The Cosmic Songwriter Festival is a live music festival taking place in Bloomington, Indiana beginning Wednesday, May 14 and running through Saturday, May 17, 2025.
This is year three of the multi-venue music festival emerging from Bloomington’s popular monthly Cosmic Songwriters Club featuring musical artists sharing the stage to perform original songs in an intimate, listening-room environment. That unique format of two artists performing together will be followed for the festival. I attend plenty of live shows and Cosmic makes you feel connected to the artists.
A total of 16 musical artists are paired up and performing at four venues/showcases over four days. All venues are located in downtown Bloomington, Indiana. Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance through the Cosmic Songwriter Festival website or for full price at the venue on the day of show. Venue doors open at 6:00 PM EST and all shows start at 7:00 PM EST.
Wednesday, May 14 - Orbit Room (107 N. College Avenue)
Sarah Grain & Reece Sullivan
Thomas Csorba & Sam Moss
Advanced tickets = $22
Sarah Grain brings her tunes down from Indianapolis and Reece Sullivan is an award-winning songwriter coming in from Louisiana. Texas troubadour Thomas Csorba and folksinger Sam Moss are the Wednesday headliners. Pop Matters said Sam Moss writes songs that “initially seem harmless but will affect you profoundly.”
I think Orbit is a magical listening room, but it’s a small venue and there are limited tickets so buy them now. Also get there early for the best hot dogs and pinball in the land (seriously – the dogs are amazing!).
Thursday, May 15 - The Bluebird (216 N. Walnut Street)
She Returns From War & Tae & The Neighborly
Tommy Prine & John Baumann
Advanced tickets = $20
The Bluebird is sacred ground. She Returns From War creates Cosmic Americana music out of South Carolina while Tae & The Neighborly are a soul band from Wisconsin. Thirty Tigers recording artist Tommy Prine and John Baumann of The Panhandlers headline.
Thursday night after party at the Orbit Room.
Friday, May 16 – Buskirk Chumley Theater (114 E. Kirkwood Avenue)
Friday is officially Cosmic Songwriter Day in Bloomington!
Elle Hodge & Jesse James DeConto
Laurel Lewis & Rodney Crowell
Tickets = $29
Elle Hodge is a local Indiana musician and Jesse James DeConto is a songwriter and musician in The Pinkerton Raid. It’s a rare treat that we get to see Rodney Crowell (see career highlights below) but it will be extra special on the Buskirk-Chumley stage. Rodney is paired with Nashville artist, Laurel Lewis, and he produced her most recent album.
Friday night after party at the Orbit Room.
Saturday, May 17 - Blockhouse Bar (205 S. College Avenue)
Rachel Baiman & Elizabeth Moen
Jordan Smart & Father Kentucky
Tickets = $20
Rachel Baiman lives in Nashville, TN and Elizabeth Moen is from Chicago while Jordan Smart, a folksinger from Kentucky, is paired with Father Kentucky.
Rodney Crowell career highlights:
Member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Wrote and performed five number one country songs of his own.
Wrote 15 total number one country songs.
Wrote songs for or with Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, Sheryl Crow, John Denver, Grateful Dead, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Etta James, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Roy Orbison, Bob Seger, Jeff Tweedy, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack, and so many others.
Won two Grammy Awards and nominated six times.
Won six Americana Music Association Awards, including the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting.
Won Academy of Country Music Association Award for Top Male Vocalist.
Music Road Trip?
Bloomington, Indiana is easy to get to located one hour south of Indianapolis on Interstate 69 in South Central Indiana. We are home to Indiana University. The Cosmic Songwriter Festival makes for a fantastic music road trip with your significant other and/or pals. You will find your lodging, food, Cosmic tickets, and your entire trip expenses to be very affordable. Art galleries, cycling, day-drinking, fishing, golfing, hiking, museums, shopping...we got it all. Check out www.visitbloomington.com to plan your trip and I hope to see you at Cosmic.
