September 2025

When their instrumental prowess earned them a vast following on social media, childhood friends turned all-star act Shadowgrass found sudden success. But as a young band, the expectations that went along with a large audience proved daunting. "We felt a lot of pressure to make something uniquely us, because we had such a big following, and we felt that they deserved more than what we had given them as of yet." explains the band. The group dug deep into their own musicality, and tried to block out the noise for their sophomore release All That Will (release date: Oct 4, 2024). "It turned out that dropping those self-imposed expectations and just writing/making music for our own enjoyment was the key to finding our collective voice and making a record we are all proud of."

Shadowgrass began in 2014 when Clay Russell (Banjo), Luke Morris (Mandolin), Kyser George (Guitar) were jamming at the Grayson County Fiddler's Convention in Elk Creek, VA. Sometime before their first real show, the name Shadowgrass was suggested simply because they thought it sounded "cool". Kyser, Clay, and Luke were 9, 13, and 14 years old at the time. Now in their early twenties, their influences and listening habits have changed drastically, but the group has always grown in the same direction musically. They have welcomed fiddle player Madison Morris, who also lends vocals and songwriting prowess, and bass player Evan Campfield. Luke and Madison trade off lead vocals, and harmonies seamlessly with one another. Their commitment to and keen interest in songwriting brings additional dimensions to the band, allowing the group to appeal to listeners outside of the expected jam-band community.

As a very young band that has already been playing together for a decade, Shadowgrass has a unique bond. "We've grown up together and have watched each other evolve into the people we are today", they say. "It sounds cliche but we definitely act more like siblings than bandmates". On All That Will, the group explores themes of anxiety and uncertainty, and questioning the people they want to become. Luckily, they've had each other to share these experiences with, and it seems that their companionship has only pushed their artistic and musical abilities to new heights.

Red Leather is an anonymous alternative-rock artist from Reno, Nevada. Rising to fame in 2023, he has amassed millions of streams and a dedicated fanbase on all platforms and at his live shows. Red Leather's music tells a raw and honest story of his battles with addiction, his journey to sobriety, and his pursuit of the American Dream. His debut album, "RENO," has received critical acclaim for its compelling message through a captivating western rock sound.Currently, he is embarking on his next tour, titled "PUT IT ALL ON RED,"bringing his gritty, soulful sound to major cities across the country.Red Leather has now headlined many shows throughout the US, and opened for major artists such as Dexter and The Moonrocks. His powerful voice and redemptive message resonates with fans, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of faith, resilience, and the spirit of the American West.

The ever-metamorphosing entity that is GONG launches, as ever, into unknown -- and unknowing -- territory with new tours destined to be talked about, discussed, and argued over, up and down the land. From its beginnings in a French commune in 1967, through the Virgin Records years, mismanagement, court cases, break-ups and re-joining's, deaths and rebirths -- there has always been a continuous thread of beautiful, dangerous and extraordinary music.

The current holders of the flame have come together over the last eight years; sinuous bass player Dave Sturt joined just as the album 2032 was shown to the world; Ian East (Sax, Flute) was the next to blow in through the portal; Fabio Golfetti brought his guitars from Brazil (after working with Daevid Allen for many years); Kavus Torabi (lead vox and guitars) appeared to Daevid in a vision; Cheb Nettles (drums) just sort of turned up.

In 2015, Daevid Allen passed away. His influence and legacy were honoured on the band's subsequent album, Rejoice! I'm Dead! (2016). In recent years GONG has performed with the Steve Hillage Band (himself a former member of the 1970s GONG line-up) and released the critically acclaimed album The Universe Also Collapses (2019) and a stunning new live album Pulsing Signals (2022) captures the band at a creative peak with tracks drawn from their 2019 tour. Their last studio album, Unending Ascending, was release in November 2023, and the new album will be released later this year.

Gong's musically diverse world includes shades of psychedelia, space rock, jazz, avant-garde, krautrock and surreal soundscapes.

