Jaimee Harris turned 30 during the pandemic. It’s a milestone that is a rite of passage even during normal times. But for this Texas-born singer-songwriter, it came in the midst of one of the strangest and most tumultuous periods in American history. When the world stopped during lockdown, Harris, like many others, found herself gazing back into the past, ruminating on the nature of her hometown and family origins, and reckoning with their imprint on her. Harris’s sophomore effort, Boomerang Town marks a bold step forward for this country-folk-leaning singer-songwriter. It is an arresting, ambitious song-cycle that explores the generational arc of family, the stranglehold of addiction, and the fragile ties that bind us together as Americans.
Harris’s father, whom she counts as a big supporter and responsible for much of her musical education, took her to the first Austin City Limits Music Festival, where she had the life-changing, Eureka moment of seeing Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, and Buddy and Julie Miller perform on stage at the same time. It was then the young Harris knew what she had to do. She had found her ticket out.
Condition(s):
Injured Wrist
Date(s) of Treatment:
Treatment in 2025
What inspired you to start playing music?
When I was five years old, I heard a Christmas song sung by Emmylou Harris called “Light of the Stable.” I was mesmerized by this song. I played it on repeat for weeks. I had no idea at the time that the backing vocals were sung by Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, and Dolly Parton. Hearing four of the most important, powerful voices in modern music history blew my little mind. My parents noticed I was interested in music and I received my first guitar that Christmas.
I began playing cover songs in between my Dad’s band’s set breaks when I was ten years old. It wasn’t until I got to see Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Buddy & Julie Miller on the same stage together at the very first Austin City Limits Music Festival that I knew I wanted to be a songwriter.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, James McMurtry, Julie Miller, K’s Choice, Tracy Chapman
What was the injury that brought you to MTF, and how did the injury affect your music?
It was such a silly injury! My partner, Mary Gauthier, and I got stuck in Tallahassee during a historic ice storm. After five days of being stuck in a chain hotel, I was getting really restless. I walked across the street to go play pinball. One side of the ramp was de-iced, but the other side wasn’t. I went down so fast! I was unable to play guitar for a couple of months. Most upsettingly, four days after I injured my wrist, I walked on stage and Stephen King was in the front row! I really wish I had been able to play guitar with him in the audience.
What was your experience with receiving care through MTF and your recovery afterward?
MTF helped me recover quickly by getting me into the office in a timely manner and giving me practical exercises to recover. One of the unexpected results of injuring my wrist was that I got into running because I couldn’t lift weights. I ran my first marathon in Austin this February.
What’s coming up for you?
I’m spending most of my summer on the road. In July I’m touring New Mexico and Canada with Mary Gauthier. In August I’m teaming up with my genius friend Wes Collins for three shows in North Carolina. I’ll also be playing the Philadelphia Folk Festival. I have my first headlining tour of the UK in November. I’m also excited to be releasing a new album, Put Down the Gun, produced by Jason Weinheimer, that I made in Oklahoma with John Fullbright and members of his fabulous band.
Where can people find out more about you and your music?
You can find more about me on: