“[Sadie] uses her voice with the precision of an instrument, leaping between registers and outlining jazz chords, all with grace and ease, never in a gratuitous, showy manner.” - No Depression

Sadie Gustafson-Zook and Andrew Pauls have been two pals making music together since they met at Goshen College in 2013. Over the years they wrote hymns in music theory class, overheard each other practice as house-mates, and founded and toured with the progressive indie bluegrass trio Theory Expats (with mandolinist Ethan Setiawan). Several years, cities, relationships, and accomplishments later, Sadie and Andrew are once again touring together, this time as a duo. Gifted musicians in their own right, Sadie and Andrew join forces to create music that’s energetic, relatable, and nostalgic. Their maple syrup harmonies and intertwined guitar lines draw listeners in, and their authentic lyricism keeps audiences enchanted. Reminiscent of iconic folk duos like Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, The Weepies, and Simon & Garfunkel, Sadie and Andrew’s sound spans genre and era, resulting in a sound that is both familiar and fresh.

In her own solo career, Midwest-based Sadie Gustafson-Zook is an acclaimed songwriter, winning the 2022 Kerrville New Folk Competition, the 2022 Newsong+LEAF, and placing in the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase. Her background in jazz and classical voice shine through swing chords and vocal agility, all tied together with a folk storytelling mentality.

Raised amidst the fertile farmland of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, songwriter Andrew Pauls grew up on a steady diet of Mennonite four-part hymn singing and Paul Simon. Andrew was never satisfied learning and singing other peoples’ songs – a few weeks after receiving a guitar for Christmas at age 11, he wrote his first song. A decade and a half later, Andrew is still writing songs, inviting people to lean in close and bear the weight of the world together.

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