Ellis Paul

Ellis Paul is one of the leading voices in American songwriting. He was a principle leader in the wave of singer/songwriters that emerged from the Boston folk scene, creating a movement that revitalized the national acoustic circuit with an urban, literate, folk pop style that helped renew interest in the genre in the 1990's. His charismatic, personally authentic performance style has influenced a generation of artists away from the artifice of pop, and closer towards the realness of folk. Though he remains among the most pop-friendly of today's singer-songwriters - his songs regularly appear in hit movie and TV soundtracks - he has bridged the gulf between the modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger more successfully than perhaps any of his songwriting peers.

He is a critically-acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, and troubadour originally hailing from a potato farming family in northern Maine. He is the recipient of thirteen Boston Music Awards, second only to multi-platinum act, Aerosmith. Over the course of fifteen years, Ellis Paul has built a vast catalog of music which weds striking poetic imagery and philosophical introspection with hook-laden melodies.

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Caroline Herring CD Release

Recently featured on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, and NPR's All Things Considered, Caroline Herring is on a roll. Her recent album, Golden Apples of the Sun was selected as a "top ten" best folk album by the Boston Globe, and also earned a composition award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. Emboldened by the critical acclaim of her recent work, Herring continues to create what Vintage Guitar has called "musical tapestries full of dark landscapes, bittersweet images, and otherworldly moments." As usual, Herring draws inspiration from a wide range of sources. From her 2001 debut Twilight and its immediate successor Wellspring (2003) to the widely acclaimed Lantana (2008), Herring's music has been hailed for combining traditional sounds with striking, original observations into modern life and love. The Austin Chronicle proclaimed Lantana to be "the best modern Southern Gothic album since Lucinda Williams' ‘Sweet Old World.'" On Golden Apples of the Sun, Herring stakes out new terrain, exchanging the country-influenced sound of her previous albums for a darker, hauntingly personal sound inspired by the iconic female folk singers and songwriters of the 1960s and 70s. "There's no getting rid of my accent," she says slyly, "but other than that, this is not a twangy record. It's not roots-based." The new record suggests that Herring has been as much influenced by classic songstresses such as Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins as by her native Southland.

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Gungor (at Rams Head Live)

Genre titles such as "Pop", "Folk" and "Alternative" are meant to give a listener an idea of what to expect and how to group music together. But, for the musical collective, Gungor it is not that simple. Multiple Grammy® nominations, magazine covers and even a few "Album of the Year" declarations for 2010's Beautiful Things, proves that listeners are longing for excellent and authentic music, whether it fits the norm or not.

For their third major release, Gungor has composed a concept album that celebrates the beauty of life even in the midst of darkness and pain. Starting with a startling musical imagining of the creation of the universe and traversing subjects like the "fall of man" and the imperfection of our religious systems, this album leads the listener through a roller coaster of emotion that eventually leads us back to wonder and thankfulness to this beautiful gift of life. From sweeping string lines and soaring falsetto vocal melodies to distorted flute riffs and five part dissonant harmonies, this album explores quite a wide emotional and musical gamut.

Ghosts Upon The Earth, the new release from GRAMMY® nominated Gungor, was produced by the band's namesake, Michael Gungor. This follow-up to the critically acclaimed Beautiful Things was composed as a full narative. The new album was released September 20, 2011 and debuted at #43 on the Billboard Top 200.

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Private Event

As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.

Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.

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Peter Mulvey

This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.

Peter Mulvey official site | myspace | itunes | youtube

Over the past 20 years, Mulvey has pursued a restless, eclectic path as a writer and musician - immersing himself in Tin Pan Alley jazz, modern acoustic, poetry, narrative, and Americana stylings. Relentlessly touring as a headliner - his attitude is, "When you love what you do, you can work all the time," - he has also shared the stage with luminaries such as Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, and Greg Brown, and has attracted an audience that stretches from Anchorage to Amsterdam.

