About Jake

Jake Farr, Owner/Instructor

Jake Farr is a classically trained guitarist and singer/songwriter based out of Austin, Tx. Since he arrived in Austin in 2014, he has mentored hundreds of guitarists and songwriters, had residencies in iconic Austin listening rooms like the Scoot Inn and Cactus Cafe, and has a thriving audience around the globe for his music. His voice is soft and low as a classically trained guitarist, his songs are laced with haunting complexity. 

After the release of Novella in early 2022, Jake landed a permanent residency at Austin’s finest listening room, The Cactus Cafe. In his work with the Cactus, Jake created and hosts the Songwriters’ Open Mic, seasonal songwriter showcases, and his own monthly residency. In 2023, Jake was awarded a grant from the City of Austin Live Music Fund to put on more shows throughout the city to preserve the culture of Austin's live music scene.

Originally from Lubbock, Tx, Jake grew up learning the piano and listening to his father conduct choir. There were two gifts Jake received as a teenager that inspired him to write songs. First, a friend burned him a CD with songs by Damien Rice, Simon & Garfunkel, and Iron & Wine. Secondly, his late-great-aunt gifted him a leather bound journal and encouraged him to start writing.

In college, He studied classical guitar with renowned guitarists David Brandon and Pepe Romero and regularly spent 4-6 hours a day practicing his craft in the basement of the music school. It was during this period that he wrote and recorded his first two projects, Antique Shoppe (2014) and Seasons (2015).

The following autumn, Jake moved to Austin, Tx and immersed himself the vibrant musical culture. He spent late nights teaching in his studio, playing gigs on the weekends, and going to shows of artists he wanted to meet. After years of playing coffee shops, bars, and house concerts, Jake booked his first residency with C3 at the Historic Scoot Inn (2019) and packed the house every month. Every show began with a cocktail hour and featured various musicians, poets, artists, and magicians alongside Jake’s music to create dream-like art shows he began calling “Jake Farr’s Parlor Show.” 

As the world shut down in 2020, He pivoted to creating online shows and incidentally developed a worldwide audience in the process. In one particular show Jake had audience members from the United States, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and Mexico in attendance. He collaborated with local Austin legends like Jon Dee Graham, BettySoo, Tyler Jordan and Ray Bonneville in his virtual listening room.

Currently, Jake is recording his second full length album with Justin Douglas at King Electric Recording, writing a fantasy novel, mentoring musicians from across the country, putting on his Parlor Shows at historic venues in Austin, Tx.

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