Slaid Cleaves

The Maine-born, Texas-based troubadour Slaid Cleaves is known as a “songwriter’s songwriter.” With his great command of the songwriting craft, he phrases like a grifter trying to croon his low-down past away, and writes like he knows he never will. Cleaves sees through sentiment. “I’ve been chasing grace but grace ain’t so easily found,” he sings on One Good Year, just one of many subtle, momentary stays against the dark side of his heart. He performs with Eleanor Whitmore on fiddle and mandolin.