Tom and Barb Webber

Short Bio

Veteran singer/songwriters on the Milwaukee music scene for over 30 years, Tom & Barb Webber bring authenticity to music and relationships. The style of music that Tom and Barb Webber perform as a duo or with their band Fair Webber is best described as Americana / Roots music. They have been recognized with a WAMI from the Wisconsin Area Music Industry in the folk music category and won the Great River Folk Festival Songwriters Contest.

Barb, the consummate storyteller, writes the lyrics and melody while Tom arranges them instrumentally. Tom’s voice carries the rumble of the Texas Panhandle and Barb’s the clarity of pure sunlight. The contrast is stunning and captivating.

Tom and Barb Webber: Americana with Heart and Harmony

LonG Bio

For over three decades, singer-songwriter duo Tom and Barb Webber have brought their genre-bending brand of Americana to audiences across southeast Wisconsin. Known for lush harmonies, lively stage banter, and evocative storytelling, their performances reflect a deep musical and personal partnership.

Barb’s clear, expressive vocals—described by SingOut Magazine as “the aural anchor”—are beautifully offset by Tom’s earthy grit, rooted in his Texas Panhandle upbringing. Together, they craft songs that are melodically rich and emotionally resonant, exploring themes from relationships to addiction, dementia, and economic hardship.

Barb Webber is recognized as a song-smith with a gift for crafting melodically rich stories—songs that linger in the heart and stir the imagination. In the early days, her husband Tom brought her a cappella compositions to life with instrumental arrangements. Over time, their creative process evolved into a true collaboration: Barb nudges Tom toward unexpected chord progressions; Tom sparks lyrical ideas with creative riffs. 

Tom is a songwriter in his own right, known for his expressive range on the Martin J-40. His playing moves from driving percussive rhythms to tender two-finger picking in the style of Merle Travis, anchoring their music in authenticity and emotional depth.

Together, they write songs that are honest, textured, and deeply human. Whether drawing from personal relationships or grappling with social issues like addiction, dementia, and economic hardship, their music remains rooted in truth. 

Their artistry has earned them recognition from the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) in the folk category, a win at the Great River Folk Festival Songwriters Contest, and a tie in the Coffee House Midwinter Talent Contest.

With seven albums and more songs in the queue, Tom and Barb recently returned to Nashville to record Humble Night, a collection of Advent and Christmas songs originally shared each Christmas Eve with their faith community. The album blends contemporary folk and Americana, with tracks like “Little Baby in the Manger”—a melodic chorus paired with verses honoring immigrants, refugees, and diverse families—and “Hello My Child,” a tender greeting from mother to newborn.

They’ve shared stages with artists such as Mark Dvorak, Lil’ Rev, Larry Penn, and Nashville songwriter Hugh Moffatt. Stylistically, they’ve drawn comparisons to Buddy and Julie Miller, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Storyhill, Robin and Linda Williams, and solo artists like Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom Russell, and Kris Kristofferson.

Tom and Barb Webber continue to write, perform, and inspire—offering music that is artistically rich, spiritually grounded, and deeply human.

 

Albums

  1. Humble Night (Advent and Christmas)
  2. Fragile 
  3. Between You and Me (Two voices and 1 Guitar)
  4. Fair Webber By Request (Live and in Cover)
  5. Only Way Home (Nashville Country/Americana)
  6. Indigo Sky 
  7. Traveler's Lullaby (Leans even more to the Folk)

Video

Reviews

Jamie Lee Rake - The Shepherd Express

Music for the winter holidays from local acts doesn't come along often, but here's a sincere and tuneful example deserving of repeat play for many Decembers to come. 2025

 Thom Jurek - All Music Guide  

"There is a kind of warmth in this sound that's immediate and front room more than back porch. there is a deepening and widening embrace of the various strains of American folk, country, and, in a sense, music from a previous century, all while remaining contemporary. Only Way Home is the true next step for this pair and their band as they stretch our musically and Barb Webber does so lyrically." Rated 4 out of 5 stars.  

December 10, 2014  | Jamie Lee Rake - Shepherd Express  

Folk as just two voices and a lone acoustic guitar is what Tom & Barb Webber proffer on Between You and Me. Tom’s gruffly friendly tone recalls local legend Larry Penn in resonance…Barb’s is an arguably richer instrument on the songs given to sly and serene sentiment. It’s easy to imagine some of the Webbers’ songs as Americana or especially articulate commercial radio country album tracks with the addition of fuller, electrified instrumentation, but there’s pleasure to be had in their spartanly robust delivery here.       

