PJ Brunson

Corks, Cooks, & Books hosts some of the most talented songwriters from across the Carolinas. Join us for a free evening of original music. The venue is a cool neighborhood wine bar, tapas restaurant, bookstore and live music venue. The August showcase features Lisa Marcoff Lackey, DeWitt Crosby, and Joe Middleton, and your host, PJ Brunson. 6:30-8:30 PM.

About the Songwriters

DeWitt Crosby is a retired psychologist who has started a new "career" as a singer-songwriter. Initially an English Literature major and always a choir/shower/campfire singer, her musical influences come primarily from the folk scene of the 60's: Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Carol King. Her songs range from the stories about life and relationships, from social justice to children's songs. She has performed at the Tosco Music Party, the Evening Muse, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlotte, and various song-circle rounds at coffee shops and bars. Her songs have been described as powerful and relatable, interesting lyrically and emotionally. Presently working on her first solo CD of original music; she also has songs on two CD's that the Southern Songwriters Association has released and on a CD put together by Si Kahn to celebrate the life of Ella Mae Wiggins and to raise money for a memorial monument in Gastonia.

Lisa Lackey: Charlotte singer-songwriter Lisa Lackey’s voice will captivate you with its sweet lyrical quality. Her songs range from humorous and catchy to heart-felt and captivating. They often combine elements of bluegrass, folk, and gospel in a melodic merger. Her musical influences include Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, the Beatles, and John Prine. She is a busy musician, performing frequently at singer-songwriter showcases and, also as part of the Charlotte-area bluegrass band, the Carport Bandits. They perform frequently at local venues.

Joe Middleton is a Charlotte-based singer/songwriter and a purveyor of the story song. Joe's songs fall somewhere between coffee house folk and alt-country troubadour, drawing from influences ranging from Springsteen to Isbell and Petty to Earle. Joe's material tackles both social and political issues, with an eye to the past and a reflection of the present. According to Middleton, “I wanna create art that celebrates justice and calls out injustice.” His wise baritone voice and warm finger-style playing, provide a lush soundscape for these very listener-friendly tunes. After years of fronting various bands, Middleton ultimately stepped out on his own in 2019 with his first solo recording, Highway Tremolo. Joe is currently working on material for his next project due in 2023.