Ric Robertson Band
Ric Robertson is an American original, pulling influences from the greats that came before, but wholly responsible for building his own creative universe. His new full-length record Carolina Child is nothing short of an opus, taking his wealth of musical proclivities—from the mountain music of his home state of North Carolina, all the way to the jazz and funk of his current homebase in New Orleans—and fueling it into a gonzo vision of Americana that is equally innovative as it is simply beautiful to hear. As a songwriter, Robertson takes his inspiration from the fragility of our inner lives and the small moments packed with meaning that surround us. This is John Prine by way of New Orleans, Harry Nilsson in a Nudie suit, a stoned Dr. John lost in Nashville, Bill Monroe on mushrooms listening to Bessie Smith. It’s a riot of juxtapositions and a chaos of imagination anchored by Robertson’s soft, flowing voice, and his uncanny knack for chronicling our lost lives. Carolina Child was produced by Dan Molad of Lucius, and features Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig from Lucius plus a whole host of Robertson’s friends and picking partners including Dori Freeman, Oliver Wood (The Wood Brothers), and Logan Ledger. Listening to the album’s ten tracks, it’s clear that Robertson—one of the best kept secrets of Americana—is poised for a breakout moment with Carolina Child. Step into his boundlessly creative multi-verse and you’ll find nothing short of American songbook excellence.
R.R. Williams, Bob Fleming, and Ryan Lockhart
Joelton Mayfield with True Giant (Gar Clemens)
Raised in small-town Central Texas and based in Nashville, Tennessee, Joelton Mayfield crafts hard-hitting Alt-Country with a DIY Indie Rock ethic. Mayfield’s distinct take on the Alt-Country genre blends a Wilco-esque musicality with Kraut Rock influences and a tried-and-true Texas Country flair, often with much more left-field instrumentation. His deft lyricism draws a Southern Gothic literary sensibility, dealing intimately with the tensions embedded in family, religion, masculinity, and love in the American South. Recently, Mayfield has gained some traction in the broader music community and now having some representation, new music is slated to be released July 2024.
Nicky Diamonds + Marley Hale with special guest Justin Reid
Nicky Diamonds:Born in East Texas and raised deep in the heart of it. Nicky Diamonds pays homage to his roots of blues and old timey Country. Sharing the stage with musical giants such as Willie Nelson, Alicia Keys, Ray Benson and many more Nicky has come to gain the attention many within and outside of the music industry. With his clever melodies, entrancing voice and pure authenticity you are sure to be hooked, and become and instant fan. Marley Hale:With a beguiling voice that would feel right at home on classic country radio, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Marley Hale delivers a captivating country/folk sound rooted in the refined yet adventurous musicality she’s cultivated almost her entire life. Born in Austin but raised in Northern California, Hale took up guitar at age 10 and soon began writing songs of her own, eventually mining inspiration from the likes of Loretta Lynn and Gillian Welch. As revealed on her debut EP By My Own Ways, to be released July 26, 2024, Hale matches her timeless sensibilities and graceful musicianship with a one-of-a-kind narrative voice, endlessly merging raw truth with mesmerizing storytelling.
An Evening with Chatham Rabbits (night two)
There is something warm and instantly familiar about the beloved roots duo, Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Chatham Rabbits’ Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. Leaning into each other’s strengths, their songs present a congenial, collaborative spirit that has captured the pure adoration of fans along the way and earned them praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter, and No Depression. Their artistry hinges on a fervent desire to connect with others through the music that first brought the pair together. Steeped in the regional traditions of their North Carolina home, Chatham Rabbits’ musical pursuits represent a new age of roots music. Chatham Rabbits recorded and released their beloved debut album, All I Want From You in 2019. This set the standard for their sophomore release The Yoke is Easy, The Burden is Full—the centerpiece song “Oxen” was named “Top Folk Song of 2020” by Paste Magazine. Nurtured by central North Carolina’s fertile, influential music scene, Chatham Rabbits’ sound continues to evolve in their expansive third album, If You See Me Riding By (2022), which was simultaneously released with a television series, On the Road with Chatham Rabbits, on PBS-NC. The McCombies ingenuity during the Covid-19 crisis led to the creation of their mobile concert experience, The Stay at Home Tour, which took the duo to 194 neighborhoods in 2020-21. The pair is currently recording their fourth album of poignant original songs and continuing to foster their tight-knit fan community across the US.
