David G. Smith and Carol Montag – The Goldfinch Room

Stephens Auditorium and Reiman Gardens are hosting The Goldfinch Room Songwriter Showcase at Reiman Gardens. This partnership brings together singers/songwriters from the Midwest in the Goldfinch Room tradition of storytelling with the stunning beauty of Reiman Gardens. Performances will take place in the Reiman Gardens’ Catalpa Courtyard. Season passes will be available as well as tickets to can be found here: https://www.center.iastate.edu/gfr-reiman-gardens/. Reiman Gardens members will receive free admission to the performances.

David G Smith: Internationally acclaimed Artist-Songwriter David G Smith is an acoustic roots solo performer with a lyric intensive style featuring guitars, resonator, music and a voice that range from dirt-funk to intimate. His music is a blend of Folk, Americana, Country & Blues. David was recently accepted as a Juried Artist with Noel Paul Stookey’s (Peter, Paul & Mary) Music ToLife Org. He is a 2008 International Song Competition 1st Place Winner, a Robert Oermann DISCovery Award recipient, and two-time ISC semifinalist. He performs at the prestigious Bluebird Cafe/Nashville where his shows are regularly sold out. David has released 11 albums. His single “River Gonna Talk” was a 2023 #1 add on the NACC chart and reached #1 in the nation on Radio Guitar One’s Top 30 Americana Chart. David has been featured in American Songwriter and his songs have appeared on TNT, Lifetime Network, Travel Channel, several PBS affiliates shows and he has a string of indie & major-indie song-cuts to include with Rissi Palmer, only the 3rd black female country artist to chart, in 2007. His last four albums have been accepted for Grammy consideration. His Give-Back Series donates time and raises money and awareness for a variety of charitable causes.

Carol Montag: Performing singer/songwriter Carol Montag has been described by folk music legend Tom Paxton as a “genuine discovery” and “the best thing to come out of Iowa since Bonnie Koloc.” Her influences include Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Eva Cassidy, Julie Andrews, John Denver, and James Taylor to name a few. She has recorded four solo albums and two Christmas CDs with Kathy Donnelly and Nina Swanson in the trio known as Tribute. Carol has opened for or shared the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Michael Johnson, Jim Post, Greg Brown, Priscilla Herdmann, David Wilcox, John Gorka, John Stewart, Cliff Eberhardt, Larry Groce, as well as Three Dog Night. She was commissioned to write music for Ballet Iowa and Ballet LaCrosse and performed live with both companies.

At each Songwriter Showcase, a local food truck will be on site and beverages will be available for purchase. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed into the Gardens. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets as the seating is on the lawn. If weather proves to be a challenge, the performance will move inside to the Garden Room.

Reiman Garden members receive free admission to all the Songwriter Showcases. For non-members, Stephens Auditorium is offering season passes at $50 and Individual show tickets at $15 in advance and $20 day of show. Passes and tickets do include free admission to Reiman Gardens on the afternoon of the performance. The Goldfinch Room Songwriter Showcase at Reiman Gardens is supported by Ames Community Arts Council, Discover Ames Community Grant Award with additional underwriting support from Doug and Gwenna Jacobson and David and Bonnie Orth.