David Wilcox stops in Songbirds just before new album’s release

David Wilcox has a new album coming out in May, “The View From the Edge,” so fans coming to his show Friday night, April 27, at Songbirds Guitar Museum might expect a preview of this new music.

Wilcox has been dubbed a “motivational songwriter,” because of his innate ability to inspire listeners as he weaves stories and virtuosic guitar skills together to create insightful songs that cut to the heart of daily life.

“It feels like when I look out at the world there’s just a need for people to be talking about where they get their hope now,” Wilcox says in a news release. “That’s what my music has always been about. These days, there’s so much adversity and loss of hope that anything you can offer on the positive side is a welcome relief.”

Wilcox released an independent album in 1987, won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Award in 1988, and signed with A&M Records by 1989. His first release on that label, “How Did You Find Me Here,” topped 100,000 copies in sales — largely by word of mouth.

Reflecting on 30 years of record-making and touring extensively around the world, Wilcox says, “Music still stretches out before me like the headlights of a car into the night. It’s way beyond where I am, but it shows where I’m going. I used to think that my goal was to catch up, but now I’m grateful that the music is always going to be way out in front to inspire me.” Show tickets are $25. For more information: 423-531-2473.