Benyaro, New York City's indie acoustic soul and roots power duo, has a sound reminiscent of "early Tom Waits" (KBGA- Missoula, MT), "acoustic David Bowie" (WESU- Middletown, CT), and "Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young" (Connect Savannah). According to Relix magazine's Jan/Feb 2011 issue, Benyaro is "on the verge...indie acoustic soul power." Their 2 albums have spent time on the CMJ Top 200 and over 120 radio stations across the world spin Benyaro's music. Lead singer Ben Musser's voice has been dubbed "a strange amalgamation of Cat Stevens and Axl Rose" (Yes! Weekly). Knowing this, one can expect Benyaro to deliver an intense, emotional, and upbeat performance. Musser and upright bassist Bobby McCullough combine their voices and instruments with feeling and honesty, drawing audiences into their world of soul, folk, country, rock, blues, gospel and beatboxing/house. Though only two performers, one is treated to the sound of a full acoustic band as they play percussion with feet, nylon string guitar and upright bass with hands and sing together with conviction. Benyaro has recently released Good Day Better, the follow up to their nationally charting (CMJ), self-titled debut album. According to Philadelphia Daily News, Good Day Better offers a "campfire hoot of a sound endowed with warm tunes and tight harmonies." Good Day Better explores and expands the boundaries of acoustic music and is available at Benyaro shows, iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and other fine online retailers.

The Clumsy Lovers have brought their mix of fiddle and banjo-fuelled, bluegrassified Celtic rock to North American audiences for over a decade. With more than 2500 performances under their belts, their high-energy shows have worn out dance floors and created a loyal following in 49 states and across their homeland of Canada.

In addition to their live shows, The Clumsy Lovers have also released a series of award-winning and critically acclaimed recordings.  Early self-produced recordings garnered the attention of venerated label Nettwerk Records, which came on board to release “After The Flood” (2005) and “Smart Kid” (2006).  Both albums won a CD of the year nod from the Indie Acoustic Music awards, as well as being nominated for numerous other honors (including multiple mentions from The West Coast Music Awards, and the Canadian Folk Music Awards).  

The Saint James Society began with 5 individuals who, from the time they where born, have compulsively sought to understand the weird, and from weird corners of America they met in Austin, Texas. Stars align and "Ballad of the White Horse," a creepy roller inspired by 60’s garage sounds & 80's junkie glam, was written at the very first practice. Since that shimmering evening, The Saint James Society have polished their pistols at the best clubs in Austin with some of Austin's finest garage/psyche accomplices. Aside from being selected for a spread in Underneath Magazine, "Ballad of the White Horse" was recently featured as Song of the Day on SoundCloud, and they have a 30 date tour booked for the month of February to coincide with the release of their self-titled debut EP on Tee Pee Records. Things are going to get strange.

Finn Riggins is the result of a longtime collaboration between Cameron Bouiss, Eric Gilbert and Lisa Simpson. Having met while completing their music degrees at the University of Idaho, the trio began playing music together in 2000, an endeavor that would ultimately culminate in what is now Finn Riggins. In August of 2006, Bouiss, Gilbert and Simpson quit their jobs and moved to Sun Valley, Idaho to stitch together the outlines of Finn Riggins at “the helibase” – a secret practice spot/tour launch pad. Practices yielded shows, shows yielded tours and by the end of their first year as a group, Finn Riggins found themselves a national touring act who lived as much on the road as they did at home.

Through a decade of fearless, seat-of-the-pants music-making, countless live performances, and a handful of beloved albums, the Seattle quintet has developed that rare, magnetic combination of radio-ready songcraft and transportive instrumental chops. Through their annual Summer Meltdown festival—held in the beautiful Cascade mountains 12 years running—they’ve cultivated a legion of die-hard fans thirsty for unique music uniquely performed. Theirs is a musical ethos that’s both timeless and totally of the moment. 

After all that history, the moment demands a fresh start. Which is why they are the True Spokes, not Flowmotion, as the band was known for the first ten years of its life. Flowmotion is now the True Spokes. The name change coincides with the release of their brand-new, eponymous album, and the timing couldn’t be better. 

Must be 21 or older. Signup begins around 8:30pm in front of the stage.

Grady Champion is a young, blues singer and harmonica player, born October 10, that has been compared to Sonny Boy Williamson, and people can hear exactly why on his Shanachie debut Payin' for My Sins released August 24, 1999. The album includes a version of "Don't Start Me to Talkin'" that really shows Grady's high-energy singing and harmonica playing and an update of the traditional blues lament "Goin' Down Slow" with an AIDS parable -- a hard-bitten vignette of modern life. His revved-up, soulful vocalizing and the charm and insight he brings to his songwriting in numbers like the campy "My Rooster Is King" and the classic-sounding tale of infidelity "You Got Some Explaining to Do" (co-written by his producer Dennis Walker, who helped Robert Cray reach national fame) mark Grady as an important new talent.

Equaleyes is a 4 piece rock band from the mountains of Idaho. The group is known for their highly energetic live performances, using their songs as launchpads for off the cuff improvisation. The band has released 3 albums to date and is currently working their 4th record to be released in the summer of 2012.

“Engaging vocals, likable melodies, and catchy guitar riffs, will please those who like well-crafted, tight songs.”  J. Evan Wade – Homegrown music network

“The post-jamband sound is rooted in rock, with plenty of pop hooks and compression-laced funk jams.”   Aaron Davis – Jackson Hole Weekly

“They craft songs the fans can sing along to and the album takes on nearly every genre, exploiting each of the musicians’ rich musical talent.” – The Grateful Web

Andy Frasco, a twenty-three blues/jazz musician hailing from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, is nothing short of an enigma. Influenced by Damien Rice, Sam Cooke, Professor Longhair, Van Morrison and Tom Waits, Frasco’s style is as uninhibited as those artists who inspire him. Let’s call it Party Blues.

Within the past three years alone, Frasco has trekked over 120,000 miles, performed over 700 shows, with spanning over 6 countries. Frasco’s journey, however, is just beginning. This revolutionary is on a mission to alter the music business as we know it.

Frasco’s a rarity in the music business: one who is an industry “insider” and a talented musician. This unparalleled insight is due, in part, to his days of managing and promoting bands when he was 16 years old. He’s booked bands like HelloGoodbye, and worked with labels and venues such as Drive Thru, Atlantic Records and The Key Club in Hollywood, Ca.

Current Swell, a band based in Victoria BC, is in the foreground of the “new roots” music front pushing out of Canada’s west coast. The band has been around for a few years getting their early recognition around the world as a mainstay in the “surf rock” community. Their sound continues to develop into a blues and roots feel, gaining even more popularity with their fans while sharing stages with bands such as Xavier Rudd, The Beautiful Girls, Bedouin Soundclash, the Beach Boys and many others.

As the band progressed through 3 full length albums and multiple national tours they gained international attention. “The online community has always backed us and is a big reason for our success”, said Lang, of their iTunes, YouTube popularity. The bands newest album, “Protect Your Own”, produced by Todd Simko(producer of Xavier Rudd's, Food in the Belly) is a slight departure from the direction of some of their other albums but has been well received none the less. Being a new addition to Canada’s Fontana North label and Japan’s Surf Rock Records is a testament to the bands growing momentum. “We believe in what a band stands for, the instruments we hold, our voices, a real song and a good time” said one band member. Solid song writing and musicianship are always backed by a solid groove, and that is distinctly “Current Swell”.