Iowa City Songwriters Festival – Chicago Farmer & Simon Cropp

When taking on the moniker Chicago Farmer, singer-songwriter Cody Diekhoff aimed to not only showcase the dichotomy of his life and travels — growing up in the tiny Illinois farm community of Delavan, and calling “The Windy City” home for several years — he also wanted to honor his past through his uplifting, introspective melodies.

Simon Cropp is a flatpick guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and folk songwriter. His performance is equal parts dive bar bravado and fireside introspection. Simon’s songwriting is plainspoken storytelling, channeling classic country themes of love, heartbreak, and the landscapes he travels through, presenting these stories both as a solo act and with the rotating cast of collaborators he calls his “All-Star Band.” Simon logs thousands of miles as a touring multi-instrumentalist, equally comfortable on pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, and bass. With a vintage archtop guitar in hand, Simon’s unique style blends country-inspired crosspicking with melodic sensibility to produce a sound that is as comfortable on a front porch as it is on a festival stage.