Jamie Lee Rake - Shepherd Express  

They inhabit their music so personable that it'd be a crime to limit them to commercial country hits. Indeed, Milwaukee is fortunate to have this unique couple doing what they do so well.  

Thom Jerek - All Music Guide  

(Rated 4 out of 5 stars) Traveler's Lullaby...is truly folk music...full of glorious three part harmonies...an auspicious debut."    

Dave Tianen - Milwaukee Sentinel Journal  

The production by William Stace has a very polished shine, and Barbara's original songs display a flair for strong, simple melodies wedded to compelling personal narratives...The intimacy and personal emotions of the songs on 'Traveler's Lullaby" come forth strongly.    

Sing Out Magazine 

Barb Webber"s clarion voice is the aural anchor. (Regarding Indigo Sky)    

Amy Guckeen - Catholic Herald  

He is the music to her lyrics    

Mary LaCharite - Coordinator Fox Point Farmer's Market  

There is great comfort in being with the Webbers by simply playing their music. Barb writes from her heart and head, and the songs are both personal and universal. They linger and become part of you. When Barb's angelic voice harmonizes with Tom's earthy singing, you literally have heaven and earth.    

Norm and Eve Bruce - Martha Merrill Books  

Whether as a duo or with their band Fair Webber, Barb and Tom have graced our indoor and outdoor musical area with soaring vocal melodies and accomplished instrumental talent that always leaves our audiences enthusiastically wanting more. Barb and Tom use their combined talents to create an evening that showcases their original pieces along with a variety of musical classics that, while easily recognizable, take on a new life with the Webbers performing them. They are talent personified!    

Kerry MacKay - The Steaming Cup  

"Tom & Barb, as the heart of Fair Webber, are incredible musicians. They bring such talent as writers and musicians to every performance, that they never fail to please their audience. I highly recommend their talent through their CDs or live presentation....you will always be pleased!"     

Rich and Cindy Morgan - Endangered Folk Series  

We're listening to your new album (Only Way Home) right now. It's nothing short of stunning. It was a great choice to have Tom sing lead on Cockeyed Grin, but the song selection overall is wonderful throughout. I'm in the process of filling my new iPod, and it's rare that an album makes it uncut, but this one will.    

Thom Jurek - All Music Guide  

The true highlight on this set (Only Way Home) is the through a glass darkly "Skeletons in the Closet" that is harrowing, razor sharp, and spot on in its detailed observations of the jagged edge of brokenness in families that we read about in newspapers. It asks questions whose answers are left for the listener to ponder.    

Larry Penn - singer/songwriter  

So we were talking to the legendary Larry Penn about an upcoming songwriters workshop Barb was attending with Peggy Seeger. Because we hold Larry in such high esteem, I have to share with you this backdoor compliment in his gruff dry voice and slight twist of he head...  

"I can think of a number of people that would benefit from a songwriter workshop, but Barb Webber is not one of those."    

Fran Brown - singer/songwriter  

You should be very proud of this CD (Only Way Home). The production is stellar, the vocals are stellar. I particularly love "Peace Will Reign" which I found myself humming all day. The mournfulness of this one went straight to my heart.

AWARDS 

Wisconsin Singer Songwriter Series 2nd Annual Song Contest 2013: Good Bye Old House ~ 2nd Place. 

Great River Folk Festival Songwriters Contest Winners 2012: Profit Line and Lily Marlene 

WAMI Award nomination: Folk/Acoustic 2005 

WAMI Award 2003; Folk Artist of the Year. 

WAMI (Wisconsin Area Musicians Industry) Song Contest: Profit Line ~ 2nd Place in the 2002 CD roulette contest for performance, musicality, and general impressions. This song can be found on the Indigo Sky CD. 

Coffee House Midwinter Talent Contest Co-winner 1996.  Barb and Tom began on an open stage and attribute their casual and pleasant stage banter to that intimate setting. 

 

Venues

Wisconsin Singer Songwriter Series

Great River Folk Festival - La Crosse WI

Simply Folk WPR broadcast Live from The Steaming Cup -Waukesha

Bastille Days - Milwaukee WI

FARM- Folk Alliance Regional Midwest Showcase 2017 -Iowa

The Coffee House - Milwaukee, WI

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. - Milwaukee WI