Name: Songwriter Club Presents Lauren Ruth Ward, Chris Hess at the Kerouac House St.Pete
Start: 2026-01-20T19:00:00
End: 2025-07-21T23:00-05:00
Location: The Jack Kerouac House

Songwriter Club at the Jack Kerouac House is a series bringing national and international touring artists, as well as musician outreach to the historic home of Jack Kerouac, in St.Petersburg Florida. There are very limited seating and capacity for this songwriter listening room series, as the artists perform in Kerouac's living room with the audience seated in the living room, and additional seating stretching out into the enclosed patio. Please join us for a night of songs, in this historic atmosphere.Lauren Ruth Ward A gutsy, raspy-voiced singer/songwriter in the vein of Janis Joplin or Courtney Barnett, Baltimore born Lauren Ruth Ward changed her life drastically to pursue her truth. After graduating from high school, she began working as a hairstylist and built a clientele in the hundreds. As time went on, however, she knew she needed to make music her focus and embrace her queerness. In 2015, she quit her job, broke up with her fiancé, and moved to L.A. releasing her self titled EP in 2016. Chris Hess Florida born, east coast surf and sand raised, Chris now lives in Los Angeles and is widely known as the frontperson for the band SWIMM. Since releasing their debut EP, Feel, in 2013, indie psychedelic dream pop band SWIMM have risen to become one of the more notable bands in that genre. With a string of atmospheric, melodic, and introspective singles and EPs – and a critically acclaimed full-length album, _Sentimental Porno, in 2018 – they’ve continued to raise their profile. This year finds them particularly busy, with new singles (“Spring Breaking Your Heart” and “You Never Fake It”) with new albums on the way, the band seems poised to take their career to the next level.Shawn KyleHost of Songwriter Club, Shawn Kyle is a multiple Best of the Bay Award Winner and 14X SXSW Austin official showcasing artist; Shawn has been a journeyman musician, a singer, writer, frontman and a published multidisciplinary artist. Fronting nationally with indie groups the Beauvilles, and AMFMS, he was involved touring and performing with both the Americana revival of the early 2000's and also the Psychedelic Rock and Garage revival of the 2010's. Kyle is currently working on an EP of new songs co written with Grammy Award winner Jim Lauderdale.A cash bar by donation will be open before and in between the performances.Proceeds from the show support the touring artist, as well as the Kerouac House nonprofit.VenueThe Jack Kerouac House5169 10th Ave NSt.Petersburg, 33710Doors6:00 PM