) favor ambient, atmospheric soundscapes centered on Beck’s guitar-playing and close harmony between the two seasoned performers, who are also married and have been making music together for over twenty years.

Beck’s musical output spans two decades, with highlights including singing the theme song for Kevin Costner’s Emmy-winning mini-series, Hatfields & McCoys, and multiple appearances with legendary artist Stevie Wonder. She is also a poet, and her poetry has appeared in Rattle, Litmosphere, MUTHA Magazine, and Sunlight Press. In 2023, she released her first poetry volume, entitled i brought home a typewriter and my head exploded, as well as a classic country trio album in collaboration with Nashville-based artists Lauren Lucas and Kimberly Quinn (Lo-Fi Dolly, 2023). After spending twenty years based in Nashville as well, Beck relocated to Lynchburg in 2018, where in addition to writing, recording, and performing, she is also an associate professor of Psychology at Randolph College.