Ruthie Foster's musical journey is as eclectic and vibrant as her soulful voice. Born into a family steeped in gospel tradition, Ruthie's earliest influences were the voices of her mother, grandmother, and the gospel singers she grew up listening to -- artists like the Gospel Keynotes and the Blind Boys of Alabama. However, her path to becoming a solo artist wasn't a straightforward one. Despite a deep love for music, Ruthie initially shied away from the spotlight, preferring to play guitar, piano, and write songs for others.

Growing up in the rich musical tapestry of Gause, Texas, Ruthie found herself drawn to the diverse sounds and arrangements of local gospel choirs and musicians. Despite her reluctance to take center stage, Ruthie's talent was undeniable, and her mother encouraged her to step up and sing out. She stood out as a young black girl with a guitar in a choir scene dominated by pianos, but with her grandmother's vocal coaching and encouragement from her mother and the church community, she recognized her own power -- as a songwriter, a musician, and as a captivating singer.

After studying music at a community college in Waco, Ruthie decided to take a break from music and enlist in the Navy. The stage drew her once more, and she was selected to sing for the Navy band Pride, where she honed her skills as a vocalist and performer. A development deal with Atlantic Records led her to New York City, where she immersed herself in the songwriting community and learned the craft of writing songs that spoke to the soul.

However, Ruthie's journey took a turn when her mother fell ill, prompting her to step back from music and return to Texas once again. It was a period of introspection, caregiving, and deep bonding with her mother, and upon her return to writing and performing, it was to shape her voice as a singer-songwriter and storyteller. Drawing on her experiences and her musical roots, she began to craft blues, folk, and gospel-tinged songs that spoke to the universal themes of love, loss, and resilience.

Turning down a major record deal in pursuit of authenticity, she has stayed true to herself and her vision as an artist, signing with independent label Blue Corn Music to release Runaway Soul in 2002, followed by The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster in 2007, The Truth According to Ruthie Foster in 2009, Let It Burn in 2012, Promise of a Brand New Day in 2014, Joy Comes Back in 2017, and Healing Time in 2022. She has also released three live albums, Stages in 2004, Live At Antone's in 2011, and 2020's Live at the Paramount.

Now, with five Grammy nominations to her name, Ruthie Foster has achieved a long-awaited milestone: her very first Grammy win. Her latest album, Mileage, released on the legendary Sun Records, won Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards -- a triumph not only for Foster, but also a historic first-ever Grammy win for Sun Records. The recognition underscores the power of Foster's artistry and the enduring legacy of a label that continues to champion timeless voices. With soulful melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and unwavering commitment to her craft, Foster continues to carve out a path that is uniquely her own -- inspiring audiences and fellow musicians alike.

