Willi Carlisle

WILLI CARLISLE is a poet and a folk singer for the people, but his extraordinary gift for turning a phrase isn't about high falutin' pontificatin'; it's about looking out for one another and connecting through our shared human condition. Born and raised on the Midwestern plains, Carlisle is a product of the punk-to-folk music pipeline that's long fueled frustrated young men looking to resist. After falling for the rich ballads and tunes of the Ozarks, where he now lives, he began examining the full spectrum of American musical history. This insatiable stylistic diversity is obvious in his wildly raucous live performances, where songs range from sardonic trucker-ballads like "Vanlife" to the heartbreaking queer waltz "Life on the Fence," to an existential talkin' blues about a panic attack in Walmart's aisle five. With guitar, fiddle, button-box, banjo, harmonicas, rhythm-bones, and Willi's booming baritone, this is bonafide populist folk music in the tradition of cowboys, frontier fiddlers, and tall-tale tellers. Carlisle recognizes that the only thing holding us back from greatness is each other. With a quick wit and big sing-alongs, these folksongs bring us a step closer to breaking down our divides.

Past Shows


Feb
13
th
2024
Turf Club
Feb
13
th
2024
Turf Club

Willi Carlisle

with Pop Wagner
Mar
24
th
2023
7th St Entry
Mar
24
th
2023
7th St Entry

Willi Carlisle

with Willy Tea Taylor

More Shows

Aug
9
th
First Avenue

Old 97's

Jul
21
st
Fine Line

Unwound

Sep
14
th
The Fitzgerald Theater

Julian Lage

Jul
6
th
First Avenue

jxdn

with GUNNAR and LØLØ