2018 Flagpole Music Awards "Singer-Songwriter of the Year", Cortez Garza, is an Athens, GA based singer-songwriter influenced by the likes of Steve Earle, Woody Guthrie, and Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Traditionalism meets innovation with Cortez Garza and his brand of Americana, from his unique and technical guitar work to his thought provoking and intentional lyrics, all rounded off by a touch of classic folk harmonica. Making his rounds to promote his latest release, "The Low Vibe," Cortez recently wrapped a nation wide tour that spanned from California to New York. As well as being named 2018 Singer-Songwriter of the Year, He also received a Flagpole Music Award for Best Video for his song, "Immortal." In addition to taking home two coveted awards, Cortez and his band were 2018 Athfest headliners, performing on the BMI Hull Street Stage. Cortez Garza has performed at The North GA Folk Festival consecutively the last 3 years, even hosting his own songwriters stage, featuring many other notable up and coming songwriters. Cortez was also a headliner for the inaugural Vic Chestnutt Songwriter Of the Year Award Ceremony and was even a nominee to be a recipient of the award for 2017 and 2018. Cortez Garza was also awarded a songwriting scholarship, picked personally by Steve Earle, to attend and teach at his 2018 Camp Copperhead where he performed his original songs and shared the stage with songwriting legends and fellow workshop instructors Chely Wright, Anders Osborne, and even Steve Earle, himself.

In March 2018, Cortez released his sophomore effort independently, which was met with critical acclaim. His album "The Low Vibe" featured members of Cracker, Cicada Rhythm and a long list of other regional and national veterans of the americana and rock music scenes. Athens' own Flagpole Magazine’s Gordon Lamb said, “Cortez Garza makes mid-tempo magic," while The Atlanta Auditory Association’s Chris Martin said, “Musically, Garza takes familiar Americana/Country sounds tweaking and manipulating them to his will creating a multilayered soundscape listeners will get lost in”. Nodepression.com’s, Stacy Chandler included “The Low Vibe” on her “Now Hear This" List, along with other featured artists such as Jack White, Dom Flemons and Don McLean.

"Cortez Garza has a deft touch as a songwriter and has made a really fantastic new record with The Low Vibe". - Rhett Miller ( The Old 97's)

http://immersiveatlanta.com/video-cortez-garza-no-one-knows-you-better/ (<<< video premiere link)
"Bolstered by stirring accompaniment from Cicada Rhythm’s Dave Kirslis (electric guitars) and Cracker’s Matt Stoessel (pedal steel), the plaintive track runs dark and deep, making good use of Garza’s world-weary vocals to create a vibe that’s undeniably glum and yet beautiful and earnest." Avery Sheppard, -Immersive Atlanta

https://flagpole.com/blogs/homedrone/posts/flagpole-premieres-cortez-garza-immortal-video (<<< video premiere link) Recipient of "The 2018 Athens Music Award for Best Video" *
"Tight collection of a mere eight songs [that] is refreshing in both its brevity and strength of composition." Gordon Lamb, -Flagpole Magazine.

https://youtu.be/jTVNoWdytwg (<< video for song titled "Note to Self" which was showcased at The 2015 Sprockets Film Festival*)

Cortez Garza has recently shared the stage with and supported such national and international touring acts such as Lilly Hiatt, T. Hardy Morris, Dead Horses, Richard Lloyd (television), Wayne Kramer (mc5), Art Rosenbaum, Dom Flemons, Lydia Loveless, Cory Branan (Bloodshot Records), Eliot Bronson, Lera Lynn, Caleb Caudle, Cicada Rhythm, John Oats (Hall and Oates), Billie Joe Shaver, Cracker and most recently, Chely Wright, Anders Osborne and Steve Earle and man, many more.