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Kris Delmhorst

Kris Delmhorst's arresting album Shotgun Singer began as an act of solitary creation. Holed up in a rural cabin with minimal recording gear and a houseful of instruments, Delmhorst recorded her new songs alone and off the clock, in late night sessions that yielded layers of intimate vocals combined with nylon string and electric guitars, cellos, keyboards, and percussion. She treated the work like oil painting, allowing the canvas to breathe and change over the course of many months until the picture emerged. With the core of each song patiently assembled, she brought in a diverse cast of players to add sparse backing lines of drums, keys, guitar, and vinyl-based samples, and then signed on co-producer Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter) in arrangement and mixing, enlisting him meanwhile to play keyboards and percussion on several songs. The result is collection of songs fully realized and even lush at times, but retaining a hushed intensity, a spirit of lo-fi intimacy and unhurried exploration.

Kris Delmhorst has built a thriving career and a devoted following from the ground up, and without major label hype. With Shotgun Singer, Delmhorst has trained that voice on a series of gracefully open lyrics and figures that transcend genre, ranging into the borderlands between indie-rock and folk, that nameless territory inhabited by such hard-to-classify artists as Juana Molina, Feist, Iron & Wine, and Laura Veirs. Adventurous, elegant, lucid, and haunting, the record is the work of a musician at full stride who has found a musical language equal to her vision.

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An Evening with Peter Bradley Adams

Peter Bradley Adams was formerly one half of the duo, Eastmountainsouth, signed by Robbie Robertson (of The Band) to DreamWorks Records in 2002. Since then, Adams has released three solo records: "Gather Up", "Leavetaking", and "Traces"; and his set to release his fourth "Between Us", on Mishara Music on June 14th.

"Adams is fast developing as a songwriter who both inspires and questions" - Nic Harcourt / Los Angeles Times Magazine - Jan 2010

One of the "21st-century writers whose songs are worth exploring." - Wall Street Journal - Nov 2008

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Aaron Crawford and The Badcards

When you listen to Aaron Crawford you're instantly struck; by his sound - part So Cal punk, part rockabilly, part rootsy troubadour, by his songwriting - honest, open and relatable, and by his obvious fearlessness to stand up for what he believes in, no matter what the cost. His desire for truth shows in the musical messages Crawford delivers in his songs. Not one to walk away from something he's passionate about, it motivates him to hold the bar high for himself. A bold performer, who fronted punk scenesters Rude Buddha, he stops at nothing to achieve his goal. "I'm inspired by any story, or person who has had to fight to get what they have, and lives with no regrets."

In February 2011, Aaron entered Hollywood Sound Recorders, a Los Angeles based studio with Producer/Percussionist Larry Ciancia, who's studio and performance credits include artists like Ben Taylor, Fiona Apple, Everlast, Ray LaMontagne, Carly Simon and Herbie Hancock. Ciancia's first task was getting a band around Aaron to compliment his diverse writing style. In doing so he enlisted the help of guitarist Joel Shearer (Alanis Morrisette, Pedestrian, Dido) to engineer and perform on the record as well as keyboardist Adam Macdougall (The Black Crowes, Macy Gray) to fill out the recordings, giving them a vintage rock sound full of life, character, and soul. Ken Barnum, D.C. punk bassist, engineer and good friend of Aaron's was also brought on to fill out this incredible studio band. During a short pre-production period, Ciancia had Aaron co-write with a few different writers including '09 Grammy winner Joshua Lopez on a song called "Next to You", an energetic "Clash" style number that Aaron fell in love with the moment he heard it. Then the group hit the studio. The recording sessions, described by Aaron as "magical and memorable" proved amazing, cranking out 5 completed songs in 4 days of tracking! Shortly after, Shawn Everett was brought on to mix. Shawn, best known for his work with Weezer, Jakob Dylan and Pete Yorn, brought out the best in the recordings, which can be heard throughout the LA sessions. "Bad Habit" which has enough back to be appreciated by even the most hardcore rapper, is a song of revelation and realization, discussing the age old topic; "Is it the sex or the person?" The track slams throughout, moving from hip danceable verses, to huge pop choruses, while "Don't Stop" and "Let Go" show the honesty, and relate ability of a good song, discussing topics of believing in someone, and moving on. Of the newly recorded numbers, "Breathe" is the most intimate, explaining that music is Aaron's home, and through music he is never without shelter. Adam MacDougall's performance on the grand piano in "Breathe", turns this song into a beautiful ballad reminiscent of early Elton John that will take your breath away.

