Nicki Bluhm: The Road’s Call

The Spark: Nicki Bluhm’s muse was the highway itself. Growing up in California, she found her voice singing along to the radio on family road trips. Music wasn’t just art; it was freedom, a way to chase the horizon after losing her first husband to a biking accident in 2009. That grief fueled her, turned her toward the stage.

The Story: I first caught Nicki with her Gramblers in a dusty San Francisco dive, her voice a smoky blend of country and soul. Born in ‘79 in Lafayette, CA, she started with covers before forming Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers in 2006 with then-husband Tim Bluhm. Their viral “Van Sessions” cover of “I Can’t Go for That” in 2012—shot in a van with Tim—put her on the map. Post-tragedy, she went solo with To Rise You Gotta Fall (2018), heartbreak etched in every note. I’ve shot her swaying barefoot at festivals, a gypsy spirit with a guitar.

Bands: Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers, plus solo work.

Bandmates (Gramblers): Tim Bluhm (guitar), Dave Mulligan (guitar), Steve Adams (bass), Mike Curry (drums).

Relationships: Her marriage to Tim ended in divorce after his accident; she’s since remarried to Scott Thunes (ex-Zappa bassist), keeping it low-key.

Screen Time: Mostly those “Van Sessions” on YouTube—no big Hollywood turns yet.

Awards: No major wins, but her indie cred’s sky-high.

Biggest Songs:

• “To Rise You Gotta Fall” – Nicki Bluhm with Ryan Miller.
• “I Can’t Go for That” (cover) – Hall & Oates original, Gramblers’ spin.
• “Jetplane” – Nicki Bluhm and Tim Bluhm.

Controversy: Nothing loud—just the quiet storm of her personal losses shaping her art.