While I was away in the USA this summer, I took a detour to California to explore the Cornish-American identity in Grass Valley, thanks to support from the Cornish American Heritage Society. This small town was once home to a population that was up to 85% Cornish in the late 1800s, as many made the journey west in search of work in the gold mines.

Before diving into more of my reflections, I wanted to share an excerpt from a piece I wrote for the CAHS that gives a bit of background to the project:

Roots and Resonance
This summer, I’m embarking on the trip of a lifetime which will take me all the way to Grass Valley, California, a place of deep Cornish significance. I spend a lot of time near Bodmin in Cornwall, which is Grass Valley’s official sister city. Last year I felt called to return home to Cornwall, to put down roots, and invest my skills as a musician and arts producer into the exciting Cornish creative scene.

This May, I’ll spend time in Grass Valley, connecting with some of my Cornish-American cousins, sharing histories, and exploring the town that our shared ancestors flocked to in the late 1800s. As a singer-songwriter, it’s my intention to write new songs during my time there—songs that will reflect these connections and stories, and which will become part of my live set.

When I get to Grass Valley, I’ll be exploring how Cornish identity is held by descendants who may never have been to Cornwall. What does Cornwall mean to those with ancestral ties to this land? What echoes of Cornishness remain in language, music, and memory across the ocean? I’m excited to share songs and stories, and to let the experience shape new music that speaks to our shared heritage.

Following up on my post from last week, here’s a bit more about what that journey actually looked like.

Thanks to connections through the Institute of Cornish Studies, CAHS, and a new songwriting pal, Dan Nachmanoff, I had the chance to meet some incredible people and dive into the rich cultural and Cornish heritage of the area.

A highlight was meeting Gage McKinney – Cornish bard, historian, and author of When Miners Sang. His writing is a treasure trove for anyone curious about Cornish history in California, and it was a joy to have him sign my copy in person.

I also spent time with the brilliant folk artist Rita Hosking, who took me to the museum at the old mine site where her Cornish great-grandfather once worked. The exhibit offered a fascinating look into the lives of miners who continued working there into the 1950s. I even got to see her perform at the Strawberry Music Festival—an unforgettable experience!

And of course, I couldn’t leave town without trying a Cornish pasty. At Marshall’s, they were round and made with carrots instead of turnip—a small but striking reminder of how cultures shift and evolve through migration. It made me think about how Cornish-American identity has grown into its own unique shape, shaped by place and time.

Another deeply moving part of the trip was meeting Shelly Covert and Saxon Thomas of CHIRP on land recently reacquired by the Nisenan Tribe. This land, once part of the town of Yulića, was returned to the Tribe through a powerful grassroots effort. Hearing their stories—about their fight for recognition, cultural preservation, and community resilience—left a profound impression on me. Their work around youth engagement, arts, and stewardship is inspiring.

To wrap up my time in Grass Valley, I want to share one final, unexpected moment. I had the pleasure of meeting Paul Haas, local news anchor, radio host, and town crier. We recorded a short interview in the lobby of my hotel, and just as we were finishing, Paul pulled out a guitar and asked me to sing outside on the steps of The Union. That’s the very spot where Cornish choirs have been singing carols for over 150 years. Of course, I said yes. I sang a few songs, including some in Cornish, which Paul wove into a beautiful radio feature for his show—and thanks to him, that interview even made its way to BBC Cornwall!

You can hear excepts from the radio show here: https://knco.com/cornish-singer-songwriter-visits-grass-valley/

I was so warmly welcomed – from the North Star Mining Museum to County Hall. Every time I mentioned I was from Cornwall, people lit up. There was a real enthusiasm for those shared roots.

This trip left a lasting impact. It deepened my understanding of Cornish migration and raised important questions about cultural exchange and storytelling. As an artist, it made me reflect on what it means to draw inspiration from communities and histories that aren’t my own. I found myself thinking about the parallels between extracting gold from land, and extracting meaning from stories and people today. It’s a discomfort I think many artists and researchers might feel – this tension between reverence and representation. But ultimately, I believe in the value of sharing stories. They can build empathy, broaden understanding, and connect us across time and place.

The songs inspired by this journey will start to make their way into the world at future gigs—and I can’t wait to share them with you.

p.s. A little about the pastas of Grass Valley. Very important, pasties!