Weary Ramblers
with Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox
Short Bio:
Award-winning Iowa Americana duo, Weary Ramblers bring years of experience to the stage with Chad Elliott on guitar and Kathryn Severing Fox on fiddle, mandolin and more. Iowa Public Radio said, “Weary Ramblers are nothing short of an Iowa-based super duo.”
Full Bio:
Award-winning Iowa Americana duo, Weary Ramblers bring years of experience to the stage with Chad Elliott on guitar and Kathryn Severing Fox on fiddle, mandolin and more. Iowa Public Radio said, “Weary Ramblers are nothing short of an Iowa-based super duo.”
Chad Elliott blends folk roots and soulful writing to deliver an original sound with over two decades of being on the road. Elliott is lauded as “Iowa’s Renaissance man” by Culture Buzz Magazine. He has penned more than 2,000 songs in his career while also cultivating his skills as a painter, sculptor, illustrator and author. Elliott’s career demonstrates a love of folk, roots and singer-songwriter music. He has worked with and shared the stage with artists of the highest caliber, including Odetta, Tom Paxton, Loudon Wainwright III, Ruthie Foster, Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey and more.
Deemed “fiddler extraordinaire” in Cityview Magazine, Kathryn Severing Fox is a DownBeat award winning artist. She played on the Grammy-nominated track “All My Tomorrows” with Kate McGarry. Kathryn toured internationally with fiddle troupe, Barrage 8, with shows in Europe, the U.S. and Canada. She has performed, recorded PBS specials and recorded with George Benson, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Pharrell Williams, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Osmond Brothers, Gloria Gaynor, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Kenny Loggins, Mark O’Connor, Ryan Montbleau, Seth Walker, Edgar Meyer and Joshua Bell.
Awards and Honors:
2026 International Blues Challenge - Solo/Duo 1st Place Winner
2026 International Blues Challenge "Best Guitarist" - Winner - Chad Elliott
2026 International Acoustic Music Awards - Overall Grand Prize Winner - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue"
2026 International Acoustic Music Awards - Best Country/Bluegrass Song - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue"
2026 Global Music Awards - Silver Medal - Americana
2026 Global Music Awards - Silver Medal - Duo
2025 Iowa Blues Challenge - Solo/Duo Winner
2025 Josie Music Awards - Song of the Year Winner - Americana
2025 International Acoustic Music Awards - Best Group/Duo Winner
2025 Unsigned Only Competition - Semi-Finalist
2024 International Songwriting Competition - Semi-Finalist
Albums:
Driftwood - 2025
Weary Ramblers - 2024
Chart Achievements:
#1 on Contemporary Folk Album Chart - "Driftwood" album - Roots Music Report
#1 on Folk Album Chart - "Driftwood" album - Roots Music Report
#1 on Iowa Album Chart - "Driftwood" album - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Driftwood" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Memphis, You & Me" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Folk Song Chart - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Folk Song Chart - "Driftwood" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Folk Song Chart - "Memphis Me & You" - Roots Music Report
#1 on Contemporary Folk Album chart for 7 weeks - "Weary Ramblers" album - Roots Music Report
#1 on Contemporary Folk Song - "Pretty Lights of Denver" - Roots Music Report
#22 out of 160 Top Contemporary Folk albums - "Weary Ramblers" album - Roots Music Report
#54 out of 200 Top Folk Albums - "Weary Ramblers" album - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Sweet Hazel Green" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Pretty Lights of Denver" - Roots Music Report
Award-winning Iowa Americana duo, Weary Ramblers bring years of experience to the stage with Chad Elliott on guitar and Kathryn Severing Fox on fiddle, mandolin and more. Iowa Public Radio said, “Weary Ramblers are nothing short of an Iowa-based super duo.”
Full Bio:
Award-winning Iowa Americana duo, Weary Ramblers bring years of experience to the stage with Chad Elliott on guitar and Kathryn Severing Fox on fiddle, mandolin and more. Iowa Public Radio said, “Weary Ramblers are nothing short of an Iowa-based super duo.”
