Tom Chirip Back Creek

Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival, Tom Chirip, Back Creek, Songwriter, SMSWF, Gatlinburg TNBack Creek was born at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.  Tom Chirip and Dave Walsh met and started jamming in the dorm room. We played an open mic night at a bar called Rosie O Grady’s.  When we were done our set,the owner came up and sang a few songs with us.  After the last note he turned and asked us if we wanted our own night.  We jumped at the opportunity and cut our teeth there for the next year playing every Wednesday night.  After that the band played every nook and cranny of West Chester. The year was 1989, and Back Creek has been writing and performing music ever since.

​Upon moving to Woolwich Township in 1999, the band found a home at The Old Swedes Inn and began a residency that lasted 10 years and 3 CD releases.  After The Old Swedes closed, the amazing folks at Botto’s took the band in.  We have been truly blessed by the support of family, friends, and community members here in Swedesboro.  The band released their 6th studio production entitled Solar Flare, and is working on a new yet untitled work.