Amy Martin, Bonnie and The Mere Mortals, and Matt Elias
Originally from Harrisonburg, Virginia, Amy Martin spent the majority of her adult life in her beloved hometown. On her recently released album, “Travelin’ On”, Martin explores the breaking point between investing in a problematic, yet beloved place, and moving on to fully realize one’s self and one’s dreams. . . In 2021, Martin packed up her car and moved to Denver. . . after leaving it all behind, Martin came right back to the Shenandoah Valley for the making of “Travelin’ On” with Grammy-winning producer and musician Chance McCoy, formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show. On “Travelin’ On” Martin displays compassionate confidence, born from years of developing not only a musical voice but a certain outlook on life.Bonnie & the Mere Mortals is a project that equally sounds like something you’ve never heard before and something you’ve been hearing your whole life. A genre bend that draws you in, but is as easy on the eyes as it is on the ears. A project that’s pretty sure Hank done it this way, but Robert Smith was on the money as well, and that’s no problem. A live show that is just as at home with an introspective elegy as a barn burner. An aesthetic that is just as much classic Nashville as it is glam. Blending the earnest songtelling and excitement of a 70s Era Grand Ole Opry performance with the technology and theatricality of a synthwave show, the Mere Mortals find themselves halfway between Dolly Parton and Elvira, and at home anyplace.
Brandon Tenney (full band) w/ Swansgate
Döltz + The Red Hand + Snide
Rich Hinman Vs Adam Levy
Rich Hinman vs Adam Levy is an instrumental quartet featuring Rich Hinman on pedal steel and lap steel, and Adam Levy on guitar. Having played together, on and off, for nearly 30 years, these two share a common musical language. Their repertoire of jazz, blues, country and soul songs ranges from standards to obscure numbers, and original tunes as well. Their New York-based rhythm section comprises Chris Morrissey on bass and Dan Rieser on drums. The quartet’s vibe is at once funky and atmospheric, festive and melancholy. Collectively, these four musicians have worked with k.d. lang, Norah Jones, Mark Guiliana, Allen Toussaint, Rosanne Cash, Sara Bareilles and many many others. They released a record in 2019 called ‘VS’, which is available exclusively on Bandcamp. Their second record, ‘Fan Favorites’, comes out May 17.
P.T. Burnem & His Dustkat Dream Drum Machine w/ Arielle Bryant, Katie.BLVD, and Emseein’ Eye
Eli Fribush Experiment feat. Ashlin Parker, Geoff Clapp, and Sam Fribush
You won’t see this anywhere else!
Ric Robertson
Ric Robertson is a generational songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist cut from the fabric of great American music of all kinds. He has the rare ability to deliver his authentic self on stage each night, and his personality and wisdom shine through both in his songs and any music he chooses to deliver. Ric is equally at home on Piano, Guitar, Mandolin, Drums, and Bass, and his musicianship and singing transcend the confines of any specific genre – as a part of Sam Grisman Project he has spent the last year delivering unique and inspired versions of some of his favorite songs from the musical universe of Jerry Garcia and David Grisman as well as his own originals.
Royal Cab Co
Thomas Royal’s 25-year endeavor of creating experimental lo-fi pop noir, producing various EPs and albums like “The Age of the Average” in 2023, evolved into Royal Cab Co. This transformation happened in 2023 through regular music sessions with friends, leading to the establishment of a six-member band. Royal Cab Co’s music is eclectic, blending influences across genres and periods. Imagine The Heartbreakers performing Replacements tracks, Wilco abandoning Country for Yacht Rock, The Jayhawks covering The Cure, Bill Callahan and Bill Frisell, Glenn Campbell and Glenn Tipton. You get the gist. Royal Cab Co, Thomas Royal, Rhett McAllister, and Jason Blalock on guitar and vocals, Hank Royal on keys, Todd Sizer on bass, and Tony Perez on drums, amalgamates nearly a century of musical experience. These folks have amassed thousands of performances across various bands, contributing to their rich, eclectic sound. Their collaboration results in a diverse musical tapestry, characterized by its uniqueness and influences that are left of the dial, finding normalcy in the unconventional and indie side of music. Their collective journey in music spans different genres and eras, resulting in a sound that is both seasoned and exploratory. An all-new Neo Dad Rock movement is here; defiantly maximalist and nostalgic – not a genre, but a catch-all term for anything you can get away with in the car that might offend but won’t annoy the wife and kids.
Old Heavy Hands w/ The Gone Ghosts & Rebecca Porter
Formed in 2015 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Old Heavy Hands forge a compelling brand of heartfelt southern rock informed as much by the Muscle Shoals tradition as the DIY punk rock of their youth. Their forthcoming album, Small Fires, was recorded at The Fidelitorium and Earthtones studios. With most recent single “Between You & Me” singer Larry Wayne honors the life and legacy of his grandfather. From the first chords, listeners are reminded of the bittersweet combination of love, loss, and grief. The lyrics suggest the heroes in our lives, and the values handed down through generations. Despite the grief that informs it, there’s no question the song is a rocker. This is what truly sets it apart from the pack – the intensely catchy riffs and danceable groove; it does not belong on a playlist of funereal ballads. At its core, Old Heavy Hands is about the bonds of family and the loyalty of lifelong friendships. Born from the ashes of tragedies, theirs are songs by real people for real people — inspired by true events.
Wes Collins & Jamie Harris
Jaimee Harris’s sophomore effort Boomerang Town marks a bold step forward for this country-folk-leaning singer-songwriter. It is an arresting, ambitious song-cycle that explores the generational arc of family, the stranglehold of addiction, and the fragile ties that bind us together as Americans.Harris began cultivating Boomerang Town in 2016, a time of great loss for many in the Americana community, with the songwriter losing several musicians close to her. A shift in the nation’s political landscape had ushered in a new level of cultural polarization and for someone who grew up in a small town outside of Waco, Texas, Harris believed the values instilled by her parents were not entirely in line with how many were viewing, and vilifying, Christians. As a person in recovery, Harris has had to re-evaluate her own connection to faith and find strength in a higher power. It was from the intersection of these social, personal, and political currents that the album was born.While themes of addiction and grief permeate sections of the record, it echoes hope in the face of the darkness. Out February 17th, Boomerang Town understands that love and grief are two sides of the same coin. At age 44, Wes Collins and his wife Anita made a pact to become writers: she started writing fiction and Wes penned his first song. A few years later, they were both multi-award-winners in their fields. Collins more than makes up for lost time with songs that dig deep and go to uncertain, sometimes scary places. Come for a haunting melody and some intricate fingerpicking and stay for the wit and deep literary intelligence. There is always more to find in a Wes Collins song. Wes has played shows from coast to coast including: The Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville, TN; The Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, TX; the Cary Theater in Cary, NC (opening for Dave Olney); and many more. He is a winner of the prestigious Grassy Hills New Folk Competition and a North Carolina Arts Council Songwriting Fellowship, and has been featured as a finalist in The Telluride Troubadour Contest in Telluride, CO; The Songwriter’s Serenade Competition in Moravia, TX; and The Wildflower Performing Songwriter Contest in Dallas, TX.
