Meet The Performers
Other performers include:
Joe Lasher
Kaitlyn Baker
Cole Grover
and more…
Michelle Malone
Michelle Malone is a fierce, genre-blending songwriter whose music spans roots rock, Americana, blues, and folk. Known for her independent spirit and artistic conviction, Malone balances grit with vulnerability through emotionally direct writing and powerful vocals. Her work explores strength, survival, and self-determination, delivered with commanding stage presence and lived experience.Malone’s latest album, Southern Comfort, features a long list of southern all-stars, including members of Blackberry Smoke, The Georgia Satellites, and Americana icon Buddy Miller. This collaborative spirit is a hallmark of her career; she has sung on classic tracks for Drivin N Cryin, performed with the Indigo Girls, and shared stages with legends like Gregg Allman, Jackson Browne, ZZ Top, and John Mayer. Ultimately, Malone remains driven by a lifelong commitment to her craft, stating, “I’m just as passionate now about performing as I was when I started, because I’m grateful for the life and joy music still provides me.”
Jimmy Hall
Jimmy Hall is an amazing singer-songwriter and musician originally from Alabama. Jimmy is well-known as the lead singer and harmonica player for the Southern rock group Wet Willie. Wet Willie released five albums with Capricorn Records before moving to Epic Records in 1977. The smash hit “Keep on Smilin’” was a Billboard Magazine Top 10 hit on the singles chart in 1974 and a huge crowd-pleaser live. Jimmy has toured with Jeff Beck, Gregg Allman and Hank Williams, Jr., playing saxophone and harmonica.
Chuck Leavell
Band leader of the Rolling Stones, Chuck Leavell was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the 1970s. He is a founding member of the band Sea Level. Chuck has served as the touring keyboardist and musical director of the Rolling Stones since 1982. Chuck is known for playing one of the greatest rock piano solos of all time on The Allman Brothers’ 1973 hit “Jessica.” Chuck’s keyboard talents have made him legendary in the world of music. His accomplishments as a tree farmer and conservationist (see the documentary, “Tree Man”) have been recognized by several environmental organizations throughout the years. It is an honor to have Chuck headline the first Songwriters at the Lake Festival.
Randal Bramblett
A Georgia native, Randall is an acclaimed singer/songwriters who began as a session musician in the 70s, and has collaborated with Gregg Allman, Bonnie Raitt, Elvin Bishop, Chuck Leavell, Bonnie Bramlett, Widespread Panic, Steve Winwood, among others. An outstanding lyricist and vocalist, Randall toured with Sea Level, the Gregg Allman Band, Widespread Panic, and Traffic. Born in Jesup, Georgia, Randall has been an Athens icon for years. His keyboards, sax, and vocal talents have made Georgia proud.
Joanna Cotten
Joanna is an American singer-songwriter who rocks the stage as a performer. A country girl at heart, she knew from childhood she wanted to be in country music. Joanna was classically trained at the prestigious Julliard School in New York City. She calls her music “Funkabilly,” her own blend of blues, funk, and country. Joanna loves to sing, and it shows. Touring with country superstar Eric Church for a decade, Joanna has developed a strong fanbase who appreciates her powerhouse vocals and stage presence. What a treat it is to have Joanna in our inaugural lineup at SATL!
Ed Hill
Ed Hill was named BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2006. Ed began his career in California playing keyboards for Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson. He has written dozens of Top 10 songs and is one of Nashville’s most prolific songwriters. Ed Has had over 400 cuts and 40 singles including “It Matters to Me” Faith Hill, “Just Fishin” Trace Adkins (Grammy nomination for Best Country Song in 2012), “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” Tracy Lawrence, and “Most People Are Good” Luke Bryan.
