Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Few groups can claim to have shared stages with the Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, 2 Live Crew and the Black Crowes. Even fewer play music that could conceivably cross the considerable age, genre and philosophical barriers that separate those audiences. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band revitalized the brass band tradition in New Orleans and spread it around the world - to more than 30 countries on five continents. The Dirty Dozen have been featured guests on albums by artists including David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Dr. John and the Modest Mouse, and the city of New Orleans now has an official Dirty Dozen Brass Band Day. Drawing on the tradition of a city whose life’s blood is steeped in rhythm, dance and unbridled fun, the band is as much at home playing funeral parades and "social and pleasure" clubs - one of which, the "Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club,’ provided the band with its name. The group is celebrating the 25th anniversary of their debut “My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now” with a remastered re-issue, while performing the LP in its entirety and delving deep into its back catalog. 

Darrell Scott - A Grammy-nominated artist, award-winning songwriter and a first-call session musician, “Rolling Stone” described Darrell Scott as “…matching Guy Clark and Bruce Springsteen at their best.” His songs have been recorded by more than 70 artists including the Dixie Chicks, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Guy Clark, Sam Bush, Tim McGraw, Kathy Mattea and Garth Brooks. A Kentucky native, Scott excels on dobro, mandolin and guitar and earned a degree in poetry from Tufts University. In 2003, he launched his own label, Full Light Records, and produced a traditional, mountain country album with his father Wayne. Scott has been the “artist in residence” with Orchestra Nashville along with Sam Bush and Bill Frisell. Over the years, he has played on hundreds of sessions and, in 2001, was named “Songwriter of the Year” by the Nashville Songwriters Association. In 2010, Scott joined Robert Plant’s Band of Joy, along with Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin and Byron House for a tour and acclaimed CD. That year he also released the double disc set “A Crooked Road.” His new CD, titled “Long Ride Home,” features cameos by Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark and Tim O’Brien. 

Solas - When this Irish folk supergroup burst on the scene in 1996, it was called ““the first truly great Irish band to arise from America” and invigorated the traditional music scene by incorporating non-traditional instruments and adding a modern flavor to Irish reels, jigs and traditional melodies. Leader Seamus Egan was a teen prodigy who recorded his first album at age 16 and toured with Ralph Stanley and Peter, Paul and Mary. He formed Solas with fiddler Winifred Horan, John Williams, John Doyle and vocalist Karan Casey. Casey departed in 1999 to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Deirdre Scanlan. The band’‘s current lineup includes co-founder Horan, a native New Yorker who graduated from Boston's New England Conservatory of Music. Horan has toured and recorded with Cherish the Ladies and The Sharon Shannon Band, is a nine-time Irish stepdancing titlist and an All-Ireland fiddle champion. Guitarist Eamon McElholm was awarded the Performing Rights Society “John Lennon Songwriters Award” when he was a student in Manchester, England and, in addition to singing, Solas fans include Bela Fleck, Emmylou Harris and rap producer Timbaland who sampled a Solas track on his radio hit “All Yall.” The band is currently working on a CD/DVD project titled “Shamrock City,” inspired by the life and death of Irish immigrant  Michael Conway, a great uncle of Egan’s father.

Rosi Golan - This Israeli born singer/songwriter didn’t pick up a guitar until she was 19. But since then, she’s amassed quite an audience thanks to songs from her debut, “The Drifter & The Gypsy,” being featured on “One Tree Hill” and “Private Practice,” and in the film “Dear John.” Recently, Golan sang “Set The Fire To The Third Bar” with Snow Patrol on the band’s recent appearance on “Live On Letterman.” Her current release, “Lead Balloon,” was produced by Tony Berg.

Jimmy LaFave - For eight years, the Texas singer/songwriter/guitarist honed his skills by hosting open mike nights in Austin before releasing his debut in 1992. With a grassroots approach that blends country, blues, folk and rock 'n' roll, LaFave was awarded the "Best Singer/Songwriter" at the Austin Music Awards. Veteran writer Dave Marsh wrote that, "Jimmy LaFave has one of America's greatest voices." LaFave was a member of the "Ribbon of Highway - Endless Skyway” tour which paid tribute to the spirit of Woody Guthrie. The resulting live, two-CD set featured some of LaFave’s versions of Guthrie tunes. In 2007, LaFave’s showed off his country side on 2007's “Cimarron Manifesto.” His latest release is “Favorites 1992–2001," a collection of his favorite songs. 

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This episode is scheduled for NPR Distribution on April 20th, 2012.
For more information, including hi-res photos, please contact Adam Harris, 304.556.4900