Melissa Chilinski – Songs from the Soil and Sky

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Melissa Chilinski is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist whose music carries the spirit of the land and the stories of the people who live close to it. Rooted in traditional folk and old-time sounds, Melissa blends clawhammer banjo, guitar, and heartfelt vocals into a style that feels both timeless and uniquely her own.

Originally from the Boston area and now calling Salt Lake City home, Melissa’s background in soil science and her years working in agriculture and conservation deeply inform her songwriting. Her music reflects a life spent close to the earth, with themes of resilience, journey, and belonging woven into every melody.

Melissa is an active figure in the Utah acoustic music community, performing both as a solo artist and with groups like Pompe n Honey, Josie O and the Big Six, and the Elderblossoms. She’s also a frequent collaborator with acts such as Pixie and the Partygrass Boys and Hot House West, and she leads the Trash Moon Collective, a project dedicated to nurturing local folk musicians through jams and workshops.

In 2024, Melissa released her self-titled debut album, Melissa Chilinski, a collection of original songs that blend old-time, folk, indie, and jazz influences. Her music captures the beauty of tradition while carving out new spaces for heartfelt storytelling.

When she’s not on stage, Melissa shares her love of old-time music through teaching banjo, fostering a new generation of players inspired by the rich heritage of American roots music. Melissa plays a Pisgah Laydie that she picked up from our Utah retailer Acoustic Music Salt Lake City

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