Abbie Thomas and Two Crazy Hearts

Abbie Thomas - Rehearsals for the Cole Porter Festival - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

Have you ever had the chance to meet someone you admire and in that split second before you do, you think to yourself, “I really hope they are everything I believed them to be?” Believe me when I say that meeting Abbie Thomas is pure magic.

Thomas is a 2 time, JMA’s Female Artist Of The Year, 1 time , JMA’s Vocalist of the year, with album of the year through Naptone Awards (INDIANA) and JMA’s. Yet when I walked through the door of her home in Goshen, Indiana, to sit in on their rehearsals for the Cole Porter Festival, I was met with, “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

Whatever connection you see in a performance starts with the genuine heart behind the scenes. Artistry is not an overnight success, in fact I am sure that if you would describe someones journey as that, they probably will find more as an insult than a compliment. To discount the hard work, late nights, worried thoughts on how everything is going to work, not to mention the life experiences that bring so much depth to the language of their art; that would be of distaste.

The Cole Porter Festival honors the work that goes into a performance and supports independent artists such as Thomas. For the past 4 years she has performed on the main stage of the festival but this year, Thomas’s performance was a special ticketed event.

“The Cole Porter Festival is one of first festivals that hired me when I went full time. To get that first initial invite to perform, it was kind of a unbelievable moment.” Thomas states.

But the admiration goes further for this opportunity.

“It is very flattering for a festival to trust you enough, to be hired to play your music live for people.”

In conversation with Thomas about the feeling of playing for a ticketed event through the Cole Porter Festival, she took on a humbling sigh.

“It is just incredibly nice. There are no words to really describe that feeling and doing justice.”

Abbie Thomas - Cole Porter Festival 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt

Though music has been a part of her for her entire life through the worship team, high school choir, and more; Thomas kept her personal art a secret.

“I always wrote music and played music for myself. I never played my own music for anyone else. I struggle with severe stage fright. I was always far more comfortable in a group performing.”

During her career as a high end wedding and portrait photographer, it seemed fate had it’s hand in bringing Thomas face to face with her stage fright when she was handed a guitar in Nashville, TN, while sitting with a group at a conference in 2015.

“I played a cover of a song and little did I know someone had recorded it. They sent it to their brother who was a booking agent. From that point forward, for four year, they really pushed me to go to a open mic night, and I finally did.”

In 2019 she began playing during breaks for other artists, in doing this she was able to work through her stage fright. When Covid demanded shut downs, Thomas photography career was put on hold, and during that time she became a mother. For a year she stayed at home with her daughter and one day she decided to step into the unknown and go full time with a new career, music.

For a moment in that conversation, there was almost a re-realization flutter to her speech and sparkle in her eye.

“It worked out.” With a humble smile and gentle laugh, “The longer I do it, the easier it is to get booked.” She stated.

After performing as a solo artist at the start of her career, in 2023 she was able to begin hiring band member to add to her performances.

“I hired Simon Kauffman Hurst who is my piano player and Isaac Fisher my bass player.”

Issac Fisher - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

Sitting in on the interview with Abbie Thomas, at her table by her grand white piano, was her dummer and percussionist, Arthur Schroeder. It was a year to the day of the interview that Schroeder became part of the Crazy Hearts. Needles to say that leap of faith has created art beyond music and into friendships.

“You couldn’t get me to play with anyone else. We have a short hand between all of us that just works perfectly.”

Arthur Schroeder - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

This year for her performance at the Cole Porter Festival, she was able to lean into the jazz side of her catalogue in her concert titled “Abbie Thomas and Cole Porter Plus Two Crazy Hearts.” Featuring herself on the piano, Issac Fisher on the stand up bass, and Arthur Schroeder on the drums; Thomas brought an abundance of rhythmic elegance and modern innovated class. Bewitching in her ability to create an anthological performance that weaved Cole Porter’s life and the lyrics of her own experience into lingering notes of honesty, there is and was nothing more compelling.

Abbie Thomas - The Cole Porter Festival 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

Abbie Thomas Plus Two Crazy Hearts - Cole Porter Festival 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

Abbie Thomas, Issac Fisher, Arthur Schroeder - Cole Porter Festival - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

There is a lot to look forward to in following along with Abbie Thomas; from up coming shows, nominations, and new music. Make sure to head over to https://abbiethomasmusic.com/home and learn more about this amazing independent artist making waves!