“Sweethearts & Storytellers” features Kristen Brown, Cynthia Renee, Mae McCoy, Wildwood Roses and Grace Emeline on Historic Folsom Amphitheater stage in benefit concert
The voices and stories of the women who helped shape country music will take center stage in Historic Folsom this Saturday as the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation presents “Sweethearts & Storytellers,” the second production of its inaugural Folsom Americana Fest that is a benefit for the local non-profit.
Beginning at 7 p.m. at the Zittel Family Amphitheater, “Sweethearts & Storytellers” celebrates generations of pioneering female country artists through an evening of live music, storytelling and original music in the heart of Historic Folsom.
Presented by the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation, “Sweethearts & Storytellers” shines a spotlight on generations of trailblazing women in country music through an evening of live performances and storytelling. Hosted by The Wildwood Roses, the production gives audiences a deeper appreciation for the artists, songs and influences that helped shape the genre while showcasing some of Northern California’s most accomplished performers.
Headlining the evening is Kristen Brown and her full band, joined by Mae McCoy & Her Neon Stars, Cynthia Renee and JB, and Foundation Young Artist Grace Emeline.
Brown, a Roseville-based country singer and songwriter, has become one of Northern California’s most recognizable country performers. She gained national attention as a Top 20 finalist on Season 24 of NBC’s The Voice, where she competed on Team Gwen and Team Legend after impressing the celebrity coaches with her blind audition performance of Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away.” Since then, Brown has continued to build on that momentum, touring while sharing the stage with major country artists including the lateToby Keith, Morgan Wallen, Rascal Flatts, Clay Walker and Granger Smith.
In addition to her live performances, Brown continues to write and record original music. Her releases include the holiday single Christmas Spirit and the deeply personal anthem Twelve Steps, further showcasing her talents as both a vocalist and songwriter. Saturday’s performance places one of the region’s fastest-rising country artists at the center of an evening celebrating the women who have helped shape the genre.
Joining the lineup is Sacramento-area singer-songwriter Cynthia Renee, whose career continues to gain national momentum. Signed to Twelve-Seventeen/SSM Nashville Records since 2023, Renee has earned recognition for her heartfelt vocals and authentic songwriting. Her singles “Working on a Hangover” and “Good on Me” have received national country radio airplay, with “Working on a Hangover” reaching the top of several national music charts and “Good on Me” continuing its climb on the Music Row CountryBreakout Chart.
Renee has been nominated for Josie Independent Music Awards the last three consecutive years, including her most recent nomination for Album of the Year 2026. Locally she has appeared on Good Day Sacramento, The Pat Walsh Show on KFBK and numerous radio stations across the country. Her performance credits include sharing the stage with Uncle Kracker, Chase Bryant, Lady A and Maddie & Tae, while appearing at Country in the Park, New York City’s Metropolitan Pavilion and Folsom’s Harris Center for the Arts. Outside of California, Renee has performed on stages in Nashville, Wyoming and will be heading to Idaho and the Pacific Northwest for a series of shows following Saturday’s performance. She has also been an affiliated artist with the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation for several years.
McCoy brings decades of experience to the stage as a Sacramento-based Hall of Fame inductee, bassist and Texas recording artist known for carrying forward the traditions of Western Swing and honky tonk music. A former contestant on the inaugural season of Can You Duet in Nashville, McCoy has shared the stage with country legends including Tony Booth, Red Simpson, Dale Watson, Rosie Flores, Big Sandy and Deke Dickerson while performing at iconic venues such as Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace and the legendary Trout’s Nightclub.
Beyond performing, McCoy serves as host of the Mae Out West Radio Show & Podcast, where she has interviewed influential artists including Ranger Doug, Justin Trevino, Leon Rausch and Bill Anderson, helping preserve and promote Western Swing, honky tonk and American roots music for audiences around the world.
The evening will also showcase Foundation Young Artist Grace Emeline, a Placer County country artist whose acoustic performances blend classic country favorites with today’s hits. Known for putting a relaxed acoustic twist on songs spanning generations, Emeline represents the next generation of performers being mentored through the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation’s educational programs.
