Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Hailing from Greenhill, AL - not far from the famed music Mecca Muscle Shoals - Jason Isbell came into prominence as a member of Athens, GA’s new breed Southern rockers, Drive by Truckers. A member of the group for six years, he struck out on his own in 2007. Since then he has released three CDs, the most recent of which is titled "Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit."

Madeleine Peyroux - Born in Athens, GA, and raised between Southern California, Brooklyn and Paris, singer Madeline Peyroux is equally at home singing the songs of Fats Waller, Edith Piaff, Ella Fitzgerald and Patsy Cline. At a Lincoln Center tribute to Duke Ellington, a "New York Times" reviewer said, "She might as well have been channeling Billie Holiday ...." As a teenager, Peyroux paid her dues, busking on the streets of Paris and touring across Europe with a troupe of street musicians. In 1996, she released her debut, "Dreamland." Her last two CDs - 2004's "Careless Love" and 2006's "Half the Perfect World" - have sold more than two million copies worldwide. On her latest release, "Bare Bones," Peyroux moves from masterful interpreter of other people’s material to a full-fleged songwriter, writing or co-writing all 11 tracks. Peyroux, who spent time in a domestic violence shelter as a child, is donating $1 from every ticket sold on her current tour to local charities affiliated with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Poco - One of the first - and finest - true country-rock bands, Poco was formed in 1968 by Richie Furay and Jim Messina, members of the just-dissolved Buffalo Springfield (which also included Stephen Stills and Neil Young). They were joined by pedal steel player Rusty Young, bassist Randy Meisner (who became a charter member of the Eagles) and drummer George Grantham. For more than 40 years, with a revolving lineup that has included mainstays Furay, Young and drummer George Grantham, as well as guitarist Paul Cotton, Timothy B. Schmitt (who later replaced Meisner in the Eagles) - the group has continued to perform and issue recordings that have spawned singles like "Good Feeling To Know," "Crazy Love," "Rose of Cimarron" (covered by Emmylou Harris) and "Call it Love." The current tour features founding and long-time members Young and Cotton, as well as current Poco member Jack Sundrud. "Guitar Player" magazine readers voted Rusty Young into their "Gallery of Greats" beside musicians like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.

Jill Sobule - Singer/songwriter Jill Sobule caused a stir in the alternative pop world -- and made headlines across the country - with her playfully ambiguous hit " I Kissed A Girl" and "Supermodel," a cynical take on the high-fashion world of modeling that was featured in the film "Clueless." After spending 1999 playing guitar with Lloyd Cole's band the Negatives, Sobule’s career has become more diverse and creative. She worked in off-Broadway musicals, made an appearance on NBC's "West Wing," composed songs for the Nickelodeon series "Unfabulous," composed the music for the off-Broadway show "Prozak and the Platypus" and co-starred in the Eric Schaeffer film "Mind the Gap." Her current release, "California Years," is a unique fan-funded project. Sobule raised more than $75,000 in donations from 500 fans. In the words of "New York Times" pop music critic Jon Pareles, "Jill Sobule can claim her place among the stellar New York singer-songwriters of the last decade. Topical, funny and more than a little poignant ... grown-up music for an adolescent age."  

Ben Sollee - Named one of NPR’s "Top Ten Unknown Artists of the Year" in 2007, Kentucky native Ben Sollee’s distinctive cello technique and soulful voice have been simmering for years in his work with avant-garde bluesman Otis Taylor and The Sparrow Quartet (featuring banjo-master Béla Fleck). His current release, "Learning to Bend," is something of a culmination of Sollee’s vision, his unique performance experience and 24 years of traditional classical training.

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Scheduled for NPR distribution on  October 16

For more information, including hi-res photos, contact Adam Harris 304 556 4900