The Kettle River runs through songster Dave McGrew’s hometown of Curlew in Washington state and has experienced record flooding due to snow melt. Dave’s home, which sits near the river, was completely inundated. Music Maker has sent out some emergency funds to Dave through our Sustenance Program is in touch with Dave on a daily basis to assess his needs. Previously, Music Maker was able to get Dave set up with SSI, giving him a much needed monthly income source that is helping him through this difficult time.

Dave represents the rambling songster tradition of Fruit Tramps, migrant workers that traveled around the great Northwest picking fruit and singing songs by campfires. In 2017, Music Maker released Dave’s second album, Somewhere Between Truth & Sanity. The album captures his singular style that was shaped by the uniquely American experience of being a “Fruit Tramp”.