2026 CDL Song Fest
Friday, Oct. 16 | 6:45–9:30pm | Pasture Barn at Robin Hills Farm | 20390 M-52, Chelsea MI
Join us for music-filled days celebrating the art and craft of songwriting at the our ninth annual CDL Song Fest. Whether you’re a music maker or a music lover, this is your event! Enjoy a live interview and performance with Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne.
Please note that there is a gravel walkway up to the Pasture Barn & tent. Accommodations will be available for those who need assistance.
CDL Song Fest returns featuring Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne and special guest fiddler and vocalist, Gina Romantini. Chris Collingwood is an acclaimed singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and co-founder of the Grammy-nominated band Fountains of Wayne. As the voice behind beloved songs, including “A Dip in the Ocean,” “Troubled Times,” “Valley Winter Song,” “Amity Gardens,” “Red Dragon Tattoo,” and others, Collingwood helped define a generation of power pop music with sharp storytelling, memorable hooks, and heartfelt lyrics.
In 1995, Collingwood’s career launched into stardom as a lead vocalist and co-songwriter of Fountains of Wayne. The band played together for 18 years before splitting in 2013. In 2016, Collingwood released an eponymous album under the band name Look Park—his first outside of Fountains of Wayne. The album was recorded in collaboration with legendary producer Mitchell Froom and earned praise from critics for its thoughtful songwriting, lush arrangements, and mature, introspective sound. American Songwriter wrote that the songs “grab your ears and hang on” and Magnet Magazine calls it “a 10-track stunner that’s perfect for late-summer listening.”
Song Fest Schedule
Teen Song Fest Showcase Opening Act | 6:45–7:15pm
The top two Teen Showcase acts will have this incredible opportunity to perform for a live audience. Cheer on these up-and-coming musicians!
Up Close with Chris Collingwood | 7:30–8pm
Jeremy Baldwin from WEMU Radio interviews singer-songwriter Chris Collingwood about his career, influences, and craft. Collingwood found music on a blue transistor radio at the age of five and described it as “magical.” Curiosity about the craft of songwriting stuck with him through college and adulthood. In a 2013 New York Times op-ed, Collingwood noted, “Arthur C. Clarke no doubt had something incredibly nerdy in mind when he said “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” but what it implies for musicians is absolutely true. Behind every song’s immediate impact is a finite number of cogs and gears, and whatever skill you’re developing when you start to study the separate elements and patterns, it soon takes over. ” Hear more about Collinwood’s insights and watch him perform live in this annual celebration of songwriting.
Chris Collingwood LIVE! | 8–9:30pm
Special thanks to the Friends of Chelsea District Library for their support of this program.
