Kelly McFarling

Kelly McFarling grew up riding the early 90’s lady folk wave and prolific R&B radio stations of Atlanta, GA. She started writing songs when she moved to San Francisco as an adult. With the city and its characters as her inspiration and incubator, she became known for her dynamic, witty, emotional gut-punch of a live show. McFarling spent the next decade based in the Bay and touring the U.S., earning a devoted following as a compelling, versatile indie-folk singer-songwriter. Garnering comparisons to Laura Marling, Bonnie Raitt, and Dottie West, McFarling’s voice anchors into the power of well-crafted songs, delivered with emotion. Her current iteration features a lush and groovy band of Bay Area beloveds; Andrew Brennan (guitars), Tim Marcus, (pedal steel, guitars) Nick Cobbett, (drums) Brittany Powers (vocals), and Danny Vitali (bass).Her latest release, Bed of a River (2022), was recorded in Richmond, VA at Spacebomb studios, and finished at home in California. The album is a collaboration with Andrew Brennan in writing, arranging, playing, recording, and living. The record features the Spacebomb house band; Cameron Ralston (bass) Alan Parker (guitars) Pinson Chancelle (drums) Daniel Clark (keys) with production by Matthew E White. Additional recording with Jeremy Harris at Panoramic Studios in Stinson Beach, CA with Nick Cobbett (drums) Tim Marcus (pedal steel) Danny Vitali (bass) Brittany Powers (vocals), and Jeremy Harris (Keys).​Other releases include Distractible Child (2010), Ridgeline (2013) Water Dog (2017), Deep the Habit (2021)McFarling has played in and toured with various projects in the Bay Area and beyond; including Y La Bamba, Skywayman, Scott Hirsch, Goodnight, Texas, Sonny and the Sunsets, Terry Reid, Con Brio, and more.

Scott Hirsch