“Rip off the shower stall; tear off another wall; pray the ceiling doesn’t fall,” the crowd of local patrons sang in unison at the 79th monthly Water Wheel Rounds at Lost River Cave.
Water Wheel Rounds is a songwriter series that has been held at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green for over seven years, said Dan Modlin, a songwriter and host of the Water Wheel Rounds series.
Three songwriters performed on Monday for the Water Wheel Rounds series. The performers included Modlin and Mark Whitley, along with Steve Creech as the opening performer.
Many patrons donated a suggested $12 entry fee, but anyone was welcome to attend.
Modlin said a lot of the people who play at the Water Wheel Rounds are really good storytellers. Songwriters shared stories behind the lyrics and melodies for the songs they were going to sing.
Modlin said musicians sometimes use the Water Wheel Rounds to test out new lyrics and melodies for an audience that’s fully captivated by the performance. The smaller, more intimate space creates an atmosphere where there are no distractions for the audience, unlike at bars or venue spaces in big cities like Nashville.
“In this crowd, people come to listen — not to drink, not to eat; they come to listen,” Modlin said.
Modlin said the songwriters can really see in the audience’s faces how they react to different lyrics and melodies. This helps the songwriters see what works and what doesn’t.
“It’s priceless to us because you can’t get that in Nashville most of the time,” Modlin said.
Whitley, who has performed at previous Water Wheel Rounds, said he only performs his songs in small settings like breweries, private festivals in the area or local gigs. He said he performs in Water Wheel Rounds consistently because the crowd is engaged in his music, and they want to know the stories behind the songs he writes.
Whitley said he always feels better after a long day when he plays a gig. He is also grateful for the support and appreciation from the audience.
“I mean, it’s cool people dig them,” Whitley said. “But I write the songs because I need to get some thought out.”
Whitley said he can say things through songwriting that he never would in his daily life. He said some of his songs mention his experiences with traveling, lost and found relationships and family trauma in small, unnoticeable places.
Many attendees signed up to attend Water Wheel Round 80 after the performance, as Modlin said people often return every month for the series.
Modlin will perform at Water Wheel Round 80 with Richard Young from The Kentucky Headhunters and Lance Cowan at 7 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2026.