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Zachary Scot Johnson is both a well traveled singer/ songwriter, having shared the stage with artists like Shawn Colvin, Keb' Mo', Marc Cohn, Jane Siberry, The Be Good Tanyas, Suzanne Vega, Lisa Loeb, Steve Forbert, The Verve Pipe, Richard Shindell, The Greencards, Cheryl Wheeler, Lucy Kaplansky, Susan Werner, Juliette Lewis, Shawn Mullins, Julia Nunes, Catie Curtis, Peter Mulvey, Willy Porter, Maria Muldaur, Rita Wilson, Kevin Costner and Modern West, Steve Poltz, Billy Joe Shaver, John Fullbright, Vonda Shepard, James McCartney, John Hammond, Natalia Zukerman and others and a strong internet presence, including a YouTube channel with well over 43 million views, a strong Facebook fanbase, and more. He has performed for legends including Tony Bennett, Bernadette Peters and others. He has been touring nonstop since 2001 and has performed just about everywhere within the US. He has released six cds, including 2004's "Moment of Clarity", 2008's "To Whom It May Concern", 2011's "Live at the Guild" with longtime collaborators Mark Paffrath and Jeff Ward, 2017's "Sad Songs", 2023's self-titled "Zachary Scot Johnson" (also released on vinyl) and 2025's "Echoes", which is an instrumental piano tribute to George Winston. Born and raised in Racine, WI, Johnson now resides in Saint Paul, MN. He graduated in 2006 from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI as a triple major student of music performance, theatre arts and psychology. As an actor, he has over 50 regional credits, including national tours and is proud to have founded and run an improv comedy group for four years at Lawrence University. Zach's music has brought him to stages of all sizes across the country and onto multiple NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX morning and evening shows, radio around the country and more. Johnson's mastery of many instruments lead to exciting live shows, where Johnson performs on piano, 6 and 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, baritone guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin, violin, lap steel, harmonicas, octave mandolin, viola, bass, drums, percussion, banjolin, dulcimer, ukulele, pedal steel and more. His repertoire covers a wide range of styles and genres, from folk to jazz, rock to spoken word, blues to pop, country to a cappella, gospel to instrumental and more. Johnson is a nationally touring artist, performing 100 or more dates annually and is a proud member of the Grammy Recording Foundation. His hit YouTube channel, thesongadayproject has Johnson bringing a song--either original or cover--from wherever he is on any given day and has run for over 4, 700 consecutive days (over 12 and a half full years without a single missed day), and garnered an astonishing number of loyal viewers. Over 350 guests have appear on the channel in collaboration with Zach including Donovan (who flew Zach to Ireland to record together), Shawn Colvin, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, Marc Cohn, Jeff Daniels ("Dumb and Dumber", "The Newsroom", etc.) Noel Paul Stookey & Peter Yarrow (from Peter, Paul and Mary), Creed Bratton ("The Office" and The Grass Roots), Lisa Loeb, J.D. Souther, Paula Cole, Carlene Carter, Mary Gauthier, Melissa Manchester, Nellie McKay, Eliza Gilkyson, Cheryl Wheeler, John Gorka, Gretchen Peters, Ruthie Foster, Collective Soul, Over The Rhine, Stephen Kellogg, Jeremy Messersmith, Mary Black, David Wilcox, Tom Paxton, Ellis Paul, Lucero and many more.

You should already know these songs. If the old saying about talent equaling success were true, then The Steepwater Band would already be a household name, rubbing shoulders with Aerosmith, Bad Company and other like-minded travelers in our collective Rock 'n Roll Fantasy. But that's not how things always work, and this band knows it and still leans into it, smiling, with everything in them, not for brass rings and marquees, but because they must! For them, the music life is a calling and not some stupid costume one puts on to shake loose gold, fame, and groupies. In a land of caricatures, it's striking to come face-to-face with the real thing.

Something primal lurks in their music, but always wrestling with emotions and stories that are everyday-ready ~ music at once strut-inducing sexy and brass knuckles honest, a sound evolved smartly & patiently through countless gigs, running the bulls whenever and wherever they've been welcomed since 1998. AC/DC once said, "If you got the dollar, we got the song / Just wanna boogie woogie all night long," and The Steepwater Band surely embodies this lip-smacking urge to get some in this mean old world, befitting the group's Chicago roots and their earthy understanding of crackling city blues.

The abiding, resounding passion inside this band is never in question. Dive into their seemingly endless catalog of songs just about anywhere, and the heart and muscle pumping away inside every track are palpable and present in a most pleasing way. Their sound is like a soundtrack for arm wrestling The Devil and then drinking shots with him 'til sunrise after you've pinned him down. Their songs bridge the miles between lovers, throw lines to brothers and sisters in need of some understanding and a spark that makes them shuffle, eyes closed, shaking off the day's heavy load, ready for another round because the right song by the right band made them feel they had enough fight left in them. That's the kind of band you're dealing with here, and they'll be doing this long after all the pretty boys, package acts, and pretenders have left the stage.

Nashville based soul artist Jed Harrelson has found a way to fuse sounds of Soul, Rock and R&B. Music connects and he carries that into the center of his work, leaving both a euphoric and familiar presence. While he's independently released 12 songs in the last three years, he is working on a debut project right now. All of his music is recorded in house with his brother Hank as the audio engineer.

Being from Texarkana, Arkansas instilled a drive to hone in on his craft though the lack of music scene caused him to move where he could really express his artistic message which took him to Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is where he cut his teeth in the Northwest Arkansas music scene. Now living in Nashville since January 2020, Jed is independently touring the country with his band in a gold van called 'The Loaf".

