Artists

Blues Traveler

It’s not every band that’s still staking out new musical territory and embracing fresh challenges more than 23 years into their career, but that’s the case with Blues Traveler. Having long ago graduated from the jam-band underground to mainstream stardom, the iconoclastic combo has consistently stuck to its guns and played by its own rules. For their new release (and Verve Forecast debut) North Hollywood Shootout, the quintet ventured out of their creative comfort zone to explore some adventurous new horizons. The resulting album is a landmark in Blues Traveler’s large and widely loved body of work, demonstrating the enduring strengths of the band’s songwriting while capturing the spontaneous spirit of their legendary live shows.

Donna the Buffalo

Donna the Buffalo’s eclectic and often socially conscious music has it’s base in traditional mountain music and is infused with elements of Cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. The group’s core are vocalists Tara Nevins, who plays fiddle, guitar, accordion, and scrub board, and guitarist Jeb Puryear. Keyboardist Dave McCracken, bassist Kyle Spark, and drummer Vic Stafford complete the ensemble. Their magnetic musical mix has often been described as dance music and for sure there is everything from foot tapping to get up and feel ecstatic moving in their sound, but there is also some deeply satisfying solace in what Donna the Buffalo has to say and how they say it.

Amos Lee

Taking inspiration from soul greats, Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers, and folk legends, John Prine and Dave Van Ronk, singer/songwriter Amos Lee directs his music with a spirit and presence rooted in American tradition. Amos delivers a unique brand of folk-soul music that aims to unite, uplift, and inspire. The “folk” side is reflected in his nimble acoustic guitar playing and the intimacy of his live performances. A great deal of the current evolution of Lee’s sound can certainly be attributed to the large amount of time he has spent on the road over the last four years. From several worldwide headlining tours supporting the likes of Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, and currently The Dave Matthews Band, his education on stage has been deep.

BeauSoleil Band

When it comes to contemporary traditional Cajun music, there is BeauSoleil. For the past 34 years Lafayette, Louisiana’s BeauSoleil has carried the torch of tradition while continuing to chart uncharted waters with ingenuity and innovation. BeauSoleil’s accomplishments have been nothing short of epic. Yet, it all begins with the preservation of a sacred culture, the lifelong calling of fiddling frontman Michael Doucet. By flowing music – whether it be blues, bluegrass, rock or traditional Cajun – through their one-of-a-kind musical lens the band has almost singlehandedly raised the music of southern Louisiana and its progenitors into the cultural spotlight, it’s influence and importance standing tall and proud on a musical landscape that has recently exhibited much overdue appreciation for other “roots” music forms in the past decade or more.

John Brown’s Body

John Brown’s Body’s “Future Roots” uses reggae as a foundation, but incorporates dub, drum and bass, and electro to create a sound both timeless and forward. Described by LA2DAY as “delivering the most forward-thinking reggae music in the world today” the 8-piece band’s killer live show has super heavy rhythms, a three piece horn section, air tight drum and bass and “the most gorgeous melodies in all of modern reggae music” [All Music Guide], all backed by a dubbed-out sound engineer. However it’s defined, it’s got people buzzing about this progressive band from Boston and Ithaca, NY whose latest album, Amplify, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Reggae Chart.

The Duke and the King

The Duke & The King grew out of Simone Felice’s decision to take an extended break from The Felice Brothers at the end of 2008, after three years of non-stop touring. He set to work on his third book, and began writing and recording with his longtime friend Burke, himself on leave from recent stints with George Clinton, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and film scoring work for acclaimed french director Cedric Klapisch. The two holed up in splendid isolation at The Chapel with a cache of vintage instruments, and emerged with an album of inspired contradictions. Made in the depths of winter, ‘Gold’ feels sun-faded and warm. It emits a bucolic calm, yet was mixed and mastered in Brooklyn by hip hop legend Bassy Bob Brockmann (Notorious B.I.G.). Fusing unlikely elements of blue-eyed soul, Topanga Canyon cool, and Marc Bolan-esque acoustic reverie, The Duke & The King sing of a time and place they can never return to, but will never forget.