Jim Collins
Jim Collins is a member of the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame. During his career he has had over 200 of his songs recorded by major artists. His most famous compositions include singles performed by Kenny Chesney (“She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “The Good Stuff,” a multi-week Billboard No. 1 and ASCAP Song of the Year), as well as the #1 hit “Big Green Tractor” performed by Jason Aldean, and the #4 hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” by Thompson Square.Tony Arata
2012 Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer Tony Arata was born in Savannah, GA and grew up on nearby Tybee Island. Tony’s song “The Dance,” a huge hit for Garth Brooks, won Song of the Year in 1990 at The Academy of Country Music and received both a Country Music Association and a Grammy nomination, as well as Most Performed Song in Radio and Records Magazine. He has also had hit records with “Here I Am” for Patty Loveless, “I’m Holding My Own” for Lee Roy Parnell, among others. Tony Arata is a legendary Nashville songwriter and dear friend of the Songwriters at the Lake Festival team.Greg Barnhill
Originally from New Orleans, Greg Barnhill has written songs recorded by Etta James, Martina McBride, Jessica Simpson, Chicago, Leona Lewis, and Tim McGraw, among others. Greg’s “Walkaway Joe,” recorded by Trisha Yearwood and Don Henley, earned him a Grammy nomination. He also penned the smash “House of Love” for Amy Grant and Vince Gill. Barnhill wrote Gary Allan’s 2014 single “It Ain’t the Whiskey,” which got rave reviews for its take on substance abuse. Barnhill is one of Nashville’s first call master vocalists and his background vocals are heard on over 10 Tim McGraw albums. He wrote “She’s Taking a Shine” for John Berry. Greg is also a dear friend of the SATL team, and is the founder and current President of the Ozone Music Foundation and Songwriter Festival held on the North Shore of New Orleans.Chuck Cannon
Chuck is a South Carolina Low-Country native whose voice echoes the R&B, Rock & Roll, Gospel and Country music he grew up listening to.
With 35 million-plus terrestrial radio airplays and over one billion streams, Chuck is a multi-award-winning songwriter whose songs have been covered in multiple genres by a diverse array of artists such as BoyZone, Bebe Winans, Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakan, George Jones, George Strait, Lari White, Lonestar, NightRanger, Paul Carrack, Rodney Crowell, Randy Travis, Russ Taff, Shawn Mullins, Tanya Tucker, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd and many more
His critically acclaimed solo music projects remind us Chuck is, first and last, a Songwriter; no one interprets a song like the writer of the song. His unique guitar style and engaging stories make for riveting live performances that will leave you wanting more . . .
Webb Wilder
Webb Wilder was ‘Americana’ before it had a name, and is bonafide Roots Rock Royalty.
Wilder’s long and storied career began with his classic debut It Came From Nashville album. It was chosen one of the Top 50 Southern Rock Albums of All Time by Paste Magazine. His latest and 13th album, Hillbilly Speedball, made with friends like David Grissom and Vince Gill, got much critical and popular acclaim, sitting in the Americana Chart Top 20 for weeks. His nearly four decades in the public eye have included stints with major labels, MTV airplay, induction in the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, a cult classic movie career, and being one of the first national DJs hired by a then-upstart XM Satellite Radio. He now is a DJ on Nashville radio station WMOT, and host of The List, a weekly Americana top countdown show. He also continues spreading his Credo* on his never-ending tour as an Electrifying Artist.
Chuck Jones
Chuck Jones is a highly successful Nashville-based songwriter from Memphis, TN, who has penned over 140 recorded songs across country and pop radio including “Your Love Amazes Me” for John Berry, “Love a Little Stronger” performed by Diamond Rio, and “Cadillac Ranch” Chris LeDoux.Frank Myers
Grammy Winner Frank Myers, originally from Dayton, Ohio, moved to Nashville in 1981 to build a prolific career writing and producing country and pop songs. He co-wrote “I Swear” for John Michael Montgomery and “I’m Already There” for Lonestar with his longtime songwriting partner Gary Baker. Frank has also written for Eddie Rabbit and Crystal Gayle, among others. With 15 #1 hit songs, Frank is a 3-time Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame nominee and was inducted into the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame in 2025.Wynn Varble
Born in Georgia and based in Tennessee, Wynn Varble is a country singer-songwriter with a long list of country songs including several #1s. Varble is most known for his #1 songs “Have You Forgotten?” (Darryl Worrley), “Waitin’ On a Woman” (Brad Paisley), and “I’m a Little More Country Than That” (Easton Corbin.) Wynn’s on-stage wit and charisma is always a festival highlight.
Gary Baker
Gary Baker is a Muscle Shoals-based singer songwriter most known for co-writing (with his songwriter partner Frank J. Myers) the huge hit “I Swear,” recorded by All 4-One as well as John Michael Montgomery. The hit song sold more than 20 million internationally and won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Country Song. Gary and Frank have been writing together for decades and both played in Marie Osmond’s band. They also co-wrote “Already There” for Lonestar, the band’s seventh #1 single.