TreeHouse! W/ Rockstead and Austin Grimm
If Pink Floyd jammed with Bob Marley & The Wailers , their sound might come close to TreeHouse! Between the Caribbean Sea and California coastline borne a cornucopia of vibes in the form of TreeHouse! Hailing from the beaches of the Carolinas with an engagingly positive message and energetic live show, this artist chants conscious awareness through bouncing hooks and singable melodies that have contributed heavily to the American Reggae genre, jam scene, festival circuits, healing communities, and beyond. Having supported musical legends like 311 , Stick Figure, Dirty Heads, SOJA, Matisyahu , Michael Franti, Steel Pulse, Mike Love, Wookiefoot, The Wailers and more over the last decade, TreeHouse! has developed a modest cult following, with over 7 million streams across platforms, and listeners reporting significant, life-changing therapeutic improvements through catharsis directly attributed to the TreeHouse! experience, attesting that this music resonates deeply in its ancient sacred power to heal hearts and minds. With roots leading as far back as middle school, Rockstead combines a lifetime full of influences ranging from rock, punk, reggae, jam and metal. In their early days Rockstead ruled the college party scene in Ohio with a schedule full of impromptu house shows leading to packed basements of DIY venues and later, massive crowds attending college fests such as Ohio University’s infamous spring festivals. This early success catalyzed the band’s first recordings which included “Wake Up And Live” (album, 2013), “Rise” (EP, 2014) and “Homegrown” (album, 2016). These releases ignited their inner road warrior leading to a plethora of plays at music festivals and concert venues across the Midwest. Since then, Rockstead continues to widen their reach touring throughout the Eastern U.S. and down into Florida. A lover of many styles of music and a true believer in the healing power of music, Austin Grimm has been writing and singing songs since the age of ten. He spent a decade as the leader of the band Roots of a Rebellion (or ROAR) based out of Nashville, TN who heavily toured the U.S. and released a #1 Billboard Reggae Album called “Shapes of a Soul” in 2019. Since the band’s hiatus, Austin has been pursuing other passions and developing as a teacher. Whether it’s private music lessons (guitar, ukulele, bass, piano and drums), outdoor education/conservation efforts, or teaching yoga, Austin is beyond blessed to be able to share his love for music, nature and mindfulness with people of all ages. Performing solo acoustic, as a duo with his wife Taylor, or with a full band of old ROAR friends, Austin emanates pure love and “joie de vivre” at his shows. Collaborating with others is where it’s at and it has been a pleasure creating music with old ROAR bandmate Marco Mar aka Mellodose as well as other friends in the scene: Cas Haley, The Elovators, Sun-Dried Vibes, TreeHouse!, Resinated, Chinese Connection Dub Embassy and many more to come. Austin is inspired and uplifted by his family, friends, and fans as he aims to inspire others to follow their bliss and work hard to lead a meaningful life!
Sugar Bomb + Zones
𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗺𝗯 is a trio from Asheville, North Carolina that’s as sweet as it is explosive – with extreme dynamic range & a knack for improvisation, the band is quickly making a name for themselves with their mind-bending grooves & melodic explorations. Zones is a duo featuring keyboardist Daniel Combs and drummer Brady Kennedy. Born out of a shared love for musical exploration, each performance is a unique sonic adventure that begs the question: are you in the zone or are you zoning out? Their debut EP “Areas” was released in January 2025.
A. Lee Edwards w/ Billie Feather & The Hallway Waltz
A. Lee Edwards has spent over 30 years crafting songs that blend rich storytelling with the sounds of classic country, folk, and rock. A longtime fixture in the Americana world, he first gained recognition with Lou Ford and The Loudermilks before stepping into his solo career. His debut album, Interpreting Heart Sounds Vol. I, recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain and mixed by legendary producer John Wood (Nick Drake, Fairport Convention), has drawn praise from Glide Magazine, Americana Highways, and The Bluegrass Situation. With a voice that carries both warmth and grit, Edwards delivers songs that feel timeless—honest, heartfelt, and deeply human. “In a fair world, Interpreting Heart Sounds will help get A. Lee Edwards not only listened to, but recognized and respected. In a just world, they’d see him revered.” – Glide Magazine “An authentic Americana sound that brings to mind the Flying Burrito Brothers or the Dillards, had each been fronted by Townes Van Zandt.” – Goldmine Magazine Billie Feather and the Hallway Waltz is the musical home of guitarist, songwriter, and storyteller Billie Feather, a genre-blurring artist whose songs sway between Appalachian ballads, dreamy waltzes, and sharp-witted indie folk. Rooted in the traditions of American music and shaped by years of classical and jazz training, Billie’s songwriting carries the weight of old souls and the sparkle of modern insight. Joined by a rotating cast of trusted collaborators known collectively as The Hallway Waltz, Billie weaves together intimate performances that feel like paging through an old love letter — personal, textured, and full of unexpected turns. Their music is as much about quiet confessions as it is about musical curiosity — embracing folk, alt-country, and chamber-pop textures with equal parts tenderness and experimentation. Her songwriting can be heard through recordings with North Carolina based bands Hank, Pattie and The Current; The P-90’s; Professor Twang and the Honky Tonk Review; and John Howie Jr. and The Rosewood Bluff. Whether performing solo or with her band, Billie invites listeners into a world of honesty, grace, and a little bit of magic.
