William Elliott Whitmore wooes the Granada

The vast openness of the Granada was filled with nothing but warmth and cozyness when two intimate songwriters shared the night with an audience looking to get out of the cold. William Elliott Whitmore, along with Samantha Crain, shared anecdotes, riddles, and stories throughout the evening, set against a backdrop of their powerful folk songs.

Samantha Crain

Poor Samantha Crain. She is just so gosh darn adorable, despite all the trouble she keeps getting into. The incredibly charming songstress almost didn’t make it to the show after her car broke down in Montana (she had already missed some dates because of this). She was so relieved to finally make it to Lawrence, she allegedly did a headstand as soon as she got here (to help the bloodflow after the massive drive).

She celebrated by leading the audience in a sing-along (below), assuring them that it’s saving them money because singing “makes you happy” and “produces endorphins.” “It’s like buying you a drink!” she exclaimed. It’s this level of charm that makes Samantha the type of woman who will always land on her feet.

Samantha Crain at the Granada from I Heart Local Music on Vimeo.

William Elliott Whitmore

William Elliott Whitmore is no stranger to the area, yet he always manages to pull in a god sized crowd to come watch him growl out emotional lyrics onstage. He upped the intimacy by holding entire conversations with random audience members. They stomped along, and felt each strike of Whitmore’s kick drum rattle their souls.

The night was made all the more intimate when he invited the audience onstage with him. “It’s a bitch getting a beer once you’re up here,” he warned those who made the small hike to the stage, but he comforted the stranded for the remainder of the night by saying “This feels nice.”