Merissa Wilson

Born at the base of the Teton Mountains, Merissa’s roots run deep in the land that reaches to her homesteading ancestors 5 generations back. She carries this tradition forward and writes songs that express the love she has for this unique mountain valley and the adventures it brings to her life.Music was a major part of her upbringing, playing the piano and singing at every opportunity, but it wasn’t until after she left home that Merissa swapped out the piano for a guitar, and began playing folk music. She was content to play other people’s songs for several years, but leave it to a break up to push the emotions right out of her heart and into the lyrics and music of her first hit, I Was Happy. Although the songs that followed have all taken their time to evolve, she rarely has an experience anymore that she doesn’t think, “That would make a good song.”Compared to musical icons such as Joan Baez and Nancy Griffith, and with major influences including Patty Griffin, Dar Williams, and Martha Scanlan, Merissa’s songs cover a broad range of genres such as folk, blue-grass, and sometimes even a little rock. Manager Matt Lucia uses one word to describe her music, “Connected. Whether to a place, a person, or an experience, Merissa gives everyone the feeling of connection through her writing that they can’t help but feel connected to these things themselves.”She often performs with Stacy Cooke in their band Gypsy Tonic known best for soul soothing harmonies that are sure to give you a dose of wanderlust. Merissa also performs as part of a duo called the Lovin' Jug with singer songwriter Michael Batdorf. Catch her solo for soul-soothing tunes or performing lively mountain melodies with other local musicians and family.