Rock & roll can be a monotonous beast sometimes. The tour, write, record, tour cycle can wear thin on a band when money’s coming in small spurts and there are several mouths to feed.

A few songs into his headlining set opening the first night of Twangfest 15, Texan Hayes Carll, fully understanding the effects of the recession, thanked the audience "for spending money to come out to see us."

The kickoff to Twangfest 15 exceeded all expectations at the Pageant Wednesday night.

It is physically impossible to be sad or bummed out when listening to Kelly Willis. Her voice, so gracefully soft, smooth and simply lovely, radiates an energy that immediately puts the soul at ease.

Elizabeth Cook is performing on June 8 at Twangfest 15, her third appearance at the festival. Her music can be witty, contemplative and everything in between.

Chatham County Line might be the only group you’ll hear claim to “wear out ties.” After over ten years of touring, the Raleigh, North Carolina natives have consistently approached their style of country/folk/bluegrass music with as much charisma and, more importantly, professionalism, as possible.

Robbie Fulks follows his own path. Trying for years to break into the country music scene in Nashville, Fulks eventually gave up, striking out on his own and releasing Country Love Songs in 1996. Never looking back, the twists and turns of his career have been as unconventional as his songwriting.