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GREAT WILLOW - "THE NEW SOUND OF THE WEST COAST" Americana UK
Blending the spirit of Southern California country-rock songwriting and a haunted-folk cinematic sensibility, award-winning Los Angeles harmony duo Great Willow create melodic/emotional music that will resonate with fans of Iron & Wine, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Andrew Bird & Madison Cunningham, Neil Young & Nicolette Larson. Guitarist James Combs and cellist Erin Hawkins craft richly layered folk-forward Americana built on vocal harmony, evocative storytelling, and adventurous arrangements that bridge folk, chamber-pop, and West Coast rock traditions.
Their new single “Age of Reason” - produced by Susan James - got its radio debut from legendary KCRW DJ Chris Douridas and its press premiere from The Bluegrass Situation in May 2026. "Age of Reason" hits an Americana/folk sweet spot —blending SOCAL vocal harmonies from Erin and James, rich cello (Erin), gorgeous dobro by Mavericks/Wallflowers collaborator Ben Peeler and poignant lyrics lamenting a fall "so far so fast" and offering a way forward - a "return to you, return to me."
Hearing the band live, you’ll notice their songs trace parallel journeys from the forests and rivers of Indiana (James) and Utah (Erin) to the pleasures and shocks of city life in Los Angeles. Great Willow's shows are connective, entrancing, fun - cool hooks, thoughtful lyrics, funny quips, captivating harmonies (you might even hear entire audiences sing-shouting the words "holler - woo!" along with Erin and James on their opening song.)
The longtime friends are fixtures of the Southern California Americana scene, equally at home in theaters, festivals, house concerts, wineries, and songwriter series.
HISTORY
Great Willow’s debut album Find Yourself In Los Angeles was hailed by No Depression as “an incredible addition to any Americana library,” praising the duo’s “perfectly combined voices” as “the stuff legends are made of.” The release earned Great Willow Best Americana Group at the LA Music Critic Awards and established the pair as rising voices in the Southern California roots scene.
Erin and James’ longtime recording relationship with Grammy-winning producer and guitarist John Would (Fiona Apple) has yielded that full length album plus a steady stream of singles. The band also released a collaborative single with California psychedelic country legends I See Hawks In LA called “Radio Keeps Me On The Ground” that MOJO journalist Michael Simmons called “a powerful dose of communal hippie optimism.”
They have shared stages with Jackson Browne, Tenacious D, Van Dyke Parks, Inara George, John C. Reilly, plus members of legendary groups such as The Doors, The Monkees, and The Mamas and The Papas. Their songs have been featured in TV shows including Shameless, Walker, and True Blood.
You might have heard their songs on LA’s 88.5 FM The SOCAL SOUND or featured as a “Today’s Top Tune” on KCRW. One thing folks who hear the band live seem to agree on: they have a special warmth and musical chemistry that leaves audiences spellbound. Lots of “wows.”
Erin Hawkins and James Combs (photo by Karen Combs)
Erin Hawkins and James Combs (photo by Karen Combs)
KIND WORDS
"I'm stupid-obsessed with LA-based harmony duo Great Willow. They are hands-down one of my absolute favorite music projects, so I try not to fan girl too much..the musical chemistry and creative songwriting between guitarist James Combs and cellist Erin Hawkins blends into a captivatingly rootsy, gritty sound that feels like an Americana melting-pot of my favorite music elements – hipster college radio, honest Midwest folk, bone-dry desert noir, and top-notch polished musicianship." ARIELLE SILVER, FORMER PRESIDENT FAR-WEST MUSIC CONFERENCE, ARTIST
“The perfectly combined voices of James Combs and Erin Hawkins is the stuff legends are made of … an incredible addition to any Americana library.” NO DEPRESSION
“I LOVE THIS SONG.” NIC HARCOURT 88.5FM THE SOCAL SOUND DJ
“Best songs of 2025” playlist - ‘Here To Love.’” GARY CALAMAR 88.5FM THE SOCAL SOUND
“Perfect harmony. Excellent… the new sound of the West Coast.” AMERICANA UK
(Great Willow’s collaborative single with I See Hawks In LA) “Radio Keeps Me On The Ground” is soothing nerve tonic for those unsettled by the viral plague currently re-writing human reality. With an irresistable melody and close harmonies, the song is a powerful dose of communal hippie optimism that couldn’t be more welcome. MICHAEL SIMMONS, MOJO, LA Weekly
"Love James Combs. He's one of those singer/songwriter/musicians who should have spent his entire career at the top of the charts." PENELOPE SPHEERIS, DIRECTOR, “THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION” “WAYNE’S WORLD”
"timeless, finely crafted, tuneful songs. James Combs is a musical force of nature who injects every song with genuine joy. Erin Hawkins paints these poignant melodies with luminous harmonies, creating a sound of hope that's good for the soul. When they sing “Love will finally find you, by and by,” you believe it, because it’s real. Long live Great Willow, song champions." PAUL ZOLLO, Author, Songwriters On Songwriting
“James Combs… the missing link between Low and John Lennon, but these are no stripped-down, bare-bones confessionals rendered on a dusty acoustic. Imagine the moody melodies and sepulchral atmospheres of the former and the plain-speaking lyrics of the latter. Oh, and a voice that quivers like the world's biggest nerve ending. And you should hear him sing.” PAUL LESTER, The Guardian