Josh Morningstar

A curious and fresh combination of grit and humor, Josh Morningstar is knocking down stereotypes with his worn boots and unforgettable raspy voice. He is a small-town boy that originally hails from Funkstown, Maryland, and he carries those roots in a suitcase with him everywhere he goes. His small-town charm is evident in the way he greets people, and in the conversational way that he weaves the stories of his life into his music.

In front of the bright lights and behind the microphone isn't where Morningstar feels most at home. Named the 2018 Texas Radio Songwriter of the Year, he and his Kristofferson signed guitar have knocked out melodies in dingy hotels all across the country. He’s written songs alongside Kendell Marvel, Channing Wilson, Autumn McEntire, and many more. Morningstar was also the writer of Cody Jinks’s #1 hit “Must Be The Whiskey”. Six other of his songs are included on Jinks’s newest set of albums, “After The Fire” and “The Wanting”: “Tell ‘Em What It’s Like,” “Which One I Feed,” “The Plea,” “It Don’t Rain in California,” “Let’s Do Yesterday Again,” and “Ain’t a Train”. 

With his pen, he strings together scribbled lines that cause gut-checks and head nods within his dedicated audience. His lyrics force listeners to sit up and pay attention, and his songs are always full of truth-bearing stories. The familial connection Morningstar forges with people continues long after his shows are over. He’s been on the road for over fifteen years - most recently with his almost-Instagram famous dog, “Banjo”. His schedule includes over 300 shows a year, and he manages to close the gap between the seats and the stage at each one.

Josh Morningstar has shared the stage with some of today’s most sought after folk and country artists, including Shooter Jennings, Cody Jinks, Tyler Childers, Todd Snider, Colter Wall, and Ward Davis. Morningstar continues to lead the charge on the front lines of a new wave of country music - one full of soulful honesty, the familiar and true twang of an old guitar, and provoking melodies that tattoo stories to the souls of the listeners.

The truth is that if you’ve never heard Morningstar tell a joke, strum his guitar, or sing a song he wrote after a lesson, then you’re missing out on a country music experience. He writes songs with a fearless sense of authenticity, and one by one, audience members are converted. His ability to write about tragedies and victories enamor his tribe of self-proclaimed “Crazies”, and the best part of it all is that he’s just getting started.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Saxon Pub 2023, 1320 S Lamar, Austin, United States