2026 Summer/Fall Singer Songwriter Series: Gabe Lee and Vinnie Paolizzi

Equal parts classic songwriter and modern-day storyteller, Gabe Lee has built his own bridge between country, folk and rock. Lee has been collecting stories for years, both onstage and off. “I used to bartend,” says the Nashville-based songwriter, “which means I was also a cheap therapist for whomever happened to be sitting on the barstool. Whether they were there to celebrate or drink away their problems, I heard about whatever they were going through. It was my job to have that face-to-face interaction — that connection. Being a full-time musician isn’t much different.”  With critically-acclaimed albums like 2019’s farmland, 2020’s Honky-Tonk Hell, and 2022’s The Hometown Kid, Lee created that connection by delivering his own stories to an ever-growing audience. His fourth record, Drink the River, takes a different approach. This time, Lee isn’t offering listeners a peek into his internal world; he’s holding up a mirror to reflect their own. 

 Storytelling has been an anchor of Lee’s music since the very beginning. Raised by Taiwanese parents in Nashville, TN, he left home during his teenage years and headed to Indiana, where he obtained college degrees in literature and journalism. Lee launched his career as a genre-bending musician after returning to Tennessee, quickly progressing from dive bar gigs to high-profile opening slots (including shows with Jason Isbell, Los Lobos, and other artists who, like him, blurred the lines between roots-rock, country, and other forms of American folk music) to his own headlining shows. Throughout it all, he drew upon the narrative skills he’d sharpened as a student. If albums like Honky-Tonk Hell and The Hometown Kid often unfolded like autobiographical entries from his road journal, then Drink the River shows an even broader range of his storytelling abilities. Lee isn’t just writing songs about himself; he’s writing songs about all of us. And maybe, in doing so, he can bring us a little closer together. 

 In a rapidly changing Nashville music scene, singer songwriter VinniePaolizzi stands out as an artist deeply rooted in the city’s rich songwriting tradition. Originally from Philadelphia and now based in Nashville, Paolizzi has spent the last decade building a reputation as a versatile songwriter and compelling live performer whose music blends rock, country, and Americana influences. Paolizzi has shared stages with acclaimed artists and collaborated with some of Nashville’s most respected writers and musicians. His work as a guitarist and performer has included appearances alongside Brittney Spencer and songwriting legend Dean Dillon. His music combines thoughtful storytelling with soulful musicianship, highlighted by songs like “Proud of What I Did Today,” an anthem centered on humility, perseverance, and everyday pride. Produced by Old Crow Medicine Show’s Mike Harris, Paolizzi’s self titled record reflects the collaborative spirit of classic 1970s Nashville songwriting. Beyond performing, he has become known for fostering creative community through songwriter gatherings such as Revival and Fam Jam, bringing together emerging artists and seasoned writers alike. Grounded in the values of collaboration, authenticity, and connection, Vinnie Paolizzi represents a new generation of Nashville artists carrying forward the city’s enduring musical legacy.