Songwriters@Scup w/Leah Kaufman, Mark Dillon, and Doug Baker

Leah Kaufman creates eloquent acoustic music that dances between genres. From the sweetness of a lullaby to a driving honky-tonk dance tune, there’s a backbone of articulate guitar playing and an ear- catching voice that pulls you in to each song's unique story. Her 2019 album, ‘Midnight Refrain’, builds on these strengths: songs with melodies that stick like glue and lyrics that tell stories you love hearing. An accomplished finger-style guitar player as well as fine flat-picker, each song holds true to a common core of exquisite lyrics, fine guitar work and a clear strong voice.

Mark Dillon is musician / music educator born into a musical family. His first memories are of siting on Dolly Parton’s lap while watching his great-uncle Lloyd’s country radio show. After finishing a degree in music theory and then a master’s degree in guitar building he started a business repairing guitars while playing music most nights in the Chicago area. Later, he became a high school music teacher and specialized in teaching popular music and recording. He later went on to get a master’s degree in music education and a PhD in music education. Currently he teaches commercial music at Guilford Technical Community College and songwriting at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Songwriter Doug Baker has been a fixture in the Greensboro music scene for forty years. He released his first solo recording, Navigating Life, in late 2021.
Baker has been involved in varied musical projects ranging from the power-pop of Treva Spontaine and the Grafics to the avant-garde improvisations of the F-Art Ensemble to a stint playing old-time music with the Zinc Kings.
Baker says, “I’ve always written songs, but in bands I was usually content to play guitar and contribute a song here and there. Sort of a George Harrison approach. I’ve written a lot in the last 10 years, so it seemed it was about time I did this”
Baker plays most of the instruments on the album, with contributions from percussionist Zach Baker and vocalist Barry Gray.