THE BRIDGE with Samantha Henson, Hosea Ako and Tom Luba

Monthly songwriter showcase hosted by Kyle J. Glenn, presented in partnership with Artichoke Music and Portland Songwriters Guild. The Bridge is a monthly songwriter showcase that helps artists build connections in Portland’s music scene while giving audiences a deeper look into the stories and creative process behind each song through thoughtful onstage interviews. Designed for artists who are new to songwriting, new to performing, returning to the stage, or new to Portland, The Bridge offers a welcoming listening-room environment where songwriters can share original music and connect with an attentive audience. For listeners The Bridge offers audiences a chance to discover emerging songwriters in an intimate setting built for listening. For those who already know and support the artists, it is also an opportunity to hear their work in a quieter, more intentional room where lyrics land, dynamics breathe and the songs can be experienced fully. The evening runs approximately two hours and includes a short intermission. For songwriters The Bridge exists to help songwriters cross from open mics into listening room performances. The Bridge is for emerging artists who are new to songwriting, new to performing, returning to the stage, or new to Portland. Artists share well developed original songs in a supportive but focused setting alongside two other writers. The format encourages connection between artists and audience while keeping the music at the center of the evening. Artists receive: • A base performance honorarium • Shared tips from the evening • Full merchandise sales • High quality video footage of their performance About the host Kyle Glenn is a Portland-born songwriter, filmmaker, and creative educator with a passion for building community through storytelling. He leads the band Kyle Glenn & The Wandering Kind and performs with his wife as the duo gardentender. His background spans digital media production, music marketing, and education — including leading storytelling workshops for hundreds of students and organizations across the Northwest. Kyle is the Marketing Lead for Trout Lake Hall and brings a mix of strategy, creativity, and care to his role at PSG as the social media manager. He’s excited to help grow PSG’s reach and support Portland’s vibrant songwriting scene. *********************************************************************** Performing Artists SAMANTHA HENSON Inspired by dive bars and romantic comedies, Samantha Henson’s songs are rooted in folklore and storytelling with nostalgic warmth and bittersweet humor, and with an occasional tinge of psychedelia. This is all because she draws inspiration from the greatest of the great folk legends: Blaze Foley, Townes Van Zandt, Nick Drake, The Beatles, and Jim Croce. Samantha has traveled throughout the U.S. performing her music and has shared stages with artists like Josiah Johnson of The Head and the Heart, Cassandra Lewis, Thunderstorm Artis, Cece Coakley, and Kassi Valazza. She recently performed at Treefort Music Fest and West Coast Wednesdays showcase at AmericanaFest, and taught a songwriter workshop at Sawtooth Family Gathering Festival. This year, Samantha released her sophomore album, When I Think of Love, that explores psychedelic folk in a whole new way. HOSEA AKO I’m Hosea Ako, a Filipino American indie folk singer-songwriter originally from Sacramento, California. I started making music around 2018 and eventually found myself in Arizona, where I had a band, played shows, and really started figuring out who I was as an artist. My sound comes from a mix of Southern rock, folk, gospel, tropical music, and R&B. Basically, I love music that feels soulful, honest, and a little rough around the edges. I have two albums out, with my newest record, Pacific Wonderland, telling the story of my move from Arizona to Oregon. A lot of my songs come from that tension between wanting to wander and wanting to belong somewhere. I write about faith, love, thrill, recklessness, and trying to find my way home. My faith is a huge part of who I am, so it naturally finds its way into my music, but I also like writing about the messy parts of life and the moments where I definitely do not have everything figured out. At the end of the day, I just want to make music that feels human. Songs you can listen to driving through the mountains, sitting around a fire, going through something heavy, falling in love, questioning things, or just trying to figure out where you belong. TOM LUBA Throughout my life, beyond my long career working in public education, I’ve been driven by three main creative passions: music, writing, and photography. These days, songwriting—especially on my guitar—has taken center stage. I’ve been playing guitar since my teens and have also dabbled in banjo, ukulele, mandolin, and dobro. But the guitar has always been my true home. During the past few years, my love for composing music on guitar and sharing my songs with others has taken center stage in my life. Creating and sharing my music is one of my greatest joys. One day I would like to be able to say the words, "that song is on my album." In the meantime, you can find me sharing my tunes at open mics and at small gigs around the Portland area.