Heather Mae and Crys Matthews
A troubadour of truth, Nashville resident Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. An award-winning, prolific lyricist and composer, Matthews blends Americana, folk, blues, and bluegrass into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. She is made for these times. Of Matthews, ASCAP VP & Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.” Justin Hiltner of Bluegrass Situation adds, her gift is a “reminder of what beauty can occur when we bridge those divides.” Her hope-fueled, love-filled, social-justice album called Changemakers was released March 26, 2021, and the title track was named the International Folk Music Association’s “Song of the Year” in May of 2022. HEATHER MAE ISN’T JUST WRITING SONGS—SHE’S WRITING REVOLUTIONS. A GENRE-DEFYING ARTIST-ACTIVIST, SHE FUSES THE GRIT OF ALTERNATIVE ROCK, THE INFECTIOUS HOOKS OF INDIE POP, AND THE STORYTELLING DEPTH OF FOLK TO CRAFT ANTHEMS FOR THE OUTSIDERS, THE SURVIVORS, AND THE SEEKERS OF RADICAL JOY. HER MUSIC IS AN UNFLINCHING MIRROR REFLECTING THE RAW REALITIES OF MENTAL HEALTH, QUEER LIBERATION, SURVIVOR EMPOWERMENT, AND THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE.
Mutlu w/ Justin Reid
A Philadelphia musician who proudly carries a torch for the city’s soul legacy, Mutlu makes a connection with every audience. Coming up in the Philly scene, he played around town and in area clubs before landing his first tour opening for Joe Jackson. Since then he’s toured across the U.S. and Europe with his musical brother, Amos Lee, who discovered Mutlu’s music just as both of their careers were taking off. In addition he’s found an advocate with Daryl Hall & John Oates, who invited Mutlu to support a national theater tour. Mutlu (pronounced moot’-lu) is a first-generation American whose parents moved from Turkey to the United States in the 1970s. He discovered the strength of his voice in high school while singing in a Broadway revue. He liked being on stage but didn’t anticipate pursuing it as a career. However, while earning a marketing degree from Drexel University, he spent innumerable hours practicing guitar, writing songs, and playing open mic nights. Now roughly fifteen years into a career as a professional musician, he believes that his Turkish heritage informs his perspective as an artist. “From a writing standpoint, having that multicultural background from a young age fuels your creativity in a different way,” he believes. “It makes you empathize with things differently than you would have.” Whether crooning a love song like “Caramel” (which echoes the Gamble & Huff output of the ‘70s), spreading optimism in “Lifeline,” or sharing a look into his own life as in “Scarred,” Mutlu can bring his diverse catalog together through the power of his voice. He’s been recognized by the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Philadelphia Inquirer for his sweet, silky tone. Bruce Warren of WXPN once described Mutlu’s music as “a mix of soul, reggae, world music and folk, all tied together in the singer-songwriter tradition.” “The vocal connection, that’s the cornerstone of everything I do,” he says. “Everything else is in service of that, performance-wise and production-wise. In R&B and soul music, singers try to really emotionally connect, vocally. It’s about that special thing that can happen when you really dig down deep and give a performance that moves people.” Mutlu launched his music career on Manhattan Records with the 2008 album, Livin’ It, produced by mentor and friend T Bone Wolk. Since then, he’s developed his international audience through touring, multiple appearances on Live From Daryl’s House, and a steady stream of independent singles and EPs, most recently 2019’s Good Trouble. He cites songs like “Livin’ It,” “Hello Morning,” and “One Life With You” as staples in his set, yet he believes that the show experience is far more than just playing the same material every night. “For people who know the songs, it’s about giving something more than they would get on the record,” he says. “I tour a lot solo, and for me it’s about going beyond just playing the songs. It’s about creating a community and finding a way to connect with people.
OFFICIAL NCFF AFTER PARTY: THE AIN’T SISTERS
Fun, eclectic folk rock. Fronted by the deliciously androgynous duo Arrie Bozeman and Barb Carbon, the Aints deliver high-energy performances of their wildly diverse original music. Joined by the hardest working men in rock n Roll, Richie Jones on the Boom Chick thwackita whackita, and Justin Boudreau, aka BooDreamy, masterfully holding down the rhythm section and making everybody swoon with their gorgeous licks. Think Indigo Girls meets Dream Theater but with a little Birdcloud in the mix. If ya ain’t sisters, what are ya?