Serving as hosts as well as performing in the lineup for the evening are The Wildwood Roses, a Folsom-based female vocal trio that has become one of Northern California’s leading ambassadors for classic country and Americana music. Since forming in 2015, the group has built a reputation for its rich three-part harmonies, engaging stage presence and acoustic musicianship while honoring the legacy of The Carter Sisters and the roots of traditional country music. The current lineup features Sunny Mitchell on lead vocals and guitar, Lizzy Malekos on vocals and Bella Lazaro on vocals and stand-up bass.
The trio has earned recognition well beyond the Sacramento region through its close ties to country music royalty. In 2022, John Carter Cash personally invited The Wildwood Roses to join him on stage during a visit to Folsom, and later this month the group is scheduled to travel to Tennessee to record its first official studio project at the legendary Cash Cabin Studio. Along the way, the trio has also shared stages in Nashville and at the Storyteller’s Hideaway Farm with Johnny Cash’s grandson Thomas Gabriel Cash, nephew Mark Alan Cash and third-generation Carter Family members Carlene Carter and Lorrie Carter Bennett, further cementing the group’s place within the country’s rich musical heritage.
According to organizers, “Sweethearts & Storytellers” celebrates not only the remarkable women who helped define country music but also those carrying its traditions into the future through original songwriting and live performance.
The production continues the momentum of the festival’s successful debut earlier this summer, when audiences filled the Zittel Family Amphitheater for the sold-out 10th anniversary presentation of “American Legend: A Tribute to Johnny Cash’s Life in Song.” That opening performance demonstrated the community’s enthusiasm for Americana music and storytelling, setting the stage for the remainder of the inaugural festival season.
Held on select Saturday evenings throughout the summer, Folsom Americana Fest brings together accomplished performers from across California to celebrate the diverse musical traditions that have shaped the American experience. From country and bluegrass to folk, Americana and rockabilly, each production explores not only the music itself but also the stories, history and cultural influences behind it.
This year’s festival carries additional significance as communities across the nation commemorate America’s 250th anniversary throughout 2026. Organizers say the series was designed to celebrate the music, storytelling and traditions that continue to connect generations of Americans while creating meaningful community experiences through live performance.
“As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Folsom Americana Fest is a meaningful way to celebrate the music, storytelling and traditions that continue to shape our culture,” said Sunny Mitchell, founding director of the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation. “There’s something incredibly special about bringing people together through live music in the heart of Historic Folsom.”
Proceeds from Folsom Americana Fest support the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation’s workshops, concerts and educational programming, using the performing arts as a vehicle for education while exploring and celebrating the unique tapestry of American heritage.
Following Saturday night’s performance, the inaugural Folsom Americana Fest concludes later this summer with “Honky Tonk Highways,” a celebration of California’s rich country music roots and the artists who helped shape the state’s lasting influence on the genre.
“Sweethearts & Storytellers” begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Zittel Family Amphitheater, 200 Wool Street, in Historic Folsom. General admission tickets are $25, youth tickets (ages 17 and under) are $10, and VIP tickets are $50. Tickets and additional information are available through the Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation.
Saturday’s show is presented by and is a funraiser for Folsom’s Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation.
The Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community through the power of music, dance and theater while preserving America’s rich cultural heritage. The foundation believes the performing arts should be an essential part of every student’s education—not a luxury—and works to make high-quality arts education relevant and accessible to learners of all ages.
Through concerts, workshops, educational programs and community events, Wildwood Performing Arts celebrates uniquely American musical traditions while creating opportunities for audiences and participants to experience meaningful arts education and cultural enrichment. The organization also partners with educators to provide creative programming for underserved students throughout Sacramento County, with curriculum designed to align with California state educational standards and Common Core objectives.
Looking toward the future, Wildwood Performing Arts continues to build relationships with accomplished artists, educators and industry professionals from across the nation, bringing diverse perspectives and exceptional talent to the region. By combining entertainment with education, the foundation is committed to inspiring the next generation of performers and preserving the stories, traditions and music that define America’s cultural legacy. Proceeds from Saturday’s show will help the organization carry out its mission into the future.
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