Country singer Cam, crooner Atkins latest adds to Treeline festival lineup

The Treeline Music Fest lineup continues to round into form, adding country artist Cam, owner of songs such as 2015's Grammy-nominated single "Burning House," and powerhouse singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins.

These artists join a Saturday roster that includes headliner Salt-N-Pepa, soul singer Devon Gilfillian, country act Chapel Hart and more.

Cam brings California country to Treeline

California native Camaron Ochs broke through with her sophomore 2015 record "Untamed," featuring "Burning House." In the process of truly making her own name, Cam co-wrote songs for Miley Cyrus ("Maybe You're Right"), Sam Smith ("Palace") and Maggie Rose ("Fall Madly in Love With You").

Allmusic.com describes Cam as "a little bit pop and a little bit country," a reality evident on her most recent record, 2020's "Otherside." The set opens with the gently soaring "Redwood Tree," a song which nods to Cam's home state — and would make a fitting choice for the first year of the festival's identity as Treeline, after formerly being known as Roots N Blues.

Another early highlight, "Classic" furthers a small-town country charm while retaining a pop glide. "Till There's Nothing Left," the album's most-streamed track on Spotify, succeeds on the confidence of its vocal melodies and guitar crunch. And, with its harmony-drenched confessions and acoustic guitar drive, "Diane" exists as an answer to the iconic "Jolene" from the perspective of the other woman, AllMusic notes.

Nicole Atkins delivers a dynamic vocal presence

The New Jersey-forged Atkins landed a serious early punch with "The Way It Is," a single from 2007's breakthrough record "Neptune City." Uniting girl group dynamics and other early pop influences with a breathtaking vocal, Atkins announced herself as a serious talent. A performance of the song on David Letterman's show wowed the late-night host and still will leave you with goosebumps if you watch it today.

AllMusic's Andrew Leahey described a few characteristics of Atkins's work, a "throaty vibrato and lush pop orchestrations contributing to a self-professed 'pop noir' sound."

Atkins has released a handful of record since, including 2020's "Italian Ice," which enfolded the talents of Spoon's Britt Daniel, Seth Avett and John Paul White of The Civil Wars fame. A year later, "Memphis Ice" reimagined these songs with intimate acoustic arrangements.

Learn more about the festival, and find a fuller and still-growing lineup, at https://www.treelinemusicfest.com/.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Cam, Nicole Atkins to bring country and powerful pop to Treeline Music Fest