Kristen Grainger is the voice of True North and the primary architect of the band’s songwriting. She was named by The Bluegrass Situation as one of the “Women Who Wrote Our 2020 Soundtrack,” alongside Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile.

In 2020, Kristen took first place in the USA Songwriting Competition and her songwriting has earned top honors at some of the nation’s most prestigious festival songwriting competitions such as Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Merlefest, Kerrville New Folk, and she won the Common Ground on the Hill Acoustic Roots Songwriting Contest in 2022. She has also received national recognition for excellence in social change songwriting.

A former speechwriter for university presidents and two Oregon governors, Kristen co-founded True North with her husband, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Dan Wetzel. He is also a luthier whose hand-made instruments are part of the band’s performances and recordings. 

Learn more about the artists: https://www.truenorthband.com/about/#awards