21st Century Troubadours-Songwriter Series at The GEM with Host J.D Malone

Dating back to the 12^th century, Troubadour refers to the song-meisters of the Middle Ages, but it has been extended to cover contemporary poet-musicians as well. Troubadour is a fitting name for such creative artists: it derives from an Old Occitan word meaning "to compose." Troubadours perform their own songs. Jongleurs (instrumentalists) and Cantaires (singers) also perform troubadours' songs.

Line-up for the Evening:

J.D Malone

Dad, husband, son, brother, friend, singer/songwriter, recovering philosopher. J.D Malone was born and raised under a bright blue sky in a small town called Bennington in the Green Mountain State of Vermont, U.S.A. He writes and sings songs about love and hate, angels and demons and the universal struggle to feel safe under the stars.

“J.D Malone writes songs that grab you right away and then resonate deeply.”

- Nick Cristiano (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

New music is available on all streaming services and at

J.D Malone

Craig Bickhardt

Craig Bickhardt is a journeyman singer-songwriter and performer with a career spanning five decades. He signed his first record deal at 19 and has since recorded 11 CDs for multiple labels including Capitol-Liberty Records, Warner Brothers Records, MTM Records and his own Stone Barn Records label.

Craig's songwriting is praised for its emotional depth and literary lyricism. His original song catalog contains over 800 songs, some of which have been covered by Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, Art Garfunkel, Nicolette Larsen, the Judds and B. B. King. He also wrote and sang the closing theme for 1984’s multiple Academy Award winning film Tender Mercies starring Robert Duvall and Tess Harper.

Bickhardt continues to tour and perform extensively, captivating audiences with his filigreed acoustic guitar playing, his soulful voice and articulate songwriting. He has appeared at prestigious venues and festivals such as the Grand Ole Opry, Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and The Bluebird Cafe. He has shared the stage with legends such as Bruce Springsteen, Judy Collins, Harry Chapin and Stephen Stills among many others.

Craig Bickhardt Welcome Page

Emily Drinker

Emily Drinker is an independent, award-winning singer-songwriter from Philadelphia. Her soulful brand of folk, pop, and rock goes down smooth, whether she’s performing with her powerhouse band, the Funky T, or in a more intimate format, incorporating live looping. Emily is an artist who has found a way to do what she does using every weapon in her considerable arsenal. Emily has been featured by NPR Music, Philadelphia's WXPN, and played at many festivals in the Philly area including the Philadelphia Folk Festival, WXPN's XPoNential Music Festival, and Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. In the last few years, Emily has opened for Pat Benatar, Rufus Wainwright, JD Souther (Linda Ronstadt, Eagles, James Taylor), Switchfoot, the Secret Sisters, Joey Dosik (Vulfpeck) and Bakithi Kumalo (Paul Simon’s Graceland). In addition to a busy performance schedule in Philly and its surrounding areas, Emily enjoys working as a session vocalist doing sync work for national TV shows, performing in half a dozen local bands, and hosting a festival in her backyard with her band/housemates. 

HOME | emilydrinker

Anna Spackman

Anna Spackman delivers a soulful acoustic performance with songs that will linger in audience’s heads and hearts. Based in Phoenixville, Anna has shared the stage with performers such as Amy Correia, Lucy Kaplansky, and Chris Pureka. Anna’s soaring vocals and complex musical landscapes pay tribute to songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, and Ani DiFranco. Anna has four albums and one EP available on all streaming services, and bonus tracks up on her Bandcamp. Her newer songs explore hope and resilience in the face of oppressive systems and seek to connect us back to ourselves and one another.

Anna Spackman Music