3 Dots, a community center in downtown State College that promotes performing artists, launched a Songwriter Showcase series in April with monthly shows featuring some of the most compelling and original writers in the region. From this pool, four songwriters were selected to perform their songs at the Festival in a round-robin format, in the spirit of the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

The four performers are Jason Adams, Travis McCoy, Joe Pillot, and Andy Tolins.

Jason Adams is a State College singer-songwriter who hosts and facilitates musical events and open mics to help grow and celebrate the community that has supported him. His writing is steeped in rock, blues, and folk styles with his own unique lyrical touch. He made a debut tour across the US to release his first album Reflections and Imperfections in 2019 as a Breedlove guitar artist. He has three soon-to-be-released songs recorded in Nashville and a book of lyrics and art moving toward publication.

Travis McCoy grew up in the small town of Lanse, Pennsylvania. His musical influences include Hank Williams, the Carter Family, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young. He is a relative newcomer to the State College music scene whose original, sometimes offbeat songs have caught the attention of open-mic crowds and fellow songwriters.

Joe Pillot was strongly influenced by the singer/songwriters of the 60s and 70’s. He was born in a small central Pennsylvania town and over the years has performed at arts festivals, saloons, wineries, small auditoriums, and the occasional county fair or local carnival. In his early years, Pillot performed a few years as a vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Country Fever, with legendary pedal steel player, Gene Fye, and bassist Jim Sherry.

Andy Tolins is a guitarist, bassist and vocalist, who also plays dobro, mandolin and table steel. He is an accomplished songwriter, bandleader, and producer; winner of Billboard Magazine’s 1999 Best Unsigned Band award for “High Water” by the Triple A Blues Band. Andy has been performing full time in Central Pennsylvania and beyond for close to 30 years. His focus has been live American roots music, fronting his own blues and bluegrass bands