Scott Sean White & Helene Cronin

Scott Sean White makes his home these days in Poetry, Texas, a perfectly named little town for a songwriter’s songwriter. His first album, “Call It Even,” came out in April 2021, and Jack Ingram said, “Some songwriters spend precious time struggling to find their truth and make it rhyme. Others just pick up their guitar and tell it. Scott Sean White is one of the others.”  

White is a storyteller both in his songs and the banter in-between songs, laying out his life experience – his faith and struggles – and intertwining it all with his craft. He also has two songs on Cody Johnson’s album “Human” including “God Bless the Boy” and “Made a Home,” and a brand new one called “Over Missing You” that Cody just recorded for the deluxe version of his new album “Leather.” Scott also penned several Bryan Martin songs as well including “Poets and Old Souls” and “Wishbone.” Scott’s own live show is starkly honest, transparent, and eye-opening – full of laughter and probably a few (good) tears, too.  

His most recent album, “Even Better On the Bad Days,” which came out last January, debuted at #1 on the iTunes Singer-songwriter chart, and was produced by Grammy nominated producer Dave Brainard, who did Brandy Clark’s critically acclaimed masterpiece “12 Stories” album. “Even Better On the Bad Days” also features a song called “Hope You Never Do” which Scott co-wrote with Radney Foster, Eric Erdman, and Chad Wilson, AND… Radney sang harmony on it. 

Texas-bred artist Helene Cronin describes herself as a story-singer. She is driven by a desire to share her life through stories that resonate with genuine emotion, and more than a little imagination. She doesn’t mind if, in their wake her songs impart lessons that her listeners can absorb into their own lives, but she’s not one to preach. She pursues this as her life’s work, sprouted during the days when she borrowed her older brother’s guitar and taught herself a few chords. 

For Helene, cultivating connection with her listeners is of supreme importance, especially in these divisive times. She recalls meeting a woman after a house concert, who told her through tears, “Listening to you and your songs makes me want to be a better person.” Helene reflects, “I can’t think of a better reason to keep doing what I do. And to keep believing there’s a higher purpose for me writing one more song that only a few people may ever hear. Sometimes my songs remind me that I need to do better too.”

A 2018 New Folk Winner at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival, Helene’s style is a merger between the raw roots of Americana and the polished song-craft of Nashville’s Country. Never setting out to be a “star”, songwriting brought her to the stage. Audiences are drawn to her vulnerability and presence. Like other more well-known troubadours, she possesses a voice as much a character as the ones that inhabit her songs.

Together, they play a variety of larger venues such as Dosey Doe Barn and Love & War, in addition to intimate venues. This is a complimentary performance for Rook members and their guests.