Door County, Wis. (January 30, 2026) – Popular Door County musician Katie Dahl will be joined by two other songwriters, Hope Dunbar (New Jersey) and RJ Cowdery (Ohio) for a “Door County mini-tour,” with shows Wednesday, February 18, at 6 p.m. at Kick Ash Coffee in Ellison Bay and Thursday, February 19, at 7 p.m. at Third Avenue Playworks in Sturgeon Bay. Tickets are available at katiedahlmusic.com.
Cowdery, Dahl, and Dunbar may be from three different states, but they all share a knack for razor-sharp lyrics, wicked humor, compelling vocals, and unflinching truth-telling. All alumni of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition, Cowdery, Dahl, and Dunbar each tour the country individually, but are teaming up for this powerhouse triple bill. Don’t miss this chance to see three of the country’s most respected songwriters, swapping songs with one another in an in-the-round format.
Songwriter/playwright Katie Dahl is well known in Door County for her smart songs, wry wit, and wise spirit. She is an internationally touring, radio-charting artist who “delivers razor-sharp lyrics with a hearty, soulful voice” (American Songwriter). In live shows that are both courageously honest and devilishly funny, Katie dives deep into questions of land and love, family and body image, grief and joy. “In unsettled times,” says Peter Mulvey, “Katie Dahl brings us a grounded spirit.”
RJ Cowdery writes the kind of songs that sneak up on you—quiet, honest, and armed with just enough wit to keep you on your toes. A late bloomer in the music world (she didn’t dive in until most people are taking up pickleball), RJ has been making up for lost time with award-winning albums like In This Light. Hailing from southeastern Ohio, with Appalachian roots, she balances heart-tugging ballads with a sly grin and the occasional perfectly timed zinger. Along the way, she’s earned top honors at Mountain Stage NewSong, Kerrville New Folk, Sisters Folk Festival, to name a few. Fellow musicians call her “the real deal,” audiences call her music “a warm blanket,” and she just calls it “medicine.”
Hope Dunbar is a singer-songwriter known for her blend of Americana and country-folk sounds. She has been a pioneer of what she calls “New American Prairie style,” crafting semi-autobiographical songs that transform everyday life into art. Her work has garnered recognition, including being a three-time finalist at the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Contest. After residing in a small town in Nebraska, Dunbar relocated to New Jersey, bringing her unique “Big Sky sound” to the East Coast.
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