Chad Elliott blends folk roots and soulful writing to deliver an original sound with over two decades of being on the road. Elliott is lauded as “Iowa’s Renaissance man” by Culture Buzz Magazine. He has penned more than 2,000 songs in his career while also cultivating his skills as a painter, sculptor, illustrator and author. Elliott’s career demonstrates a love of folk, roots and singer-songwriter music. He has worked with and shared the stage with artists of the highest caliber, including Odetta, Tom Paxton, Loudon Wainwright III, Ruthie Foster, Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey and more.
Deemed “fiddler extraordinaire” in Cityview Magazine, Kathryn Severing Fox is a DownBeat award winning artist. She played on the Grammy-nominated track “All My Tomorrows” with Kate McGarry. Kathryn toured internationally with fiddle troupe, Barrage 8, with shows in Europe, the U.S. and Canada. She has performed, recorded PBS specials and recorded with George Benson, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Pharrell Williams, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Osmond Brothers, Gloria Gaynor, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Kenny Loggins, Mark O’Connor, Ryan Montbleau, Seth Walker, Edgar Meyer and Joshua Bell.
Awards and Honors:
2026 International Blues Challenge - Solo/Duo 1st Place Winner
2026 International Blues Challenge "Best Guitarist" - Winner - Chad Elliott
2026 International Acoustic Music Awards - Overall Grand Prize Winner - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue"
2026 International Acoustic Music Awards - Best Country/Bluegrass Song - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue"
2026 Global Music Awards - Silver Medal - Americana
2026 Global Music Awards - Silver Medal - Duo
2025 Iowa Blues Challenge - Solo/Duo Winner
2025 Josie Music Awards - Song of the Year Winner - Americana
2025 International Acoustic Music Awards - Best Group/Duo Winner
2025 Unsigned Only Competition - Semi-Finalist
2024 International Songwriting Competition - Semi-Finalist
Albums:
Driftwood - 2025
Weary Ramblers - 2024
Chart Achievements:
#1 on Contemporary Folk Album Chart - "Driftwood" album - Roots Music Report
#1 on Folk Album Chart - "Driftwood" album - Roots Music Report
#1 on Iowa Album Chart - "Driftwood" album - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Driftwood" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Memphis, You & Me" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Folk Song Chart - "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Folk Song Chart - "Driftwood" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Folk Song Chart - "Memphis Me & You" - Roots Music Report
#1 on Contemporary Folk Album chart for 7 weeks - "Weary Ramblers" album - Roots Music Report
#1 on Contemporary Folk Song - "Pretty Lights of Denver" - Roots Music Report
#22 out of 160 Top Contemporary Folk albums - "Weary Ramblers" album - Roots Music Report
#54 out of 200 Top Folk Albums - "Weary Ramblers" album - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Sweet Hazel Green" - Roots Music Report
Top 10 on Contemporary Folk Song Chart - "Pretty Lights of Denver" - Roots Music Report
Links:
Website: https://www.wearyramblers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearyramblers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearyramblers
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WearyRamblers
Bandcamp:
Driftwood Album: https://kathrynseveringfox.bandcamp.com/album/driftwood
Weary Ramblers Album: https://kathrynseveringfox.bandcamp.com/album/weary-ramblers
Videos:
Live: https://youtu.be/hxXJUrQElFE?si=jmVA0RnooL1gl_-b
Live: https://youtu.be/_XRK3xMJkGA?si=GgInjZHhbqoJYnrd
Live: https://youtu.be/AtJy_Wp9Q_U?si=QiGmaXBwz5O-Pm4i
Live: https://youtu.be/pID2L4vs9b8?si=rXjIMKaMUO7wpYtM
Official Video: https://youtu.be/0eTBY4rFp3U?si=d1xKfdOivFsF1PUi
Tiny Desk 2026: https://youtu.be/38nvuOmwoTc?si=zut4qSJ5oBVuc6FO
Stage Plot:
weary_ramblers_stage_plot_2025__1_.pdf
Press Quotes:
