Josh Ritter - Since the release of his critically-acclaimed album “Golden Age of Radio,” Idaho-born Josh Ritter has been splitting his time between the US and Ireland. On both sides of the Atlantic - “Six Feet Under” used one of his tunes while another, “Me and Jiggs,” landed in the Irish Top 40 - he’s been selling out clubs and theaters, and earning raves from publications ranging from The Washington Post to The Irish Times. The son of two neuroscientists, Ritter was on his way to follow in their footsteps when he discovered Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan in high school. Five studio releases later, he was included in Paste Magazine’s “100 greatest living songwriters.” Stephen King named “The Animal Years” as his Number One album of 2006 while “Entertainment Weekly” listed Ritter among its “The 10 Most Exciting Artists Now.” After releasing “So Runs the World Away” In 2010, he published his first novel, “Bright's Passage,” in 2012. His record label subsequently issued a special box set of Ritter reading his own novel, accompanied by an EP of songs inspired by the book. “He Beast in Its Tracks” was inspired by his divorce while his new release is titled “Sermon on the Rocks.” Of his new release, Stephen King gushed, “…the most exuberant outburst of imagery since Bob Dylan’s ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,’ in 1963.” Ritter and band have performed with the New York and Boston Pops. 

Amy Helm - A singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter, Amy Helm had years of recording and touring experience before she embarked on a solo career in her 40s. Her father was Levon Helm, the drummer and vocalist with The Band, and her mother was Libby Titus, a singer and songwriter whose songs had been recorded by artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and Carly Simon. After recording and touring with a reunited Steely Dan, she teamed up with like-minded New York roots musicians to form the popular group Ollabelle in 2002. Meanwhile, Helm was one of the organizers of her father’s Midnight Ramble Concerts. When Levon resumed touring, Amy was a member of his road band and, beginning with his 2007 release, “Dirt Farmer,” began co-producing his releases. She also provided guest vocals for a wide range of artists, including the Holmes Brothers, Linda Thompson and Joan Osborne. Amy was working on a solo album when her father died in April, 2012. She continued to host concerts at Levon's barn, and began working with a new band, Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers. Her solo debut, “Didn’t it Rain,” was released in 2015. She supported the record touring with Mavis Staples and Patty Griffin. 

Noah Gundersen - Washington native Noah Gundersen was born into a religious family that frowned on secular music. Nevertheless, by age 16, he was performing in local cafes along with his sister, Abby, a skilled violinist, pianist, and harmony singer. Soon, the duo added a rhythm section and began performing as a full band called The Courage. Gundersen formed the post-hardcore group Beneath Oceans in 2007 but resumed his solo career a year later. After a string of EPs, he released “Ledges,” his full-length solo debut, in 2014. The disc earned raves from NPR's World Café, Spin, and CBS Saturday Morning. His current album, “Carry The Ghost,” is heavily influenced by existential philosophy with surprisingly weighty themes for a 25-year-old songwriter. Gunderson’s music has been featured on television series including “Sons of Anarchy.” His touring band includes his sister Abby and brother Jonathan.

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys - When Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys found each other jamming at open mics and music festivals around Michigan they couldn’t have predicted what would lay ahead of them. In the past year they’ve toured behind the release of their most recent record, Ionia; been featured in the lineup of prestigious affairs such as The Shetland Island Folk Festival 200 miles north of mainland Scotland, Stagecoach Music Festival in California, The Bluegrass Jamboree all over Germany, and a number of the best acoustic music festivals in the US. Having earned their name late night at a Michigan Bluegrass festival from a fellow picker who proclaimed, "It's good to see you Flatbellys out here pickin with us Greybeards," today Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys keep one foot in The Great Lakes State and the soul of Motown, and one in Music City. They still embody the soul of a good jam or late night pickin’ session, and also have honed in on a sound that’s entirely their own drawing from soul, blues, folk, jazz and maybe even a traces of that techno beat. When asked what he thought about LLFBs new record, Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass said, “What do I love about 'Ionia'? Let's keep it simple: Everything.”

The Cactus Blossoms - Brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum grew up in northeast Minneapolis and have been blending their voices as The Cactus Blossoms since 2010. Their hypnotic harmonies and unforgettable songs have made them favorites in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul music scene. Their latest album, Live at the Turf Club, blurs the line between old and new as they sneak a few originals into their repertoire of early country and Western swing.