Joan Osborne - A Kentucky native, Joan Osborne has sold millions of albums and garnered multiple Grammy nominations throughout her career. Osborne’s singing career took off while she was attending NYU’s film school. Inspired by singers like Billie Holiday and Etta James, Osborne’s gutsy, passionate vocals turned “One Of Us,” a track from her major label debut, into a massive MTV and radio hit. The disc went on to sell 3 million copies and led to numerous Grammy nominations. Osborne has performed as a member of the Grateful Dead, toured with the Dixie Chicks and The Funk Brothers, and has released a children’s album and a country record. Her latest release, “Bring It On Home,” is a collection of classic blues, R&B and soul songs. Joining her on the CD are Barbecue Bob Pomeroy (harmonica), Allen Toussaint (piano), Jimmy Vivino, The Holmes Brothers and Rufus Thomas’ daughter, Vaneese Thomas.

Punch Brothers - This acoustic “super group” is led by young mandolinist Chris Thile, who was lauded by a “Washington Post” critic as perhaps “the most virtuosi American ever to play the mandolin.” The rest of the band’s equally impressive lineup includes guitarist Chris Eldridge, a founding member of the Infamous Stringdusters who occasionally sits in with his father’s band, The Seldom Scene; bassist Paul Kowert, who studied under Edgar Meyer at the Curtis Institute of Music; banjo player Noam Pikelny who has collaborated with the likes of John Cowan and Tony Trischka; and violinist Gabe Witcher who has recorded with Willie Nelson, Beck and Randy Newman and played in dobro master Jerry Douglas’ band for six years. The Punch Brothers second release, “Antifogmatic,” was released by Nonesuch Records and debuted at No. 1 on Billboad Magazine’s “Heatseekers Chart.” The group’s current release is titled “Who’s Feeling Young Now?”

Leftover Salmon- Embarking on their first full-fledged tour since 2004, jam-band mainstays Leftover Salmon are back with their first new album in 8 years, produced by Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin. Flaunting an   unmistakable, fluid and rootsy sound that fuses improvisational fervor to a dizzying combination of bluegrass, Cajun, Southern rock, boogie, Caribbean, Latin, and jazz influences, Leftover Salmon has earned a legion of diehard fans, critical accolades, and a reputation as one of the most engaging concert experiences to ever hit the road. Leftover Salmon is back to their classic 5 piece lineup featuring:  Vince Herman (Guitar/Vocals), Drew Emmitt (Multi Instrumentalist/ Vocals), Greg Garrison (Bass/Vocals), Andy Thorn (Banjo/Vocals), Jose Martinez (Drums).

Sylvie Lewis - Armed with a musical education that took her from studying cello in Switzerland, opera in the U.K. and songwriting, piano and guitar at Boston’s Berklee School of Music, Sylvie Lewis creates timeless, gentle songs for the ages. Along the way, Lewis became obsessed with classic songwriters and jazz artists like Cole Porter, Noel Coward and Oscar Peterson, informing her music with a feel from another generation. Now living in Italy, Lewis has written songs for and toured with Sondre Lerche and Musica Nuda and, last year, toured Canada with Adam Cohen (son of Leonard). Her music has been featured in "Grey's Anatomy," the soundtrack of the film, "Barney's Version" and Gabriele Muccino's film "Bacciami Ancora." Lewis is currently working with L'orchestra di Piazza Vittorio on their radical revision of Mozart's "The Magic Flute."  Her new CD is titled “It’s All True.” 

Lera Lynn – A winner of the 2011 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition held at Merlefest for her song, “Bobby, Baby,” Athens, GA-based artist Lera Lynn also walked away with “Best Americana Artist” at her hometown’s 2011 Flagpole Music Awards. Her acclaimed debut “Have You Met Lera Lynn?” was recorded at Slow Records Studios with engineer/producer C.k. Koch. Lynn is currently supporting Joan Osborne on tour.

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For more information, including hi-res photos, please contact Adam Harris, 304.556.4900. 

This episode is scheduled for NPR distribution on June 8, 2012.