Hailing from North Carolina, where they have a farm in Guilford County, husband-and-wife indie-folk Americana duo Sarah and Austin McCombie have been creating tender melodies and roots-driven soundscapes that are at times haunting, other times upbeat, and always brimming with expressive, poignant lyrics and expansive acoustic instrumentation.
They’ll be returning to the Scenic City this Thursday, September 3rd, to perform at Songbirds again, this time with a full backing band.
While their songwriting and musical sensibilities have been steeped in the old-time Appalachian traditions, overflowing with banjo, fiddle, and rhythms associated with that bluegrass feel, they have grown deeply as musicians and individuals, and their songwriting has evolved and moved away from that sound into something more contemporary and different, blending indie-folk with Americana.
With hit songs like “Chattanooga,” “Come Home,” and “You Never Told Me I Was Pretty,” Chatham Rabbits put themselves on the map in the folk and bluegrass worlds, becoming highly acclaimed and lauded in these respective scenes.
Their debut album, All I Want From You, was released in 2019, and has a very rootsy, old-time feel to it. Six years later, and with their songwriting having evolved and taken different shapes as they have, their music is now more Americana-facing, and their latest record, Be Real With Me, released in 2025, showcases that change and evolution radiantly.
Songs on the album like “Did I Really Know Him,” with lead vocals by Austin McCombie are introspective, reflective, and emotionally layered with beautiful backing harmonies by Sarah, while other instrumental tracks like “Big Fish, Small Pond,” transports listeners, taking them to the tranquil, still waters of a local fishing pond, crafting an entire story with beautiful fingerpicking, slide work on the guitar, accompanied by gentle bass in the background.
The entire project was recorded over two years near Guilford County at Small Pond Farm in Pittsboro, North Carolina, and elegantly showcases their evolution in styles, while positioning them firmly in the Americana folk scene as one of the fastest rising and acclaimed acts.
In speaking with Sarah and Austin McCombie about their evolution in songwriting and how their latest album showcases that growth, Sarah detailed their most recent record being about looking in the mirror and reflecting on the person looking back at you.
“Our latest record is much more autobiographical and confessional. I tell folks that it’s about looking in the mirror and finally accepting the whole you, not just the parts that are pleasant to be acquainted with, but the whole person. We’ve made mistakes, we’ve hit major milestones, we’ve had to revel in both joy and heartache. This album reflects that both lyrically and sonically.
We started as a duo with an old-time style and sensibilities, and now, years later, we find ourselves excited by layering our songs with electric bass, piano, and drums. Life is too short to be something we’re not. We love playing with a full backing band when we can, and we are embracing our desire to hear ourselves as more Americana-leaning and less old-time and bluegrass-driven.”
Since they last performed in Chattanooga, Chatham Rabbits have released a children’s book, entitled Abigail and the Journey of a Pack Horse Librarian, released in spring of 2026, with it being written by Sarah, illustrated by Kelsey Wills, and inspired by the band’s hit song “Abigail.” This journey into children’s literature further demonstrates the husband-and-wife duo’s creativity and ability to craft homespun stories in multiple formats.
When asked about returning to Chattanooga at Songbirds again after performing here in autumn of 2025, Sarah mentioned excitement about returning, this time with a full band.
“We are thrilled to bring our full backing band to Chattanooga for the very first time. Our last appearance in 2025 was truly fun, and ever since, we asked our agent to get us another show at Songbirds so we could experience it all again. We’ll be playing a few old favorites, a good chunk of tunes from Be Real with Me, and we might even try out a few brand new songs.
We associate Chattanooga with truly warm, kind audiences, and we are excited to introduce everyone to our band. Aside from the kind people and good-humored people, the venue has fantastic acoustics and an artist-centered character that makes us feel comfortable. We’re also excited for post-show drinks and burgers at Hi-Fi Clyde’s and morning pastries from Niedlov’s.
Whether we’re playing as a duo or with the full band, or whether we’re playing at a festival for thousands or a listening room for fifty, we want every single audience member to leave the show feeling better than when they arrived.”
Chatham Rabbits
- Thursday, September 3rd.
- Songbirds. 206 West Main Street. Chattanooga.
- 7 p.m.
- $28.76-$39.64.
- venue.songbirds.org/event/chathamrabbits
- chathamrabbits.com