Sister Hazel - Combining elements of acoustic rock, folk, and jangle pop, Sister Hazel formed in 1993 in Gainesville, FL. Showcasing the band's harmonies, the single "All For You" topped the adult alternative charts during the summer of 1997, and the album eventually went platinum. Since then, the group has released a string of CDs and - performing more than 3,500 dates since forming - amassed a strong fan base. The group began hosting "Rock Boat," the world's largest floating music festival, in 2001. Earlier this year, the group held its 4th "Hazelnut Hang," a three-day weekend of music, meals and mingling. In August, Sister Hazel will again host its "Operation Swan Dive" benefit outside of Boston, where the band performs while people skydive to raise money for Sister Hazel’s pediatric cancer charity "Lyrics for Life." In 2009, Sister Hazel issued its seventh disc titled "Release" and partnered with Ford on its "Sync My Ride" Web site.
Vagabond Opera - The six-piece, Vagabond Opera has been described as "a band of ceaseless charisma, boundless energy, impeccable musicianship and more than a little touch of both the naughty and exotic." Based in Portland, OR, and formed in 2002 by flamboyant, European-trained opera singer/composer Eric Stern, the group delivers passionate offerings of Bohemian cabaret, Paris hot jazz, gut bucket swing, tangos, Ukrainian folk-punk ballads, and klezmer that conjure images of river boat gambling queens, Turkish belly dancers, and the enigmatic Marlene Dietrich. Disillusioned with the world of classical opera, Stern created a new context for opera: Performance on a more intimate scale incorporating opera with elements of Kurt Weil, Duke Ellington and Edith Piaf with absurdist flair, theatrics and an old world mood. The band’s lineup features trained operatic tenor and soprano vocals (singing in 13 languages!), accordion, tenor saxophone, cello, stand-up bass, and drums. Vagabond Opera has performed all over the USA and in Europe.
Madison Violet - Hailing from small Scottish towns in Canada, Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac formed Madison Violet around 10 years ago after a chance meeting at restaurant in Toronto. Their first two recordings were recorded in London, U.K., with producer John Reynolds (Sinead O'Connor, U2, Damien Dempsey) and each earned a pair of East Coast Music Award nominations in Canada including "Vocal Group of the Year" for "Caravan." Often compared to Lucinda Wiliams and Gillian Welch, the duo has toured Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, France, Belgium, Ireland, England, Norway, the UK, Wales, Scotland, Italy and the U.S. In early 2009, Madison Violet signed to indie label True North Records and released "No Fool for Trying."
Eric Bibb - The son of renown NYC folk singer Leon Bibb, Eric grew up around musicians like Pete Seeger, Odetta. Richie Havens, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. If that wasn’t enough, his uncle was the world-famous jazz pianist and composer John Lewis, a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and his godfather was singer/actor/activist Paul Robeson. Bibb launched his career in Europe, gaining notoriety at blues and folk festivals in London, Cambridge and Dublin, and eventually settled in Sweden where he worked as a music and voice teacher. He has played festivals around the world including Glastonbury and the Cambridge Folk Festival in the U.K., and landed opening slots on tours with Robert Cray and Ray Charles. Bibb has been nominated for a Grammy and four W.C. Handy awards (now the Blues Music Awards) and his songs have been featured on TV shows including "The District," "Casualty" and BBC's "Eastenders." Released in 2006, "Diamond Days" became Bibb’s biggest selling album to date. The album entered both Australian and US charts. Bibb was nominated for "Acoustic Artist of the Year" in the 2008 Blues Music Awards. Released in 2008, "Get Onboard," featured cameos by Bonnie Raitt and Ruthie Foster. His latest, "Booker’s Guitar," was inspired by the discovery of a 1930s vintage Resophonic National steel-body guitar that once belonged to Delta blues legend Booker White – an older cousin to B.B. King.
Brett Dennen - Not that long ago, Northern California native Brett Dennen was a camp counselor who played guitar, wrote songs and performed fireside. With a self-made album, he began playing coffee shops along the West Coast and picked up a devoted following. Championed by KCRW DJ Chris Douridas, who, in 2004, called Dennen "the best unsigned artist of the year," adding "Rarely does music come along so unadorned, so pure in spirit, and so eloquently written." Following 2006's "So Much More," "Rolling Stone" named Brett one of the "10 Artists To Watch in 2008." Dennen has toured with performers such as John Mayer, the John Butler Trio, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Ben Folds. Femi Kuti flew in specifically to record with Dennen and the collaboration resulted in the first single ("Make You Crazy") from his current release "Hope for the Hopeless."
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For more information, including hi-res photos, contact Adam Harris 304 556 4900
Scheduled for NPR distribution on DECEMBER 11, 2009