Rita Bliss is a folk musician from Rochester, New York and is now based in Austin, Texas. Though a Rust Belt native, Rita’s melodies are rooted in familiar old-time banjo sounds that evoke travels along the backroads of the South. Influenced by John Prine, Ani DiFranco, and Nanci Griffith, Rita’s songwriting weaves together timeless love stories with long drives, porch gatherings, and letters between loved ones. The love stories are unabashedly queer, the porch gatherings are sometimes rowdy, and the conversations often touch on true-to-life mental health challenges.

Her debut album, “Peaches and Apple Pies,” was met with glowing reviews from Americana Highways, Bluegrass Today, and more.

“Rita Bliss is to her banjo what Alison Krauss is to her fiddle. They’re both distinctive, melodic, attractive vocally in their showcases & have the tunes to prove it.” – John Apice, Americana Highways