Darcy Wilkin: Bringing it all back home

Kalamazoo-based singer-songwriter Darcy Wilkin was the very first performer at Americana Sundays, in November 2022. This Sunday, April 12, she returns to the Americana music series created by ArtRat Gallery and The Stableford Agency.

Americana Sundays: An Afternoon with Darcy Wilkin runs 3-5pm at 46 Division Ave. S in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. (Admission $25; tickets available on Eventbrite.) 

Ahead of the show, Darcy took time out to bring ArtRat up to speed about her second solo album, the range of sounds she’ll bring to Sunday’s show, and her summer plans. 

You've got a new album out. Tell us about the songs on Time Walks Along, which extend your stylistic range. Tell us about your process writing the songs and collaborating with studio musicians to create its distinctive sound.

While the new album does have a couple of love songs and a couple of murder ballads, most of the songs have to do with the passage of time. It’s a collection of songs written in the time since the first album came out and it feels more focused on that theme. I think, as I’ve aged and watched my son became an adult in that span of time, it’s a natural progression. 

The studio work was a lot of intense fun. It was recorded in eight days at Good Luck Studio in Chapel Hill, N.C. My producer, Joe Newberry, brought in a host of amazing musicians and the songs, which had originally been written by me on just my guitar, started to take shape in whole new ways. There’s a song with a Cajun feel, one that sounds like an old Carter Family tune, some that are pretty stripped down, instrumentally. It is more experimental, style-wise.

One of the most amazing parts of making this record was the chance to record with Mike Craver and Jim Watson, of the original Red Clay Ramblers. The Ramblers loom large in my life and have had a huge impact on me. They used to stay over at my parents’ house when I was a kid, when they were touring the Midwest. They’re just lovely guys and stellar musicians and the times they were at my house are some of my most cherished memories. It was such an honor to have them appear on my album.

Multi-instrumentalist Drew Howard will accompany you Sunday. What can the Americana Sundays audience expect from this dynamic duo?

Drew Howard is really something special. He’s a wonderful guy and a masterful musician. He will be playing a short set to open the show, then he will play on my set with me. His contributions bring a lot of depth to the music. He’ll be playing dobro, mandolin and flat top guitar. The audience can expect an intimate show with songs, stories and hopefully, a few laughs along the way. 

What other plans do you have for festival season in Western Michigan? 

I am planning more solo shows throughout the summer. I’ll be doing a little tour in July. I also play with a band called The Corn Fed Girls. We’ll be playing out, as well as doing some work in the studio on our forthcoming album.