MILLBROOK, June 3 — Petra Sundholm, the 28-year-old folk-pop singer-songwriter who grew up in Millbrook's Northgate neighborhood and got her start playing open mics at the old Lamplight Coffeehouse, has signed with Wren House Records, an independent label known for breaking several nationally recognized artists over the past decade. Sundholm confirmed the deal in a social media post Monday that quickly drew thousands of engagements and a wave of hometown pride from Millbrook fans who have followed her since her early days busking at Calloway Park.
A Sound Rooted in This Place
Sundholm's music draws heavily on her Midwestern upbringing — sparse acoustic arrangements, plainspoken lyrics about family, distance, and small-city life. Her 2023 self-released EP Gravel Roads earned praise from several regional music blogs and landed her spots on festival lineups in three states. In a phone interview with the Courier Wednesday, she said Wren House appealed to her because they wanted to preserve that intimacy rather than chase a commercial sound. "They heard my record and said, don't change anything," she said. "That's when I knew it was right."
- Homecoming show: July 19th at the Riverside Amphitheater
- Tickets go on sale June 10th through the city's box office portal
- Local opener: acoustic duo The Fenwick Sisters
- Debut Wren House single expected in late July
The July 19th show will be her first Millbrook headline performance in nearly two years. Parks and Recreation Director Lois Carberry said the city is proud to welcome Sundholm back and expects the show to draw one of the larger crowds the Riverside Amphitheater has seen this season. Tickets are expected to sell quickly — the venue holds 1,800 and early interest has already been strong on social media.