Brian Goss Band

“The first thing you think about when you hear Brian Goss Band’s “The Firing Line” is, what a powerful, flexible emotional voice Goss has. Floating above lush strings, he sings about searching and longing and surely knows how to get to the heart of a song. The piano driven title-track “The Firing Line” sounds heavy and Beatle-esque as Goss reveals “The whole world has a stomachache.” The lush “Trainwreck in Your Eyes” is a highlight, as is the percussive “Devil’s On the Telephone” and the soul-drenched “Time To Fold.” Goss’ compelling voice can make anything sound good, and his songs take it even higher. This is one fine record.

Mike & Ruthy

Mike + Ruthy met in NYC, just out of college. Daughter to Hudson Valley fiddling legend Jay Ungar and folk-singer Lyn Hardy, Ruthy’s was a past steeped in the folk tradition. Mike had his musical roots planted in the ska-punk and rock scene blasting from the college radio station in his hometown of Durham, NH. The two fell in love and went on to form the folk-rock behemoth The Mammals, which toured the world many times over. Now married and settled just outside Woodstock, NY, they tour with a full band or as a duo and sometimes share the stage with their fiddling two-year-old son, Will.

Love Eat Sleep

Love Eat Sleep is Songwriter, musician, artist, carpenter, Jeremy Bernstein. He was born and raised in the heart of the Catskill mountains. Son of education visionaries who created an environment where you could dream your wildest dreams. It was in those woods where he realized his passion for art and music. Jeremy has spent the last 10 years writing, recording and touring with Stoney Clove Lane and Drugs. In the fall of 2008 Bernstein began writing his first solo album, which was recorded in the summer of 2009 with Andrew Shober on bass (Apple Pickers Union, Levon Helm) and Joe Magistro on drums (Prophet Omega , Black Crowes). The sessions were done live as a three piece at Applehead Studio in Woodstock, NY. The tracks were then taken home to Jeremy’s studio deep in the woods where the overdubbing was completed. Live, the trio is captivating and dynamic with a pocket full of original songs.

Lindsay Rakers Band

Atlanta’s Lindsay Rakers Band makes folk rock music with the rough edges of alt country, the yearning soul of blues, and the wandering spirit of Americana. Their songs make good company on a drive, and their high-energy shows draw you in and make you right at home. Notably lacking in pretention, they are unabashedly playing music for you, the listener, to enjoy. And they love nothing more. LRB’s contagious energy and broad appeal has gleaned comparisons ranging from Dave Matthews Band to Rilo Kiley to Sugarland. This speaks to the diversity of the members: an ex-metalhead, a Jersey punk, a former pop country star, and a second generation hippie.

Voodelic

Founded on New Years Eve 2003 in Palenville, just over the hill and through the woods from Woodstock, New York. Mississippi native, lead vocalist and lyricist Little Earl cut his teeth singing blues and hard rockin’ Mississippi jukes and bars. Danny Cartwright (drums) and Colin Almquist (bass), have played together for years, and bring a rock hard foundation to “tha voo”. Ross Rice, a veteran of the Memphis music scene has been tinkling on the ivory and twangin’ a few guitars as well, and now, with Danny’s brother Eric on guitar, Voodelic has a new chemistry and a sound deeply rooted in gospel, funk, R&B, and psychedelic blues rock. Voodelic is pumped and ready to hit it, every show.

Nina Violet

Nina Violet is a singer & composer from Martha’s Vineyard MA. Nina has toured and recorded extensively with Willy Mason, opening for bands like Radiohead and Elvis Perkins. She has self-released two albums, Nina Violet & the Invisible Orchestra and Lose Strife. “Nina’s mesmerizing vocal and very modern-sounding fusion of country, folk, roots, blues and jazz… punctuated, and then some, by experimental Beatles-style string arrangements and the occasional Bluegrass, Appalachian or Celtic wig-out” (The Band Room, UK).

Uncle Rock

With three highly acclaimed CDs and a newly-minted DVD, Uncle Rock continues to be embraced by a rapidly growing fanbase, gigging all over the U.S.; from the Austin City Limits Festival, to NYC’s Symphony Space, to Philadelphia’s World Café, to McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. “More than ever, people need to connect in real time and in the same room, and Uncle Rock music – either live or via CD and DVD – is an interactive, cross-generational experience,” says Warren. “Often, folks do not realize how much they get out of a shared musical experience, but once they do, they’re hooked.”