Owen Walsh at ARTS NEST

Owen Walsh has been telling stories and performing music his entire life. Born and raised on the banks of the Lackawaxen River in Honesdale, Pennsylvania—a small, historic coal-mining town that spawned the American railroad—Owen grew up surrounded by relics of 19th Century American life and imagery ripe for musical exploitation. He has since relocated to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC.

Owen began playing violin at the age of three, studying formal repertoire like Mozart concertos and Bach sonatas. At 12 years old, he found his dad's dusty, old Epiphone guitar tucked away in a closet and taught himself how to play. Soon after he learned his first few chords, Owen began writing songs. He's followed in the long tradition of Americana folk music, in which lyrics are equal in importance to the melodies that bind them.

His years of formal training combined with his zest for informal improvisation create a unique blend of musical expression that incorporates the many styles Owen loves.

In 2023, Owen released his debut album, "On My Way," an eclectic mix of 12 songs that reached #9 on the Folk Radio Charts.