Dan Wriggins & Olivia Ellen Lloyd at Iowa City Songwriters Festival

The Iowa City Songwriters Festival is set to feature a performance by Dan Wriggins and Olivia Ellen Lloyd, according to event details provided by the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Tickets are priced at $22.50 plus applicable taxes and fees, with digital entry managed through the Spektrix platform.

Performance Logistics and Ticket Access

The upcoming showcase highlights two distinct voices in the contemporary songwriting landscape. As reported by the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, attendees must utilize QR-coded E-tickets for entry. The organizers have implemented a specific delivery window for these digital passes: all print-at-home and electronic tickets will be issued 48 hours prior to the scheduled performance. For those securing their spots within this 48-hour buffer, access is granted directly through the purchaser’s Spektrix account.

The Artists Shaping the Program

The festival bill brings together Dan Wriggins and Olivia Ellen Lloyd, both of whom maintain active, multi-faceted careers in the music industry. Dan Wriggins, based in Philadelphia, is recognized for his work with the band Friendship, which has releases on Merge Records and Orindal Records. Beyond his musical output, Wriggins is an established writer whose debut poetry collection, Prince of Grass, is published via Dear Life Records.

Olivia Ellen Lloyd offers a different, yet complementary, trajectory. Her background is marked by a wide range of experiences, including time spent in flight attendant school, theater production in New York, and teaching in Guatemala. According to the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, these varied pursuits eventually led her back to her musical roots. Her sophomore album, Do It Myself, received significant critical attention, with Saving Country Music describing it as an album against which other works should be measured. Her debut, Loose Cannon, has surpassed one million streams, and she was named an artist to watch in the 2026 Country Music Almanac by Nashville Scene.

Musical Influences and Creative Range

The sound Lloyd brings to the stage is characterized by a synthesis of her West Virginia upbringing and the kinetic energy of her current life in New York City. Her songwriting is noted for its blend of traditional Appalachian roots and the spontaneity of life on the road. Her recent accolades include being a finalist in the 2024 Songwriter Serenade and winning the 2023 Kerrville New Folk contest. By combining these diverse influences, the festival aims to provide a platform for artists who bridge the gap between regional storytelling and contemporary indie-folk sensibilities.