Genre: Americana

Abigail Dowd, Laurelyn Dossett, & Caroline Cotter

Abigail Dowd is known for her storytelling and command of an audience. Her soulful voice and unique classical guitar style combined with the edgy bass of Jason Duff caught the attention of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, which described their latest album Not What I Seem as having “the guitar-driven introspective folk of the 1970s [as] a touchstone, but so are blues and roots rock ’n’ roll…Here, Dowd steps outside her own experiences to inhabit characters, and catapults past the personal to the universal.” Currently, the North Carolina-based duo are working on their third album, this time with Grammy nominated mixer/producer/engineer Jason Richmond (Steep Canyon Rangers, Dom Flemons).***Singer/songwriter Laurelyn Dossett lives and writes in the piedmont of North Carolina, and her songs tend to reflect the stories of the region, both traditional and contemporary. One of the most sought-after voices in creative collaborations, she co-founded Polecat Creek with singing partner Kari Sickenberger in 1997. Laurelyn is a frequent performer at regional music festivals such as Merlefest and has been a guest on the radio show Prairie Home Companion. She has toured with folk legend Alice Gerrard and songwriter Diana Jones, and premiered composer Kenneth Frazelle’s song cycle, “Songs in the Rear View Mirror,” in 2010, and has toured with the North Carolina Symphony in 2009 and 2011 and 2013.***With a captivating soprano voice and award winning songwriting, Caroline Cotter’s travel inspired songs take listeners all over the world and into the depths of the human heart. Since her debut album, “Dreaming as I Do”, released and reached #5 on the Folk DJ Charts in 2015, Caroline has performed over 500 shows in 43 states and 12 countries. Currently touring to support her second major release, “Home on The River”, No Depression calls it “sweet and smooth, and downright refreshing… raising spirits with one song, calming them with another.” Tom Wilk of Icon Magazine writes, “Her well-constructed songs bring to mind the early work of Mary Chapin Carpenter.” “Today’s folk scene has a new champion, one who encapsulates the sweetness, serenity and sophistication that has always made the genre so affecting in such a timeless manner. In that regard, ‘Home on the River’ is an absolutely essential record.” (Lee Zimmerman/Country Standard Time)  

Holler Choir w/ Wes Collins Band

Artist from Western North Carolina  Holler Choir out now!Relying heavily on vocal performance, stringed instrumentation and the use of Appalachian tonalities, Holler Choir was produced by Mike Ashworth of the Grammy Award Winning Steep Canyon Rangers. “I see this EP as a shift towards my strengths, which is the human voice and mountain music,” says Roberts. His experiences and influences from growing up in Western North Carolina near the Pisgah Forest bleeds into every track on Holler Choir. “The instruments played are ‘old familiar friends’ to me and I know how to arrange them in a way that is authentic.”

YARN ft. Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove w/ support: Alan Peterson

Yarn’s ability to persevere ought to come as no great surprise, especially for a band that spent two years honing their chops during a Monday night residency at the famed Kenny’s Castaway in New York’s Greenwich Village. In effect, it allowed them to rehearse onstage, mostly in front of audiences that often ranged in size from five to a hundred people on any given night. 10 studio albums followed — Yarn (2007), Empty Pockets (2008), Leftovers Part One (2009), Come On In (2010), Leftovers Part 2 (2011), Almost Home (2012), Shine the Light On (2013), This Is The Year (2016), and Lucky 13 parts 1 & 2 (2019). The band then took to the road, playing upwards of 170 shows a year and sharing stages with such superstars as Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, Marty Stuart, Allison Krauss, Leon Russell, Jim Lauderdale, Amos Lee, The Lumineers and many more. They performed at any number of prestigious venues, Mountain Stage, Daytrotter, the Orange Peel, the Fox Theater, the 9:30 Club, South by Southwest, the Strawberry Festival, Rhythm and Roots, Floydfest and so much more. They have landed on the Grammy ballot 6 times, placed top five on both Radio and Records and the AMA album charts, garnered airplay on Sirius XM, iTunes, Pandora, CNN, and CMT, been streamed millions of times on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon, and also accorded the “Download of the Day” from Rolling Stone. and Shine the Light On found shared songwriting credits with John Oates.

The Wilson Springs Hotel

The Wilson Springs Hotel are rooted in folk music and hail from all parts of Virginia; bringing country, folk, bluegrass, and rock together. Based in Richmond, VA TWSH brings high energy music and cohesion to their live show.Their second album is slated for release on April 14th, 2023.

The Wildwoods

The Wildwoods are an enchanting Folk/Americana trio based in Lincoln, Nebraska, whose flowing songwriting tandem has been praised by Paste Magazine as “focused and charmingly human”. The Wildwoods’ delicate melodies and descriptive lyrics come from nature, love, experiences from the road, and growing up in Nebraska.
Comprised of husband and wife team Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), as well as long-time friend Andrew Vaggalis (bass), The Wildwoods draw inspiration from a wide range of influences including the styles of: Watchhouse, The Decemberists, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Peter, Paul, & Mary, Nickel Creek, Joni Mitchell, and Gregory Alan Isakov. The folk/Americana trio work to harmoniously and delicately blend their voices to create a sound so nostalgic that you may find yourself dreaming and longing for those sweet memories from your former days.

