Jeremy Facknitz

"This is all far above the ordinary. The 6-member band are the chefs in a musical kitchen – each recipe conjured tastefully... A good time is guaranteed for all." - John Apice, Americana Highways

"Jeremy Facknitz is, indeed, a major talent.  Packed with tunes that manage to sound both familiar and refreshingly new, Smilin’ at the Future is an excellent album – and, I can guarantee, like nothing you’ll have ever heard before." - John Barliss, At The Barrier

Jeremy Facknitz has been entertaining audiences with his lovingly crafted music and high-energy performances for over a quarter century. Since the 2002 break-up of his Detroit-based band "The Ottomans" (they earned a 2001 Detroit Music Award for Best New Alternative Band, beating out "The White Stripes"), Jeremy has performed primarily as a solo act, marrying folk-rock and jazz stylings to showcase his intimate stories of life, love, and self-discovery.  

But from 2003 to 2017, those stories seemed to fall on deaf ears. Facknitz carved out a living performing at bars, coffeeshops, and corporate events while teaching lessons on the side. "I was happy to be making a living performing music, but my original music wasn't being heard - and as the years passed I found myself more and more frustrated playing to little more than the din of drunken conversation." Things came to a head on July 17th, 2017 when Jeremy was diagnosed with viral meningitis. "I came face to face with my mortality, and I realized it was time for a change. I quit performing at bars and spent the next year making the leap to house concerts, touring, and performing solely for listening audiences."  

The leap has paid off. Jeremy was named a top 24 finalist from over 800 entries in the 2020 and 2022 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competitions at Kerrville Folk Festival. His song "Smilin' At The Future" made him an Empower (Posi) Music Award Winner in 2023. 

While occasionally performing with his 6 piece band in Colorado, Jeremy continues to tour solo - performing at house concerts and listening rooms in the United States, Canada and Europe. His 6th solo album "Smilin' At The Future" was released March 31st, 2023 to worldwide critical acclaim.

TIDBITS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Finalist for the 2020 and 2022 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competitions at the Kerrville Folk Festival... Winner for the 2023 Empower Music Awards (formerly known as the Posi Awards)... Awarded 2nd place in the 2022 Indie International Songwriting Competition ("Unsung")... Runner-up in the Renaissance Artists and Writers Association "Songs For Social Change Competition", 2020 ("Land Fills")... Member of "The Ottomans" from 1997 through 2002 (2001 Detroit Music Award Winner, "Best New Alternative Group")... Member of "Standing Room Only" with brother Jarod Facknitz from 2001 through 2003... 2009 Pikes Peak Arts Council nominee for "Best Solo Performer of the Pikes Peak Region"... has opened as solo act for/performed with The Samples, Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews Band), Pat Donahue (Prairie Home Companion), Edie Carey, Charlie Milo, Lindsay Weidmann... graduated from the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in 1997 and was a radio DJ for 4 years (gospel and adult contemporary)... passed the series 7 test for license to sell securities in 2013 and one year later quit working in finance... loves baseball and is an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball club... is married to singer-songwriter Lindsay Weidmann and together they have two children... lives in Colorado.