By achieving and producing what feels good in his art, Jed just might help listeners do the same.

"Couples Therapy" is one of the funniest, longest-tenured stand up comedy shows in the
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Come experience a night of laughter with your special someone and enjoy this unique,
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You get to watch the full comedy show and then enjoy a panel of comedians answering relationship questions - submitted by the audience. Come get marriage advice from our "experts" (the comedians) that's brutally honest and always funny!

This is the hottest parody relationship show you'll ever see! Come enjoy this night of hilarity LIVE.

*Note: Please be advised that this show is strictly for adults, 21+ and has explicit language and mature content.

A season of drastic change is what brought SUSTO frontman Justin Osborne to the band's fifth full-length LP, My Entire Life [New West Records]. There was a divorce, difficulties re-building his band after the pandemic, and the pain and helplessness of witnessing family members struggle with addiction and mental illness. Despite these challenges, Justin ultimately found himself in a new landscape, with new love and a deeper perspective, all of which is masterfully projected into My Entire Life.

While navigating some major life changes, Justin understandably experienced a surge of creative energy. He channeled this into writing and recording with the people closest to him, even as the tides of his personal life continued to shift. Primary collaborators included longtime producer Wolfgang "Wolfy" Zimmerman, SUSTO Co-founders, Johnny Delaware and Marshall Hudson, and his fiancé/co-writer Caroline Foyle.

Much of the album was recorded at The Space, in Charleston, SC, but major sessions also took place at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, NC, and Chase Park Transduction in Athens, GA.

Johnny had moved to Mexico shortly after work on the album began, so some tracking was done at his home studio in Mexico City.

The band also took a "recording pilgrimage" to the Mexican town of Tepotzlán (mythical birthplace of mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl), where they turned an airbnb into a remote recording studio, with help from members of Mexican Institute of Sound.

The combined result of these efforts is a compelling blend of rock, folk and psychedelia, with vivid country-esque storytelling. It's as raw and real as anything the band has done so far and everything you'd hope for from a modern rock 'n' roll record.

The album's namesake and lead single, "My Entire Life" is melodically tearful, with an urgency "to keep living."

As a whole, the album documents Justin's personal journey through highs and lows in his life, with many of the details on full display. He narrates the demise and aftermath of an almost decade long relationship, while celebrating the joy of falling in love and the hopefulness of starting over. There is a playfulness at times, but always a clear desire to distill wisdom from experience.

"SUSTO's narrative has always been confessional, and songwriting is my way of trying to make sense of the chaos--good and bad--around me," observes Justin. "These songs cover the spectrum of everything that's happened in my life the last few years. There's been a lot of change, which can be painful, but there's also been a lot of joy and hope, along with everything in between. I figure that's what life is." He continues "...it's a mosaic of all the good, bad, and mundane things we face as we make our way from birth to death. Along the way we ride the waves, but if you stay true to yourself and push through, I believe you can get to where you really want to be, and you can shape that mosaic into something that fulfills you. There is a lot of hope in that for me. This record is my story of navigating a bunch of chaos, but finding ways to carry on and manifest my own happiness...the last few years were a challenge, but I look back and see that I made it through, a better, truer, and more realized version of myself."

It's been quite the ride for SUSTO. In addition to achieving widespread critical acclaim in recent years, the group has built a diehard fan base through captivating live performances and compelling songs.

For as much as My Entire Life is the ultimate vision of what the band can be, it's also a classic story of one person rising from the ashes, wiser and fiery than ever...

"Writing and performing has long been central in my life, and this season of change has only heightened my desire to connect with other people through songs. I've crossed a mountain, so I'm ready to charge forward, and share that story. Everybody goes through difficulty one way or another, we all get worn down, we all chase dreams; songs are there to remind us we aren't alone in that. In my case. I'm thankful for lessons learned, and excited for the future. The privilege of sharing these songs with our audience is something I'm incredibly grateful for."

Cosmic Charlie was born in the musical Mecca of Athens, Georgia. From its summer 1999 inception, the band swiftly cemented its reputation as a band that puts a unique and personal twist on the Grateful Dead catalogue. Cosmic Charlie is a Dead cover band for folks that are ambivalent about Dead cover bands.

