If nerditude had a formal name, it would be Grace Morrison.
She’s a little bit of everything—pianist, accordion player, Renaissance Faire performer, cranberry grower, reader of historical nonfiction, coffee devotee (she sells her own coffee blend), and an unapologetic expert on all things New England. And somehow, all these quirks weave seamlessly into the fabric of her music, making her one of the most unique and endearing songwriters around. Born and raised on the shores of Cape Cod, Grace Morrison has trademarked a sound she calls Saltwater Country. “I was always too pop for folk and too folk for country. Eventually, I started peeling back the layers of my music to find out what truly made it mine. At the heart of it all was my deep, undeniable connection to the Cape Cod coastline—it’s in my blood, in my voice, in every lyric I write. My music carries the storytelling of country, the twang, but also the raw, unshakable spirit of a Swamp Yankee. That’s Saltwater Country.”
“The sweetest and purest vocal tones you can imagine”
“Her voice smacks of Jewel, and her style, cadence, song structure is every inch from the school of Joan Osborne, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Merchant. It’s uncanny.”
“[Maybe Modern is] A dripping soulful composition that pours with a country authenticity reminiscent of Jo Dee Messina and Sugarland.
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“I came away from [Daughter] feeling as though I had taken a trip into the heart and soul of an intelligent, insightful woman, and it was a most enjoyable ride...a masterful record.”
Videos
“I am in awe that such a young woman would do a tribute to those of us who served, and particularly to those who fell. Thank you!”
Awards
“Grace is a keen observer of the contemporary scene and it shows in her writing. Her song “Taking Johnny Home” is presented with razor-sharp vision and vocals to match.”
2023 AmericanaFest Official Showcase
2023 SERFA Official Showcase
2023 Wildflower Festival Singer-Songwriter Finalist
2022 SWRFA Official Showcase
2022 NERFA Official Showcase
2022 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Most Wanted Emerging Artist
2022 New Song Finalist
2022 Songwriter Serenade - 2nd Place
2021 Songwriter Serenade Finalist
2019 SWRFA Official Showcase Artist (alt.)
2019 SERFA Official Showcase Artist
2019 Finalist: Wildflower Festival Singer-Songwriter Contest*
2018 NERFA Folk DJ Showcase Artist
2018 SERFA Official Showcase (alt.)
2018 WSM Nashville: Road Show Contest Semi-Finalist*
2017 Blast on the Bay Songwriters Festival Emerging Artist*
2016 New England Music Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Winner
2016 Finalist: Wildflower Festival Singer Songwriter Contest
2016 Honorable Mention: Telluride Folk Festival Songwriter Competition
2015 New England Music Award Grassroots Award Winner
2015 New Jersey Folk Festival’s Singer/Songwriter Contest Winner
2014 WPRI- TV12’s American Idol Big Break Winner
2013 Limelight Music Awards Band of the Year Winner
*did not attend due to scheduling conflict
“It is a testament to her talent that Morrison sounds as good live as she does on her record.”
Press Photos
Full Biography
If nerditude had a formal name, it would be Grace Morrison.
She’s a little bit of everything—pianist, accordion player, Renaissance Faire performer, cranberry grower, reader of historical nonfiction, coffee devotee (she sells her own coffee blend), and an unapologetic expert on all things New England. And somehow, all these quirks weave seamlessly into the fabric of her music, making her one of the most unique and endearing songwriters around.
Born and raised on the shores of Cape Cod, Grace Morrison has trademarked a sound she calls Saltwater Country. “I was always too pop for folk and too folk for country. Eventually, I started peeling back the layers of my music to find out what truly made it mine. At the heart of it all was my deep, undeniable connection to the Cape Cod coastline—it’s in my blood, in my voice, in every lyric I write. My music carries the storytelling of country, the twang, but also the raw, unshakable spirit of a Swamp Yankee. That’s Saltwater Country.”
Proudly unconventional, she’s never held what some would call a "real job." She says “it’s always been music and how lucky am I that music has given me this wild, unpredictable journey through the human experience. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Her career started when she was in high school playing at coffee shops, where she sang for tips—one of which came from none other than actor James Spader. “I still have the $20 he left me,” she laughs.
