SARANAC LAKE — On Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in The Garagery, a concert celebrating original music in the North Country will be held.

The evening includes an opening act from Bunkhouse Mutiny followed by a Writer’s Round with three local North Country musicians: Russ Cook, Tereson Dupuy and Christian Rottner. The night caps off with a performance from Emily Barnes, a touring musician visiting from Colorado.

What is a writer’s round? Three musicians take the stage together, each taking turns introducing and playing a song they have written. Hear the stories behind the songs with Russ Cook, Tereson Dupuy, and Christian Rottner.

All proceeds from ticket sales will support weekly operations at the Saranac Lake Hootenanny a weekly free live music event showcasing the incredible musical talent from the North Country.

Interested in taking a class from Emily before the show? Sign up for the Songwriter’s Toolkit, the third part of a Masterclass series organized by Twolined Studio.

From 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 16, attendees will dive into the writing process of contemporary folk singer-songwriter Emily Barnes, and take home exercises to push through writer’s block.

Join Emily Barnes for a deep-dive into her creative process and approach to contemporary folk writing. Attendees will take home exercises that Emily uses to help push past writer’s block, and learn her approach to storytelling.

“Emily Barnes is more than just a musician,” Divide and Conquer writes, “she’s a storyteller that sets the lives of her characters to music.”

About Emily Barnes (from emilybarnesmusic.com/welcome):

Emily Barnes is a contemporary folk singer/songwriter whose music breathes life into the characters and stories of everyday people. With a voice that cuts to the bone and lyrics that linger long after the last note, she crafts songs that feel both intimately personal and universally human.

Born and raised in Johnsonburg, New Jersey (a town so small it doesn’t appear on most maps) Barnes began writing songs on the stone steps of her 200-year-old house. From those quiet beginnings, she’s built a grassroots following the old-fashioned way: one room, one story and one listener at a time.

Armed with her acoustic guitar and a raw, haunting voice, Barnes has performed in cities and small towns across the county, captivating audiences and building a grassroots following. Her latest album, “Mint Condition,” took her on a sold-out tour throughout the Northeast and marked her most accomplished work to date.

A recognized talent in the songwriting community, Emily has been a finalist in several major festivals, including the Kerrville Folk Festival, Red Lodge Songwriters Festival, Blast on the Bay and The Acorn Songwriting Contest.

With four albums under her belt and a growing reputation as a storyteller of uncommon depth, Emily Barnes continues to carve out a space that is wholly her own in the modern folk landscape.