Rather than mimicking the Dead exactly, Cosmic Charlie chooses to tap into the Dead's energy and style as a foundation on which to build. The result is healthy balance of creativity and tradition, where both the band and its audience are taken to that familiar edge with the sense that, music is actually being MADE here tonight.

Moving and shaking even the most skeptical of Deadheads, Cosmic Charlie storms into a town and plays with an energy that eludes other bands, an energy that sometimes eluded the Dead themselves. Those precious moments during Dead jams when the synchronicity is there and all is right with the world - these are the moments that Cosmic Charlie relishes and feverishly welcomes with open arms. Clearly, Cosmic Charlie's audiences are also eager to partake in these moments, and together with the band, they have indulged in many memorable evenings.

Most nights, Cosmic Charlie walks onstage without a setlist, not even knowing what the first song will be. Any Dead tune can rear its head at any moment, and fan requests are always welcome. "INSPIRATION, MOVE ME BRIGHTLY" is Cosmic Charlie's mantra, allowing the music to truly play the band.

Damn Tall Buildings is a celebrated folk-bluegrass band known for their soulful melodies and intricate instrumentals. Based in Brooklyn, this seasoned trio--Max Capistran, Sasha Dubyk, and Avery Ballotta--has spent over a decade honing their craft through dedicated touring and recording. With a distinctive sound that weaves heartfelt lyrics into thoughtful fiddle, guitar, and bass arrangements, they embody a unique blend of Americana roots and contemporary style. From intimate local venues to larger global stages, their captivating performances leave a lasting impression on audiences around the globe.

Initially honing their skills through busking, Damn Tall Buildings brings an infectious energy to their music. Their varied influences extend beyond bluegrass, infusing elements of old-time, blues, and jazz into their songwriting. With seamless vocal harmonies and captivating instrumental solos, the trio creates a cohesive sound that feels greater than the sum of its parts. As they continue to travel and grow, Damn Tall Buildings fosters a welcoming spirit, inviting audiences to join them on a journey through their vibrant, well-crafted performances. Critics have praised their ability to establish a musical blend that defies categorization, offering a warm and reflective embrace that is both enthusiastic and deeply resonant.

The Black Moods play raw, amplified rock & roll. A classic power trio for the modern world, they turn the genre's timeless ingredients -- electric guitar, anthemic hooks, and percussive punch -- into a sound that's both contemporary and climactic.

The Imaginaries sophomore album, Fever, out August 22, is a salvation-after- struggle themed album, bursting with gritty blues-rock riffs, mesmerizing vocal harmonies, driving pop-rock tunes, heartfelt singer-songwriter ballads, delicious guitar tones, and dazzling solos. The 12-song collection boasts guitar-solo cameos from Vince Gill, Joe Bonamassa, and Ariel Posen. The Oklahoma-based husband-and-wife duo blends vocalist/guitarist Shane Henry's blues-rock roots with vocalist/keyboardist Maggie McClure's boldly vulnerable singer-songwriter sensibility. The results are a pop-Americana aesthetic that evokes Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, The Civil Wars, and Bonnie Raitt.

The Imaginaries have released a Christmas collection, Hometown Christmas, a self-titled debut, and numerous singles. The twosome has amassed 75-plus sync-licensing placements in film, television, and advertisements. Select live highlights include sharing stages with Judy Collins, John Waite, The Gatlin Brothers, and Sixpence None The Richer, and an invitation to open for the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Tour before the pandemic. Maggie and Shane are born and raised, proud Oklahomans. Maggie is from the large city of Norman, and Shane is from the tiny, 700-person town of Verden. Both wield impressive solo artist resumes with prime song placements, critically-acclaimed solo albums, acting appearances, and landmark live performances.

Their artistic union was cemented in 2018 when Maggie and Shane were invited to perform as a duo in Muscle Shoals, Alabama on Grammy-winning engineer John Cuniberti's (Train, Aerosmith, PJ Harvey) YouTube program, "The OneMic Series." Since then, Muscle Shoals has become something of a sacred place for The Imaginaries, and they tracked both of their albums there with the studio's legendary session musicians, The Swampers (1st and 2nd generation). Look for The Imaginaries on tour in 2025 and beyond.