Not long after, she hit the road with Rock 4 Xmas, sharing the stage with legends like Eddie Money, Joey Molland (Badfinger), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, writer of Da Ya Think I’m Sexy), and Greg Douglass (Steve Miller Band, co-writer of Jungle Love).
“I was 17, on a tour bus with rock icons. You can’t ask for a better crash course in rock ‘n’ roll than that. I could tell you some stories,” she says with a knowing grin. “It was Spinal Tap in real life—literally, someone from that movie was on the tour. But for me, the biggest thing was realizing that this life—touring, performing—was possible. All I’ve wanted since then was to get back on that bus.”
In those early years, she struggled to define her own sound. “My dad was convinced I should be a blues singer—like he hadn’t even heard my voice,” she jokes. “It took time, but I finally figured out who I am as an artist. And that’s Saltwater Country.”
One of the defining moments in her journey came when she collaborated with hit songwriter Lori McKenna. “I was eight months pregnant when Lori invited me to write with her. We wrote Just Loving You, and it was the most personal thing I had ever written. The way it connected with audiences—it was something I had never experienced before. I learned that the more personal and specific my songs are, the more they seem to resonate. You’ve got to write what you know.” Saltwater Country, the album, is a testament to that.
Saltwater Country takes the old adages of “3 chords and the truth” and “don’t bore us, get to the chorus”, wraps them up with a 90’s pop bow, and leaves the listener with a sound that is at once new and familiar.
Produced by Jon Evans (Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan), the album ranges from the gritty, swampy Poor Man’s Daughter—a raw reflection on growing up with nothing—to the fun, twang-filled Beer in a Teacup, an anthem about embracing imperfections and letting self-doubt roll off your shoulders.
It’s the sound of an artist who’s found her confidence, embraced her quirks, and learned that sometimes, when life gets messy, you just pour your beer in a teacup and move on.
Music
“I’m The Apple is a treat for the ears on every track. ”
Press
“Her voice smacks of Jewel, and her style, cadence, song structure is every inch from the school of Joan Osborne, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Merchant. It’s uncanny. Had Morrison been born a decade earlier, she might’ve played Lilith Fair herself.
— Lauren Daley,/Boston Globe
“She is folk. She is pop. She’s unbelievably masterful behind the wheel of a guitar. Morrison’s vocal storytelling can make you cry; it can make you sing.”
— Emily Clark Old Colony Memorial
“Her songs, vocal delivery, melodies are certain to draw the listener in leaving them wanting more and more and more.”
— Jon Stein, Host/DJ Hootenanny Cafe WTBQ Radio
“Her songs are natural and pure, clear and silky. She has an ability to pick and choose influences and merge them into a sound that may be classified as “pop folk”, but has far more depth and layers to it.”
— Red Line Roots
It is a testament to her talent that Morrison sounds as good live as she does on her record.”
— Mark Gorman, Newport This Week
“Grace Morrison soars on perfect Americana roots album. I’m The Apple is a treat for the ears on every track. Morrison runs the gamut from rocking, country flavored verve to tender, emotive roots ballads on this I’m The Apple album. With subtle nuance and numerous individual parts, Morrison paints a stunning portrait of the modern American landscape with masterful lyrical details and an emotional force that cannot be denied.”
— BillCopelandMusicNews.com
"There’s a ton of music that I enjoy listening to, and then there’s music that feeds and nourishes and gives sustenance to the soul Grace’s music fits both he former and the latter.”
— Brian Mccloskey, Folk on Foul Rift House Concert
“I am in awe that such a young woman would do a tribute to those of us who served, and particularly to those who fell. Thank you!”
—Vietnam Veterans of America (of Grace’s song Taking Johnny Home)
“With a crystal clear voice and songs that land squarely in your heart, Grace has something truly special.”
—Jon Evans, Brick Hill Studios (touring/studio bassist for Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Ben Folds, and Paula Cole)
“Grace’s voice is a reflection of herself-pure and true. She is an incredible talent mixing seemingly effortless musicality and original storytelling in the Country Folk and Americana genres.”
—John Mailloux, Grammy nominated recording engineer
Contact
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