Songs and Stories Show.

Join Maryland-based singer-songwriter Eli Lev and Vermont singer-songwriter and roots rocker Chad Hollister for an intimate evening of songs and stories at Bent Nails Roadhouse in Middlesex, VT. Rather than simply playing separate sets, Eli and Chad will share the music and stories behind their songs, creating a warm, conversational evening centered on songwriting, connection, community, and the experiences that shape us.

Eli Lev is a Maryland-based singer-songwriter and global citizen whose music blends indie folk and Americana with lyric-forward storytelling rooted in service, presence, and shared humanity. Known for warm, earthy performances that invite reflection and collective singing, Eli creates live experiences that feel both intimate and communal.

Before becoming a full-time touring artist, Eli spent three years teaching 8th-grade English on the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona. The wisdom and values he encountered there inspired his long-form Four Directions Project, a four-album series guided by Navajo teachings in which each cardinal direction holds distinct attributes and lessons. His work has since expanded into the Three Worlds Project, a trilogy exploring past, present, and future as they coexist in the present moment.

Eli’s recent album Past Lives weaves ancestral memory and belonging into intimate songs featuring archival family recordings. The album and its singles reached the Folk Alliance International folk radio charts and earned Eli three 2026 WAMMIE Awards for Best Folk/Bluegrass Artist, Best Folk/Bluegrass Album, and Best Country/Americana Song for “Where We Come From.” He has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and the UK, building a devoted “Levitators” community through deep audience connection.

Chad Hollister is a Vermont-born singer-songwriter, guitarist, and roots rocker who has been making music and touring for more than 30 years. His music blends rock, folk, Americana, and acoustic songwriting with an uplifting message centered on kindness, positivity, perseverance, and the gift of being alive. A lifelong Vermonter, Chad’s music is deeply connected to community, place, and the people and experiences that have shaped his life.

Over the course of his career, Chad has opened for Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Tom Petty, and has shared the stage with every member of Phish, Billy Gibbons, Merl Saunders, Warren Haynes, and Blues Traveler. His performances range from intimate solo acoustic shows to larger ensemble performances, but at the heart of each is the same combination of original songs, storytelling, humor, and positive energy.

Together, Eli and Chad bring two distinct musical journeys into the same room for an evening that goes beyond the songs themselves—a chance to hear the stories, experiences, and ideas that gave the songs life.