"It's a house with a lot of character," Auerbach says. "I've always loved it. I always felt inspired when I was there. I knew it would be a fun place to do something. It's over a hundred years old. It's got the old plaster on the walls, plaster ceilings, old wallpaper. There are big oak floors and an oak stairwell. The first floor has twelve-and-a-half-foot ceilings. It's pretty awesome. But it's not a recording studio by any means."

"We had to drag all the gear in there. We set the little mixing console upstairs -- this crazy, wild old '50s Universal Audio tube console that I'd just gotten and fixed up, which was built by FAME Studios' Rick Hall for his studio in Memphis -- in a spare bedroom, and we ran the wires down the stairs. We set up James and everyone in separate little rooms downstairs. James' little Princeton amp was right behind him, there were no baffles or anything, and so when he was Early James recorded his first two Easy Eye Sound albums, Singing For My Supper (2020) and Strange Time To Be Alive (2022), at the studio inside the vaunted label's Nashville headquarters. But for James' third release, Medium Raw, producer and Easy Eye Sound label head Dan Auerbach envisioned something quite different for the Alabama-bred singer-songwriter-guitarist's rawboned, sometimes scarifying music.

"Day of the first session, I had my GPS routed to Easy Eye," James recalls. "We ran into some traffic, and I texted [engineer M.] Allen [Parker] -- 'Hey man, sorry, we're gonna be about 15 minutes late.' And he said, 'It's OK, we're still getting set up at the house.' And I was like, 'What house?' 'We're recording at this house, it's really cool.' It was news to me! It felt unusual in the moment, which I think makes you play the songs differently. But I'm really happy with and proud of the results."

"I wanted to try to find that power of when I first saw him, when it was just him and his guitar," Auerbach explains. "After working with him a couple of times in the studio, I felt like I wasn't going to be able to do it in the same kind of way. The comforts and luxuries of the studio, where you're able to hear everything and make adjustments and changes, wasn't right for this project."

"Some of my favorite albums are those Arhoolie records produced by Chris Strachwitz that were recorded in houses, by Fred McDowell, Lightnin' Hopkins. I felt like we might get better results if we did it in a house."

The house in question, known as "Honky Chateau," was an old Nashville property owned by photographer and artist Buddy Jackson.

soloing it was all bleeding into his vocal mic. Adrian Marmolejo, James' bassist since the beginning, was in the hallway, peeking around the corner. We had these beautiful microphones sucking up the soul of the house. It sounded fucking amazing. When you have headphones on, you can hear that room. You can even see the room when you close your eyes."

James notes that pretty much everything you hear on Medium Raw was, as its title suggests, cut au naturel.

"There are just two overdubs, on 'Rag Doll' and 'Nothing Surprises Me Anymore,'" he says. "We had intended to get a violin solo on 'Nothing Surprises Me Anymore,' and Dan said, 'Ah, I came up with something.' On the trio tracks, it was a challenge. Jeff Clemens, who drummed, was two rooms away -- I couldn't see him. We didn't have in-ear monitors, and it was the first time for him hearing any of those songs. I love his drumming with G. Love [& Special Sauce] and Kenny Vaughan so much. You can hear Jeff kind of tiptoeing through it, and it makes the song move in a really cool way. It's not hyper-polished, but it has Jeff's confidence, and you can't teach that."

In many ways, the approach harkened back to James' very first recording, a four-song EP he cut in Birmingham and released in 2017. "Someone said, 'You should just release an EP,'" he recalls. "So me and Adrian, on his lunch break, recorded those four songs. There was construction outside of the studio, so we had to do it in the console room, which is not unlike this new record. If you listen closely, you can hear power saws next door."

Like that first quartet of recordings, Medium Raw lives up to its name, presenting its brace of smart, playful, and often fiercely rocking original songs to intimate life with a stunningly vital sound that thrives on its lived-in real-world ambiance.

