South Austin Song Circles: Claudia Gibson, Helene Cronin & Matt Harlan
Claudia Gibson
Austin singer-songwriter Claudia Gibson’s musical style runs the gamut of her past musical experience - with folk at its base, but including elements of rock, classical, bluegrass, Celtic and soul. Her strong guitar playing and solid vocals help her weave a sound identifiable solely as her own - fully on display in her second full album, 2024’s The Fields of Chazy.
Claudia’s first album Step By Step and follow-up EP Louisiana Sky - both produced by Band of Heathens frontman Gordy Quist - contained songs that made folks sit up and take notice. Step By Step cracked the Americana radio charts and the Roots Music Report's 2017 Top Americana/Country Album Chart. After winning the Woody Guthrie Songwriting Contest in 2018, Claudia went on to become a finalist in the 2019 Kerrville New Folk Competition. She’s been a finalist and participant in several other prestigious songwriting festivals and competitions, and has played stages in Texas and throughout the US.
A few opening slots and shared bills with Walt Wilkins in 2022 led to his producing Claudia’s album The Fields of Chazy in the summer of 2023. The album features a Who’s Who of some of Austin’s finest musicians, including Rich Brotherton, Warren Hood, Chris Beall and Pat Byrne, and presents songs that weave stories about real people whose lives and narratives have impacted Claudia in profound ways.
Of The Fields of Chazy, respected UK music reviewer Alan Cackett wrote, “Claudia Gibson’s second album is a travelogue through time and the vast expanse of America, a heady mixture that conjures the ghosts of John Steinbeck and Townes Van Zandt, and yet remains uniquely personal…"
Claudia is thrilled to return to The 04 Center stage!
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Helene Cronin
Texas artist Helene Cronin describes herself as a “story-singer.” She shares her life through songs that resonate with emotional truth, plus a dash of imagination - and then invites her listeners into the storybook. Helene’s combination of vulnerability and intricate detail in her songs create an indelible connection with her audiences.
A 2018 Kerrville New Folk winner, Helene's songwriting style combines the raw roots of Americana with the more polished song-craft of Nashville. Helene travels regularly from Texas to Nashville for co-writing sessions with top songwriters and artists, and has seen her songs recorded by Cody Johnson (“Over Missing You” in 2024), Bryan Martin, Heidi Newfield, Janelle Arthur and The Isaacs, and many more.
As a performing artist, Helene possesses a voice with as much a character as the ones that inhabit her songs. Her newest album, Maybe New Mexico is a March 2025 release, following up on 2023’s Landmarks and her critically acclaimed 2019 debut, Old Ghosts and Lost Causes. Helene’s most well known song "Lucky Me" led to appearances on national TV and countless military events, including some honoring our nation's Medal of Honor recipients.
Helene performs in a variety of settings from house concerts to festivals. Audiences say, "Your songs make me want to be a better person." Helene can't think of a better reason to keep writing and singing!
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Matt Harlan
A former Austinite now based in Houston, Matt Harlan’s name evokes immediate respect and appreciation in Texas songwriting circles. His memorable songs, guitar virtuosity and expressive voice have been on display through five fine albums worth of material, including 2019’s critically acclaimed Best Beasts. Matt’s songs draw listeners in with their timeless melodies; he keeps them there with insightful lyrics that recognize the sometimes difficult truths lying under the surface of our daily lives.
Matt has toured throughout the US and Europe (where he reached #1 on the Euro-Americana charts), and has received numerous songwriting accolades and awards during his career, including Singer-Songwriter of the Year from the Texas Music Awards and winner of the Telluride Troubadour competition. New Depression magazine said of him, “If there’s a performer today that embodies the oft-applied and rarely understood moniker of ‘songwriter’ it’s Houston favorite, Matt Harlan.”
Matt’s touching 2023 single, "Long Road" is a prescient song of fatherly advice to his young daughter. The past year has found Matt hosting the storied Thursday Songwriters Nights at Anderson Fair in Houston, and bravely debuting new songs there on a regular basis.
Matt Harlan has shared stages with Americana greats (Guy Clark, James McMurtry, Steve Earle) and modern luminaries alike (John Fullbright, Adam Carroll, Jamie Lin Wilson, Hayes Carll). Matt makes new fans every time he plays - we’re sure The 04 Center will be no exception.
