"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. His songs "Ballet of an Unhatched Chick" and "Michigan (Something In The Water)" were awarded semi-finalist distinction at songoftheyear.com, also in 2020 and 2022.

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 semi-finalist distinction at SongOfTheYear.com, 2020 A.C. category ("Ballet of an Unhatched Chick")... Awarded semi-finalist distinction at SongOftheYear.com, 2022 ("Michigan (Something In the Water)")... 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 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.

READ ALL ABOUT IT...

JEREMY FACKNITZ LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS CARBONDALE, COLORADO PERFORMANCE, THE SOPRIS SUN, 6/15/23.

"SMILIN' AT THE FUTURE" SONG MAKES JEREMY A WINNER IN THE 2023 EMPOWER MUSIC AWARDS (FORMERLY POSI AWARDS), 6/6/23.

JEREMY APPEARS ON "OUR TOWN" WITH SARADA CONNORS ON COLORADO SPRINGS CUMULUS RADIO, 4/15/23.

THE MUSIC VIDEO TO "SMILIN' AT THE FUTURE" PREMIERS ON AMPLIFY MUSIC MAGAZINE, 4/4/23.

AMERICANA HIGHWAYS REVIEW OF THE NEW ALBUM "SMILIN' AT THE FUTURE", 3/29/23.

AT THE BARRIER REVIEW OF THE NEW ALBUM "SMILIN' AT THE FUTURE", 3/29/23.

THE MUSIC VIDEO TO "BROAD STROKES (FEAT. EDIE CAREY)" PREMIERS ON FOLK N' ROCK, 3/23/23.

JEREMY APPEARS ON THE "MIDDLE CLASS ROCK STAR" PODCAST WITH ANDY SYDOW, 3/23/23.

THE MUSIC VIDEO TO "THERE'S NO GOING HOME AGAIN (FEAT. SERENITY HOLLOWAY)" PREMIERS ON V13 MAGAZINE IN TORONTO, 3/2/23.

"SMILIN' AT THE FUTURE" ALBUM REVIEW, EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINE, 3/1/23.

"THERE'S NO GOING HOME AGAIN (FEAT. SERENITY HOLLOWAY)" MAKES THE "MUST-HEAR" LIST ON THE INDY REVIEW, 2/24/23.

"THERE'S NO GOING HOME AGAIN (FEAT. SERENITY HOLLOWAY)" REVIEW ON ROADIE MUSIC, 2/24/23.

"THERE'S NO GOING HOME AGAIN (FEAT. SERENITY HOLLOWAY)" PREMIERES ON AMERICANA HIGHWAYS, 2/21/23.

JEREMY APPEARS AND PERFORMS ON THE "BREAK THE BUSINESS" PODCAST, 2/1/23.

NAGAMAG REVIEWS JEREMY'S NEW SINGLE, "AS OF THIS MORNING", 1/31/23.

"AS OF THIS MORNING" MUSIC VIDEO FEATURED ON ENIGMA ONLINE, 1/25/23.

GHETTOBLASTER MAGAZINE PREMIERE'S JEREMY'S NEW MUSIC VIDEO, "AS OF THIS MORNING", 1/23/23.

JEREMY FACKNITZ & DAVID SIEGEL PERFORM ON FOX 21'S "FRIDAY FEELZ" PROGRAM, 1/20/23.

JEREMY FACKNITZ PLACES 2ND IN THE INDIE INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION WITH "UNSUNG", 12/12/2022.

"MICHIGAN (SOMETHING IN THE WATER)" AWARDED SEMI-FINALIST DISTINCTION ON SONGOFTHEYEAR.COM, 8/16/2022.

JEREMY FACKNITZ IS A FINALIST IN THE 2022 KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL GRASSY HILL NEW FOLK SONGWRITING COMPETITION, 4/19/2022.

COLORADO SPRINGS MUSICIANS DREAM BIG BY ENTERING NPR'S TINY DESK CONTEST, COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE, 4/7/2022.

VOYAGEDENVER.COM, DAILY INSPIRATION: MEET JEREMY FACKNITZ, 12/14/21.

"LAND FILLS" RUNNER-UP IN THE RENAISSANCE ARTISTS AND WRITERS 2020 "SONGS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE" SONGWRITING COMPETITION, 2/18/21.

JEREMY FACKNITZ LIVES IN THE MUSICAL MOMENT, COLORADO SPRINGS INDEPENDENT, 10/21/20.

MASTERING ENGINEER CLINT WAGONER HAS HIGH PRAISE FOR "FROM THOSE SWEET ASHES", 10/20/20.

"BALLET OF AN UNHATCHED CHICK" AWARDED SEMI-FINALIST DISTINCTION ON SONGOFTHEYEAR.COM, A.C. CATAGORY, 7/31/2020.

HOW JEREMY FACKNITZ'S VIRAL MENINGITIS INFORMED HIS NEW ALBUM, WESTWORD, 6/11/2020.

JEREMY FACKNITZ IS A FINALIST IN THE 2020 KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL GRASSY HILL NEW FOLK SONGWRITING COMPETITION, 5/15/2020.

JEREMY FACKNITZ AND CARLA OLSON WITH THE NEW AND NOTEWORTHY, COLORADO SPRINGS INDEPENDENT, 4/29/2020.

COLORADO SPRINGS CREATORS CONTEND WITH CHANGING ART LANDSCAPE DUE TO CORONAVIRUS, KRCC RADIO, 4/23/2020.

SEE JEREMY PERFORM LIVE ON THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE "TAKE 10" PROGRAM, 1/5/2018.

HEAR AN INTERVIEW AND LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM JUNE 2016 ON KCMJ 93.9FM IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

PEOPLE HAVE SAID...

"... a native of Detroit, Facknitz enjoys the claim to fame of having beaten out the White Stripes for “Best Alternative Band” at the Detroit music awards in 2001. It’s no surprise either—his music has loads of catchy melodies and rhythmic drive... But what really sets Facknitz apart is his incredibly original lyricism and sense of humor, blended with his own folky, feel-good style." - Ron Logan, 40 oz robot

“Jeremy is a blockbuster talent; though his music feels so natural, you might not realize it until you really listen.

The thought that goes into each piece (I say "piece" because it is constructed and arranged as such) might make you think very differently about what modern music CAN be, or perhaps better yet, doesn't have to be.

He is singularly different and yet so familiar at the same time. He challenges the listener to think more, and yet still rest at ease enough to "feel" rather than just examine. He has the tools and talent to make you let go of default scrutiny - it is just that personal. You aren't just listening to songs; you are meeting Jeremy Facknitz.”

- Matt McLure, The Dare To Inspire Riverwalk Festival

"Jeremy Facknitz is a one-man acoustic act with the panache needed to become a star, armed with a melodic voice and a truckload of charisma..." - Sydney Hamilton, Colorado Springs Independent

"Jeremy Facknitz is like a singer/songwriter who has been bitten by a radioactive rock star." - Charlie Milo, The Charlie Milo Trio

Deryk Cunningham

A Montana-born and raised Colorado musician with a lot to say.

Heartfelt original tunes, classic covers, smooth guitar-work, emotive vocals, and a laid-back stage presence make for an entertaining and unique musical experience.