Wilder Adkins
Wilder Adkins is a modern folk-singer-songwriter originally from Marietta, Georgia, currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. His music reflects a blend of pastoral folk, Americana roots, contemplative lyricism, and a deep grounding in faith, love, nature, and personal relationships.
Growing up in a musical family, Wilder’s early exposure to folk and Appalachian traditions shaped his songwriting voice. He released his first full-length album in 2009 and over time has built a following by sharing both original work and hymns, often via free or online hymn projects.
His 2016 release Hope & Sorrow showcases his artistry in minimal, warm arrangements — fingerpicked guitar, gentle vocals, poetic narratives—and demonstrates how he bridges heartfelt confession, longing, and hope in his songs.
Wilder has performed across the U.S. (and beyond), in major folk venues, and in settings ranging from churches to festivals. His song ‘Side By Side’ won the inaugural ASC Commissions Birmingham contest in 2014 (hosted by UAB’s Alys Stephens Center) and was released on MLK Day 2017 as a peace-themed tribute to Birmingham. He also won the Grand Prize in the 2016 NewSong Music Songwriting Competition, which helped introduce his music to wider audiences.
At his core, Wilder’s work is shaped by his faith — he often draws on Christian themes, hymns, and spiritual reflection—while also holding space for doubt, beauty, and the struggles of ordinary life. His music invites listeners into that tension: honest, tender, and hopeful.