21 Jan SongWriter Series: Local-Live-Original
The SongWriters Series is back for another year!
Enjoy Local-Live-Original music at Noblesville Creates four times a year! Founded by John Gilmore, these songwriter events are a chance for local musicians to not only play their original songs, but also share with the audience the story and inspiration behind the music.
2026 includes concert dates set on February 13th, May 8th, August 30th, and October 16th.
Each SongWriter event will take place from 7:00 to 9:00pm, with the doors opening at 6:30pm at Hamilton County Artists’ Association’s Birdie Gallery (195 S. 5th St., Noblesville, IN), A suggested donation of $10 to attend goes toward paying the musicians and the staff that run the event. Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages will be for sale.
Dates & Musicians:
May 8th Musicians: Kelli Ray Yates, Bobbie Lancaster, and Bruce King
August 14th Musicians: JC Clements, Chris Baird, & Jason Blankenship
October 16th Musicians: to be announced in September
We’re looking for Sponsors for these unique and important musical events. If you are interested in sponsoring one of the future SongWriter Series events, email info@noblesvillecreates..org
August 30th Musician Bios:
Tay Bronson is a traditional country singer-songwriter known for his wit, humor, and heartfelt storytelling. A lifelong Indiana musician, Bronson first picked up a guitar in seventh grade and began his professional journey with alternative rock band Push Down & Turn, achieving national and international acclaim before turning his focus to raising his daughter and pursuing a solo career. His debut album, Drinks & Memories (2020), and award-winning sophomore release, Bad Apple (2024), showcase Bronson’s blend of authentic country influences—from Waylon Jennings to John Prine—infused with humor and observational storytelling. Bronson has performed nationwide at songwriter festivals and showcases. His latest single, “Golf Cart”, exemplifies his playful, relatable approach to modern country life. Recent accolades include multiple ISSA nominations, a ISSA 2025 Silver Award for Album of the Year, and a 2024 Gathering in the Gap songwriting contest win. Most recently, “Bad Apple” has been nominated for Album of The Year at the 11th annual Josie Music Awards at THE Grand Ole Opry.
Greg Ziesemer is no stranger to the Indiana music scene. For over forty years, his pioneering work in jam bands, bluegrass outfits, and Americana singer-songwriter projects has cemented his status as a key figure in Central Indiana’s live music community. With his wealth of experience and a renewed outlook on music and life, Ziesemer is in the midst of a full-blown creative renaissance. Having overcome a decades-long battle with addiction, he’s never been so determined to follow through on the clear-minded vision that sobriety has brought into focus. His revitalized songwriting is bearing fruit, with plans to record and take his compositions on the road. After several bleak years, it’s a new beginning filled with hope, spirit, and positivity. Ziesemer is busier than ever. From remastering past albums to unearthing turn-of-the-century acoustic demos, a wealth of legacy material is poised for release. Crowning these efforts is his new album of new songs, “Acceptance”, recorded with the help of his talented son, Jack, and released in June of 2026.
Stuart Poe joined the Punkin Holler Boys playing dobro in 2009 and is still a member and recorded a solo album in 2017 called No Train. He plays slide on the 2025 Shawn Smith album McKee, Kentucky, with The Two Jasons and is on both Volumes of the Indianapolis Folk Project.
May 8th Musician Bios:
Kelli Ray Yates is a popular singer-songwriter from Noblesville, Indiana. Known for her powerful and soulful vocals, she is also an accomplished lyricist whose songs range from playful and fun to deeply serious and emotional. She has a musical resume that includes time as the featured singer in the acoustic trio Noble Roots, the acoustic duo Mama’s Homemade, and the rock band Roughouse Indy. Currently she’s fronting her own band The Kelli Ray Yates band as well as an acoustic duo with other Noble Roots Band alumnus John Gilmore.
Bobbie Lancaster has a heart for adventure and a gift for singing the truth. Her lyrics may offend some, while flooding others with hope and the reminder that resistance rooted in love for humankind still has the power to bend the arc toward justice
Rooted in Americana and folk traditions, her music, paintings and children’s books carry a common theme of justice, a longing for a kinder world and an undying hope that our shared human experience connects us and has the power to lead us into something better.
Bruce King is a hobbyist singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who usually records as “The Bristlecones” in collaboration with his musical friends and family. Listeners will hear echoes of an eclectic mix of influences spanning the traditions of Folk, Jazz, R&B and Rock. He enjoys keeping you guessing