SJ MCDONALD + MADISON HUGHES
SJ MCDONALD BIO: SJ McDonald is an Appalachian cowgirl that fuses the nostalgia of 90s country and the grit of a modern songwriter. While being raised on a 5-generation cattle & turkey farm in the hills of Virginia, SJ found her work ethic, and love for country music. She moved to Nashville at 18, where she cut her teeth playing covers in the bars on Broadway, and recently signed a publishing deal with Major Bob Music, home to artists such as Garth Brooks, Zach Top, and now SJ McDonald. SJ is currently the CMT Next Up Now Artist, where her newest song and music video “Break a Cowboy” has been airing on the CMT Music channel across the country. Today’s new music cries for standout voices unique enough to stamp their fingerprints on the era. To anyone following Florida native Madison Hughes’ (The Voice—Team Blake) fast rising career, it’s her signature sultry, smoky tone that drew you in. Millions of fans have connected with her voice that “grabs ya by the soul” and “feels like home.” Inspired by 70s folk-rock and soul, Madison’s unique storytelling voice is that of an old soul. Her original music captured Billboard Magazine’s attention: “The immensely talented Hughes is on a star-making trajectory.” Rolling out singles all summer long, Madison’s debut album will release end of this year!
Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters + The Turkey Buzzards
Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters are a three piece Progressive Roots band from Southern Indiana. They’ve released three prior albums; “Midwest Heart/ Southern Blues”, “All Damn Day”, “Comapnion”. The new album, “Heavy Denim”, is a genre-bending collection of songs, full of characters who were developed while staring over the dash of a beat up van, cruising through towns all over the Midwest. Nick Dittmeier & Sawdusters will be on the road in 2023 and beyond. For fans of The Band, Dire Straits, and JJ Cale. Much like the duo themselves, the songs range near and far. From the sticky humidity of North Carolina to the dusty cellars of the West, The Turkey Buzzards tell simplistic stories that unravel through gritty vocals and thoughtful harmonies. The carefully crafted guitar riffs set against a solid bone bass stretch out across an American landscape with enough depth to sink well beneath the skin.
Sam Burchfield and The Scoundrels
Sam Burchfield was raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina, where he learned to play and learned to write. His youth was steeped in the mossy creeks and deep ravines of those ancient woods, and they imbued him with the gift of song. Now in his thirties, Burchfield raises a small family in the North Georgia mountains and continues to find inspiration in the rivers and ridges of Southern Appalachia. His latest album ‘Me & My Religion’ was produced with his touring band, The Scoundrels. It is the first collaboration for the group after years of paying dues to the highway. Colin Agnew (drums), Trygve Myers (bass), and Ryan Plumley (guitar) accompanied Burchfield to Muscle Shoals, Alabama along with Nashville producer, Rachael Moore, to record the album of 7 days. “It’s certainly the most upbeat record I’ve ever released,” reflects Burchfield. “We crafted many of the songs together on countless stages, and most were then tracked live in the studio, which just felt right.” This 10 track album is almost equal parts Americana, psychedelia, indie folk, and Southern rock. All these flavors combine to support the album’s main theme. As seasoned listeners will expect, Burchfield’s lyrics are far from on the nose, as the declarative title would suggest. ‘Me & My Religion’ is an exploration of mankind’s toil for meaning in a world of vapid consumerism and commercialism – one in which we have become deaf to our own harmony with nature. Despite the weight of these ideas, the album feels like a lighthearted sojourn through the backwoods of our imagination.
Zack Brock (full band) w/ Cole Brown
Zack Brock is a Singer/Songwriter from North Carolina. With a mix of country, rock and bluegrass and his songs will take you to a place you wish you could be. With strong lyrics surrounded by a great melody you will want to hear the songs again and again
An Evening with Chatham Rabbits
There is something warm and instantly familiar about the beloved roots duo, Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Chatham Rabbits’ Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. Leaning into each other’s strengths, their songs present a congenial, collaborative spirit that has captured the pure adoration of fans along the way and earned them praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter, and No Depression. Their artistry hinges on a fervent desire to connect with others through the music that first brought the pair together. Steeped in the regional traditions of their North Carolina home, Chatham Rabbits’ musical pursuits represent a new age of roots music. Chatham Rabbits recorded and released their beloved debut album, All I Want From You in 2019. This set the standard for their sophomore release The Yoke is Easy, The Burden is Full—the centerpiece song “Oxen” was named “Top Folk Song of 2020” by Paste Magazine. Nurtured by central North Carolina’s fertile, influential music scene, Chatham Rabbits’ sound continues to evolve in their expansive third album, If You See Me Riding By (2022), which was simultaneously released with a television series, On the Road with Chatham Rabbits, on PBS-NC. The McCombies ingenuity during the Covid-19 crisis led to the creation of their mobile concert experience, The Stay at Home Tour, which took the duo to 194 neighborhoods in 2020-21. The pair is currently recording their fourth album of poignant original songs and continuing to foster their tight-knit fan community across the US.