Beyond seven James originals -- six previously unrecorded numbers and the fan favorite "Dig To China," which dates back to that first EP -- the new album includes songs co-written with Auerbach and top Nashville songwriter Pat McLaughlin ("I Got This Problem"); Sheryl Crow's frequent collaborator Jeff Trott ("Nothing Surprises Me Anymore"); roots singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim ("Go Down Swinging"); Irish songwriter Mick Flannery ("Upside Down Umbrella"); and James' former Birmingham roommate Ryan Sobb ("Unspeakable Thing").

The writing continues to display the hallmarks of James' distinctive, one-of-a-kind style: whip-smart wordplay, upended clichés, humor both light and dark, and a deep intelligence that frequently reflects a literary sensibility.

The self-deprecating musician says, "I'm really good about picking up books and getting what I need from 'em. I'm really bad about picking up something and getting what I need and putting them back down again. I am a huge Cormac McCarthy fan. Some of his books are very hard to read, just because of the way they make you feel. I'm working on Blood Meridian now for the third time."

His musical sensibility has leaned toward the hard stuff from an early age: "I remember getting obsessed with the blues and getting obsessed with old country. My first favorite musician was Hank Williams. There was something about how dark that music was. I could listen to Hank Williams on repeat and never get tired of it. Hank Williams, Jr., lives in my hometown of Troy, Alabama, and he and my dad were hunting buddies. They still run into each other at Julia's Restaurant in Troy. I listened to a lot of Howlin' Wolf, and his guitarist Hubert Sumlin -- I thought that was Howlin' Wolf playing the guitar."

With Medium Raw now ready to be served, James is embarking on touring (backed by Marmolejo and drummer Joey Rudisell) that will take him through the U.S. and return him to Europe, where he has developed an enthusiastic fan base, for dates in the Netherlands, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, and Denmark.

Like the rambling bluesmen of old, whose repertoires would mutate from night to night, James says audiences should expect him to work some new wrinkles into his songs on stage: "I'm trying to play dress-up with this record on the road. You never know what it's going to be wearing. It depends on what thrift store we get to."

Lene Lovich, the Post-Punk/New Wave icon who could count John Lennon and Frank Zappa among her fans, is set to return to the United States for the first time in 18 years this fall. She will undertake her first full North American tour in 35 years, playing 25 shows across the country.

Lovich moved to London in the mid-1970s just as the Sex Pistols were about to seize the nation by the proverbial throat, forming a band with her partner Les Chappell, and soon beginning to make a name for herself with her flamboyant style and effervescent live performances. She came to the attention of Oval Music moguls Charlie Gillett and Gordon Nelki, whom had recently helped to launch the careers of Ian Dury and Elvis Costello, taking Lene to the same independent record label, Stiff Records, that had been at the vanguard of punk and New Wave in the UK, with debut releases from The Damned and Devo, as well as the aforementioned Dury and Costello, and Stiff Records house producer Nick Lowe.

Lene rocketed to the top of the UK charts with her second single on Stiff, the unforgettable "Lucky Number", in 1979. The success of the single propelled her debut album Stateless to instant cult status, where it remains to this day, a classic of its time and hugely influential on the burgeoning 1980s post-punk Goth subculture. Lene's second album, Flex, released in 1980 was arguably even more influential in the United States than Stateless.

Lene toured America successfully many times during the 80s, and her band included Thomas Dolby on keyboards, with whom she co-wrote her biggest selling US single "New Toy". Her third album, No Man's Land, released in 1982, seemed poised to become her commercial breakthrough in America. Alas by then her relationship with Stiff had deteriorated. She released the album March in 1989 on the independent label Pathfinder Records, and toured America one more time, in 1990, subsequently retreating from the limelight to raise a family in rural England.

Sporadic collaborations and extremely rare live appearances was all that was seen of her for many years, until the release of the album Shadows and Dust in 2005. With her daughters now grown up, Lene returned to regular live performances in 2012 when she and guitarist Jude Rawlins formed the Lene Lovich Band to take her classic material back on the road. The band garnered huge acclaim across the UK and Europe, where they have toured consistently ever since. Finally, in 2025, America will get the chance to see what they've been missing for far too long, the iconic and unique Lene Lovich at full volume.