The Wilson Springs Hotel w/ Megan Jean’s Secret Family
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. Megan Jean’s Secret Family is a fresh blend of the 70’s by way of the 90’s rock, soul, country, and jam, emphasizing vocal-driven danceable original songs that bring together generations of sound. In May of 2024, the band made their national radio debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage alongside notable acts like Keller Williams and Bettye Lavette. DC Music Review called them one of their “New favorite acts” following an energitc performance at 2024’s DelFest.
Dance From Above presents: SHIGETO
Artists take on pseudonyms for a multitude of reasons, but in Zach Saginaw’s case, those reasons run deeper than most. The Detroit-based, Japanese-American musician, DJ, Portage Garage Sounds label co-founder, WDET 101.9FM host, and longtime Ghostly International artist records under the alias Shigeto. It’s his middle name and his grandfather’s name, a tribute to the Japanese branch of Saginaw’s family tree. Shigeto also means “to grow” — appropriate, given his premature birth weight of less than a pound. Today, Shigeto stands for Saginaw’s vividly beautiful electronic music. Beat-driven but given to richly textured sound design, rhythmically fractured yet melodically sumptuous, Shigeto’s music bridges the past and present, bringing the artist face to face with a creative legacy that spans decades. Cherry Blossom Baby, Shigeto’s first full-length statement since 2017, sprouts out from a collective thaw, ambitious, collaborative, and fully realized. It finds Saginaw embracing the role of producer and composer, showcasing a band-built sound that honors traditions in electronic, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop. Saginaw and a group of guests and players present a snapshot in time, a celebration of self-love and an expression of vitality distinctly rooted in Detroit and informed by his family’s cultural history. “I am a cherry blossom baby,” he says. “We all are cherry blossom babies, we all are resilient, we all are growing, we all will continue to.
The Moon Unit + Instant Alter
The Moon Unit is a high-energy jazz fusion trio based in Durham, North Carolina, made up of musicians who have performed alongside some of the country’s most popular neo-jazz and jazz fusion artists. Drawing from a rich tapestry of musical styles—from traditional jazz and modern funk to rock and experimental pop—the trio brings a unique, genre-defying sound to every performance. Rooted in a lifelong friendship, The Moon Unit has honed their craft through years of exploring complex rhythms, melodies, and intense improvisation. Their performances are an invitation into an ever-evolving sonic journey where the boundaries of musical genres dissolve, leaving listeners with a transformative experience. Whether you’re a jazz enthusiast or a lover of bold, genre-blending sounds, The Moon Unit offers a live performance like no other. INSTANT ALTER is a new project formed by saxophonist Emilio Modeste and vocalist Natasha Agrama. INSTANT ALTER features drummer Miguel Russell and bassist Ryo Takenaga. INSTANT ALTER is a reorientation into a new way. A new aesthetic and a new story. These four virtuosic artists join together in service of the art of storytelling, creating a new thread of music as super-bands of the past have done – such as Return to Forever – while integrating grounded Earth Songs that call to the Brazilian Tropicália movement. Within this musical vessel lies an engine room fueled by a powerful and inimitable Bass-and-Drum connection. INSTANT ALTER follows in the spirit of the storytellers that have graced our journeys, offering a fresh sense of melody and rhythm, leading the way to deep feeling, healing and consciousness. INSTANT ALTER’s debut record is produced by Stanley Clarke and Lenny White (Clarke is also bandleader to Modeste and Agrama). INSTANT ALTER is the point of change between sensitivity and earth-shaking calls for reflection; between expansion and deep dives into learning and unlearning; between a global sentiment and an individual experience. INSTANT ALTER is happening in every living moment.
Pageant w/ Cinema Stereo and Prowess
Pageant is a 4-piece rock band, based in High Point, NC. With Roxxi Dirt on bass and vocals, Dylan Dynasty on drums, Cam Duke on rhythm guitar, and Dezzy Foxx on lead guitar, Pageant strives to shine a new light on the classic sound of rock n’ roll. Their music is inspired by rock legends such as Motley Crue, Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, and Cinderella, while also having a deep love for every genre of music. Pageant’s unique sound aspires to contribute to the new generation of rock and create a sound that is unique, yet familiar. They pride themselves on providing a listening experience that’s exciting, raw, and exhilarating. CINEMA STEREO is a high-energy alternative rock band with an affinity for writing infectious music with an original sound. Originally from Orlando, FL, and now based in Nashville, TN, the band draws from a diverse range of influences. Known for their raw emotion in their music, driving rhythms, and captivating lyrics, CINEMA STEREO is constantly evolving, drawing from diverse genres to craft a sound that’s uniquely their own. CINEMA STEREO consists of 3 unique individuals: lead vocalist, bassist & keyboard player Ian Rayha, guitarist Sebastian Borysek, and drummer Luke Pate. With a fearless approach to creativity, they’re making their mark as one of the most exciting new voices in rock music today