“Des Moines superduo Weary Ramblers’ sophomore album, Driftwood, has all the makings of a contemporary indie folk classic: whole-hearted, strings-y optimism, a few moments of bluegrass-twinged melancholy and even a couple appearances from legendary mandolinist Sam Bush…the musical chemistry between Iowans Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott is undeniable — Driftwood's instrumentation and vocal harmonies are tight and precise, but sound effortless and carefree, like sunshine peeking through the windows of your quaint country home. In just a couple years’ time, Weary Ramblers have postured themselves as one of the premier acts in Iowa’s rich folk music scene.” - Iowa Public Radio of "Driftwood" album
"The album captures that wanderer’s spirit with lush production and emotional depth. Fox’s musicianship stretches wide — violin, viola, mandolin, piano and vocals — while Elliott grounds each track with acoustic guitar and harmonies that ache with soul. Together, they create what they call a “third voice,” a blend that is greater than either alone." - Katie Roche of Little Village Magazine about "Driftwood" album
“The Weary Ramblers will break your heart and change your life with original songs that cut to the marrow…it doesn’t get more heart-warmingly down home than this recently united duo, featuring Chad Elliott on guitar and vocals and Kathryn Severing Fox on vocals, guitar, fiddle, viola, mandolin, and piano. Both bring a disarming intimacy to their writing, singing and playing that will leave you glowing with reasons to be alive. Chad is a veteran of the Paradiso stage, having left us in a puddle…the addition of Kathryn increases the melt factor exponentially.” - Fairfield Muse
Website: https://www.wearyramblers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearyramblers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearyramblers
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WearyRamblers
Bandcamp:
Driftwood Album: https://kathrynseveringfox.bandcamp.com/album/driftwood
Weary Ramblers Album: https://kathrynseveringfox.bandcamp.com/album/weary-ramblers
Videos:
Live: https://youtu.be/hxXJUrQElFE?si=jmVA0RnooL1gl_-b
Live: https://youtu.be/_XRK3xMJkGA?si=GgInjZHhbqoJYnrd
Live: https://youtu.be/AtJy_Wp9Q_U?si=QiGmaXBwz5O-Pm4i
Live: https://youtu.be/pID2L4vs9b8?si=rXjIMKaMUO7wpYtM
Official Video: https://youtu.be/0eTBY4rFp3U?si=d1xKfdOivFsF1PUi
Tiny Desk 2026: https://youtu.be/38nvuOmwoTc?si=zut4qSJ5oBVuc6FO
Stage Plot:
weary_ramblers_stage_plot_2025__1_.pdf
Press Quotes:
“Des Moines superduo Weary Ramblers’ sophomore album, Driftwood, has all the makings of a contemporary indie folk classic: whole-hearted, strings-y optimism, a few moments of bluegrass-twinged melancholy and even a couple appearances from legendary mandolinist Sam Bush…the musical chemistry between Iowans Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott is undeniable — Driftwood's instrumentation and vocal harmonies are tight and precise, but sound effortless and carefree, like sunshine peeking through the windows of your quaint country home. In just a couple years’ time, Weary Ramblers have postured themselves as one of the premier acts in Iowa’s rich folk music scene.” - Iowa Public Radio of "Driftwood" album
"The album captures that wanderer’s spirit with lush production and emotional depth. Fox’s musicianship stretches wide — violin, viola, mandolin, piano and vocals — while Elliott grounds each track with acoustic guitar and harmonies that ache with soul. Together, they create what they call a “third voice,” a blend that is greater than either alone." - Katie Roche of Little Village Magazine about "Driftwood" album
“The Weary Ramblers will break your heart and change your life with original songs that cut to the marrow…it doesn’t get more heart-warmingly down home than this recently united duo, featuring Chad Elliott on guitar and vocals and Kathryn Severing Fox on vocals, guitar, fiddle, viola, mandolin, and piano. Both bring a disarming intimacy to their writing, singing and playing that will leave you glowing with reasons to be alive. Chad is a veteran of the Paradiso stage, having left us in a puddle…the addition of Kathryn increases the melt factor exponentially.” - Fairfield Muse
Press Photos:
Click image to download
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