Drumming Bird is the main vehicle of singer-songwriter Austin Sawyer. Sawyer has been writing and performing music as Drumming Bird for over a decade, meticulously crafting a sound that lies somewhere between the youthful noise of indie-rock and the poignant working-class introspection of Americana.

The growth of Drumming Bird's burgeoning fanbase has been catalyzed by national TV placements, including on Showtime's hit show, Shameless, captivating live performances at many of the nation's flagship clubs and a growing reputation as one of the most authentic voices writing music today.

The title track of Drumming Bird's 2022 release, American Spirits, scored him second place finishes in Unsigned Only's 2022 Songwriting Contest and American Songwriter's 2022 Song Contest. The following single "Electric Cowboy" landed on Spotify's editorial playlists: Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds: Rock and Grade A.

Drumming Bird's new record, Roadkill Poetry, was produced by Oscar-nominated songwriter Mike Viola (Panic! At The Disco, Andrew Bird, Jenny Lewis), with Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes), Sebastian Steinberg (Fiona Apple, Iron & Wine, Soul Coughing) and Viola as the backing band. Its singles have landed on Spotify's "Fresh Finds: Folk" and Apple Music's "New in Alternative" and "New in Rock" playlists.

How to honor the legacy of a band deemed sacred? To tread on holy ground is perilous, and must be done with the intent and spirit of a disciple--Pay attention to the intricacies of the magic, explore the far ends of the innovation, strive for ever-growing ability, and let the purity of the love for the music drive it all.

Drummer Clementine is the founding member of ZEPPARELLA. From the beginning of her musical career, her goal has been to be onstage every night. The pursuit of that goal has led Clementine to constantly tour the US and Europe in projects as diverse as Bottom, AC/DShe, The House Of More, The Solid, Francis Bakin, Stars Turn Me On and Beaux Cheveux. She tackles the best rock drumming ever written with her own emotionally powerful style, bringing the Motown influence of the Bonham groove to the forefront. The profound musical connection established with Gretchen Menn (guitar), Holly West (bass), and Anna Kristina (vocals) creates the bond required to do this great music justice.

It was under the tutelage of classical guitarist Phillip DeFremery, a student of Andrés Segovia, that guitarist Gretchen Menn began her path on the instrument. Playing with tireless passion and constantly seeking out new challenges, her projects are often unconventional, genre-bending expressions combining elements of classical, rock, progressive, jazz, and metal. On influences, Gretchen has never tired of her initial inspirations--Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Frank Zappa, and Jeff Beck. But she has loved Jimmy Page's guitar playing longer than she has played the guitar. It was through the music of Led Zeppelin that she found a gateway into music that resonated deeply with her, creating a love for guitar-oriented music, and, ultimately, the guitar.

Bassist Holly West began her musical journey full-steam ahead, and more recently than her stellar playing belies. Her unstoppable will and drive have truly propelled her to this moment and her place in the powerhouse Zepparella. A self-taught bass player, she is also a blossoming vocalist with rich rock pipes. Her time on stage has been well spent, developing an impressive attack, impeccable feel, and a technique which seems to have come completely naturally to her, not to mention her dazzling stage presence and joyful performance style. Her influences span the rock gauntlet, from Clutch and the Rival Sons to Slash, ZZ Top, and of course, the mighty Zeppelin.

Singer Anna Kristina is a soulful, fiery, and rocking vocal powerhouse who has stepped into Zepparella's Plant spot for a second time. Anna was with the band for 5 years, became known for her performance in the band's 15 million-view "When The Levee Breaks" video, took a 6-year hiatus, and now returns in 2018 to front the band. Her career has spanned acoustic, jazz, soul, rock, and her charisma and power delivers captivating performances every night. About her brilliant harp playing she says: "getting a chance to blow on the harmonica is an added bonus! Plant isn't just a singer he's a musician. He brings his blues background and natural percussive feel to his harmonica playing as well and I love getting lost in that. Playing the harp allows me to express on a whole different level and it's so freeing."

Now more than ever, Zepparella explores their own improvised magic within the framework of Zeppelin's mighty songs!