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touring as a member of Tanya Tucker's back-up band,
subbing with the legendary Sundowners at the Bar Double
R on Randolph Street (Chicago), showcasing at Schubas
Tavern or working with numerous honkytonk bands throughout
the years, authentic country music is always interwoven
with Kent Rose's musical tapestry. His is "The
Voice That Remembers." Look for Kent's new CD
in early 2005. |
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Lisa
DeRosia grew up in a musical family in Michigan
City, IN, where she sang in her church. After forming
and performing in other bands, she and ex-fiancé
Greg Schultz (guitar, pedal steel) created Lush
Budgett in 1996. She eventually reunited with
another former band member (Mitch Straeffer, bass),
then added Steve Doyle (dobro, guitar, trombone,
mandolin, vocals) and Gerald Dowd (drums) to complete
the lineup. DeRosia also teaches Wiggleworms and
guitar classes at the Old
Town School of Folk Music, and directs children’s
musical theater productions.
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| The
Siderunners didn't grow up in the country; they don't
ride horses, wrangle cattle, or pretend to. But ask
any member of the group to describe the band, and
you’ll be faced with the “C” word:
Country music. Yes, the Siderunners play Country music
and are damn proud of it. With
the "Twang Off" Grand Championship victory
under their belts plus shows with The Violent Femmes,
BR-549, Hot Club Of Cowtown, Robbie Fulks, Southern
Culture On The Skids and the Chicago Country Music
Festival, they begin recording their new CD with
Webb Bros producer in fall 2004. |
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Ray
Hillburn |
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| Chicago
legend Ray Hillburn has been playing authentic joints
around the country (including the venerable Carol's
Pub in Chicago) for over 30 years. Songwriter, singer
and performer, Ray writes donw-to-earth songs that
"tell it like it is." He's also penned songs
which have charted on Country Music radio. More than
a few have lost bets doubting Ray's encyclopedic recall
of country and traditional songs. |
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| It's
been said Brent Hoodenpyle "looks like a cross
between Jeff Tweedy and Johnny Cash, and sings songs
that sound like they were written in 1950 Nashville."
His songs show his influences — Hank Williams,
Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam and Gram Parsons, to
name a few. His band features sounds of traditional
and alternative country music. Backed by Scottish
born country-rocker John Ballantyne (guitar), Buddy
Carter (bass) and Rick Murawski (drums), they bring
a passion and authenticity to each song, making
Brent a Chicago artist to watch this year. |
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| "...the
12 tunes on The Delafields' eponymous debut are a
sheer delight, with tracks like 'Lonesome Blues' and
'Dog Tired' inventively combining bluegrass with rock,
punk, and classic Tin Pan Alley pop. The band crafts
brilliant melodies brimming with piano, guitar, harmonica,
and banjo that resonate, both lyrically and melodically,
long after the album has ended. Presented in a simple,
straightforward style, the disc as a whole is, quite
simply, a minor masterpiece."- Jeff Berkwits,
Illinois Entertainer |
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Lonesome
Halos
"It's
Mighty Lonesome Being Good"
At a loss for standard music labels, Lonesome
Halos perform "American Maverick" music
- they write and play the kind of music they'd
like to hear themselves, without falling into
any specific category. To use a musical map...
some people say they hear strains of Tom Petty,
Bruce Springsteen, Lynard Skynyrd, Blues Traveler,
Neil Young, Hank Williams—even a little
rockabilly, too. |
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Ruby
Harris |
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| Western
swing & cajun fiddle master Ruby Harris was voted
"Entertainer of the Year" by Wild Chicago.
Ruby has performed at The Metropolitan Opera House,
Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, with Ray Charles,
Little Feat, Marshall Tucker, Buddy Miles, Peter Yarrow,
Buddy Guy, Dave Mason, members of the Jefferson Airplane
and Grateful Dead. Ruby's latest CD features 3 Grammy-winning
guest artists. See him Tuesdays at Chicago’s
Redhead Piano Bar. |
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| Mark
Sheehy cut his teeth playing guitar with the Sapphires,
Scarecrow, J-200 and Red Star Belgrade. He has shared
the stage with artists like Matthew Ryan, Jay Bennett,
David Olney, and Tim Easton. His new disc Rock,
Paper, Jesus has been getting favorable press
and radio play across the US and Europe and features
appearances by Gary Schepers of Devil in a Woodpile
and Eddie Torrez of the Delafields. Tony Peyser of
the Santa Monica Mirror said Rock, Paper, Jesus "restored
my faith in smart rock and roll." |
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| The
Read Letter is an eclectic rock act from Chicago
with influences ranging from Johnny Cash to Crazy
Horse to The Smiths. Courting rock, country, punk,
and pop, as well as recording with a gospel trio,
they have never been your typical rock act. They
have shared the stage with the likes of Jay Bennett,
Nash Kato and Placebo. They're currently recording
the follow-up to their album ‘Safe’,
set for release in early 2005. |
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Outlaw Family Band
The
Outlaw Family Band features James Weigel (lead guitar/vocals),
Daniel Padgett (bass/vocals), Justin Gillam (acoustic
guitar), J.P. Nowak (drums), Ryan Hinshaw (fiddle/vocals)
and Ben Wright (electric banjo/vocals). Their songs
incorporate traditional country music themes, but
also provide a glimpse into the band’s collective
consciousness. Songs such as “What Would Jesus
Do?,” “World War III” and “Ragged
Man” form a bridge from the past to the present. |
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