Willy Tea Taylor and The Turkey Buzzards

Willy Tea Taylor is a father, brother, and son. His remarkable ability to sing about profound subjects in a simple way makes his songs a great place to lose yourself. Much of that comes from his upbringing.Willy grew up surrounded by rolling hills and horses in the small town of Oakdale, California. Known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World” for breeding so many world champion rodeo cowboys, Oakdale is still Willy’s home and the setting for many of his songs.Despite coming from a long line of cattlemen – his grandfather Walt was one of the most respected of his generation – Willy’s first love was baseball. As a catcher, he had a gift for the nuances of calling a game from behind the plate. When a knee injury ended his ability to catch, Willy turned his attention to music. Willy has charmed fans at some of the best festivals in the country.Willy calls John Hartford, Roscoe Holcomb, Bob Dylan, KISS, Weird Al Yankovic and Willie Nelson his biggest influences, but is always quick to advocate for his favorite contemporary songwriters which include Tom VandenAvond, Nathan Moore, and his Good Luck partner in crime, Chris Doud. He and VandenAvond have travelled the country together on a series of tours they call “Searchin’ for Guy Clark’s Kitchen” where each evening’s show is just a precursor to an endless quest for the kind of serene late night scene depicted in the cult classic documentary Heartworn Highways.

Time Sawyer w/ Sam Foster And The Obsolete

Time Sawyer’s name reflects the pull between the past and the future. The character Tom Sawyer evokes the rural background and love of home that the band shares. Time is a muse for songwriting; it’s the thread that runs through life, bringing new experiences and giving us a sense of urgency, while still connecting us with our past.The folk-rock band has performed on the stages of some of the Southeast’s most iconic festivals, including Merlefest, Floydfest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Albino Skunk Music Festival, and Carolina in the Fall. They’ve shared bills with American Aquarium, John Craigie, Hiss Golden Messenger, Langhorne Slim, John Moreland, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Wood Brothers, Susto, and many more. Time Sawyer’s songs call out the attitudes and behaviors that lead to our divisions – the way that we show understanding to our friends and family, without thinking about how folks outside our social circle are experiencing their own problems, and are, at heart, just like us. The music does what might seem impossible. It holds listeners accountable, but at the same time, draws them in and makes them feel good about what we all have in common. One of Time Sawyer’s goals has always been for listeners to feel a sense of community and connection during the show, and then to keep it with them, long after the music ends.  Sam Foster is a road dog. He lives and breathes the idea that repetition and regularity are the chisels to refine his craft. Hailing from Winston-Salem, Foster emerged on the North Carolina music scene in 2014. He’s brought his brand of tenacity to eager crowds all over the Southeastern United States ever since. 
Foster is a little bit country, a whole lotta rock and roll. While drawing much inspiration from legends of country music past and present, Foster’s sound can be more broadly described as rock. His roots run deep into the vein of American music, and he’s continually inspired by folk, soul, rock, and rhythm and blues. With three albums under his belt (two solo, and one with alt-country outfit Whiskey Foxtrot) and backed by his new band “The Obsolete,” Foster released his fourth solo offering “Heatwaves” in 2022. “Heatwaves” retains Foster’s roots in country and Americana, but forges ahead into new territory for the leadman. 
Sam Foster has shared the stage with national touring acts such as American Aquarium, Joshua Ray Walker, Margo Cilker, Seth Walker, Adam Hood, and Trapper Schoepp.

Vandoliers w/ Crenshaw Pentecostal

Vandoliers are the next wave of Texas music. The six-piece Dallas-Fort Worth groupchannels all that makes this vast state unique: tradition, modernity, audacity, grit, and—of course—size. Forever puts it all together for an enthralling ride down a fresh Lone Starhighway.Produced and recorded by Adam Hill (Low Cut Connie, The Bo-Keys, Deer Tick, DonBryant, Zeshan B) at American Recording Studios in Memphis, TN, the band’s third album(and first with Bloodshot) Forever is a mix of youthful and defiant punk, rugged Red Dirtcountry, and vibrant Tejano. The full-length’s 10 songs blend emblematic rock ‘n’ roll withbold horns, violin, and a slather of twang reflecting where the band is from, where they’vebeen and, eventually, where they’ll be headed. It’s regional and universal all the same.

Wyatt Easterling w/ Chris Myers

” Easterling really can write a song that captures your attention the first time you hear it.” – The Rocking Magpie” Wyatt Easterling would be a revered addition to your music library. One of the year’s best.” – John Apice, Americana Highways “some big-hearted melodies that rekindle the emotional strength of Bruce Cockburn and Jackson Browne.” – Glide Magazine ” Easterling’s musical messages remain clear and effective throughout the disc.” – Will Phoenix, HWY”A solid set with tunes for our times, this is a solid ear opener that rings true.”- Chris Spector, Midwest Record “Dancing on the beach, easy music on the front porch, and Easterling’s thoughtful song on how to appreciate the small but important aspects of life make for a cool song and an even cooler video.” – Melissa Clarke, Americana Highways (on the title track) “Easterling’s vocal is heartfelt and intimate”- Americana UK