Aaron then headed home and combined these recordings, with recordings from late 2010, which includes the songs, "Sick Sick Love", a grungy brit-rock banger discussing the topic of using sex as a weapon to elevate, and rise above drama, "Black White Radio", which asks the question "should I waste my time on MTV"? And Locket, a mysterious Latin influenced punk song about a key and lock Aaron wears around his heart to complete the yet to be released album, "The Wager". Brian Lucey, who received a Grammy for his work with The Black Keys in 2011, was brought on to master and complete the record. Bratty at times, honest and direct at others, "The Wager" truly encompasses Aaron's wont back down spirit and showcases his ability with maturity and swagger. Song writing is Aaron's base, on some tracks beautiful and gentle, on others combative and belligerent, but never hiding behind a mixed message. With Aaron Crawford, what you hear is what you get.

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Since Antarctica

Described as "a force of nature" by fans, Since Antarctica emerged on the D.C.-area alt-rock scene ready, willing, and able to rock your face off. Their high-energy shows rivet audiences with musically sophisticated original songs performed with passion, virtuosity, and fun.Shannon Woods commands audiences' attention with soulful, powerhouse vocals (no twee whispering here) and a captivating on-stage presence. Mutton-chopped guitarist Walt Rieker slings driving, metal-tinged riffs with the assured swagger and charisma of a true rock star. Frantzie -- the man needs but one name -- brings an irresistible bassline as well as complex, emotionally raw songwriting and vocal harmonies. And drummer Chip Burden backs it all up with solid, frenetic beats to help ensure that each and every face present is thoroughly rocked off.

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Charlie Mars CD Release

With his latest album, Like A Bird, Like A Plane, Charlie Mars has sewn together tightly crafted songs with moods and melodies that pulse with sex, wonderment and personal destruction - all themes that may clash on paper but in music, suggest mysteries that are organic to us all. He recorded the album in Austin, TX with drummer J.J. Johnson (John Mayer), keyboardist John Ginty (Citizen Cope), bass players George Reiff (Jakob Dylan) and Dave Monzie (Fiona Apple). The video for lead single "Listen to the Darkside" (a nod to Pink Floyd) featured "Weeds" star Mary Louise Parker and premiered as a Music Mix exclusive on Entertainment Weekly's website, www.ew.com.

Mars is known for his compelling live performances. Mars released three independent albums before signing with V2. His self-titled, 2004 major label debut was hailed by Rolling Stone as "Big emotional rock from Mississippi...with a knack for hooks, and the hooks here have real barbs: They tug at you and just might draw some blood." High profile tours with artists such as R.E.M., KT Tunstall, Citizen Cope and Bob Schneider followed. When V2 folded, Mars returned to his independent roots, financing Like A Bird, Like A Plane himself, and releasing it on Rockingham Records in conjunction with the Nashville-based Thirty Tigers.

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Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 7 - Finals!

Jammin Java presents The SEVENTH Mid-Atlantic Band Battle. Everyone   had such a killer time on all 6 battles that we’re doing it all over   again! We are searching for the best bands of any genre from up-and-down   the East Coast to prove that they have what it takes to win $2500 CASH   and more!

FIRST PLACE—GRAND PRIZE!

• $2,500 CASH
• Your own headlining show at Jammin Java
• Studio time at Cue Recording Studios with producer Jim Ebert  
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Snapp-Shot Photography, LLC
• 10 hours rehearsal studio time at The Music School at Jammin Java
• Business card or poster design from BandsByLuke
• Printing of business cards and free posters for any upcoming two shows via Donnelly’s Printing
• Professional video recording of an upcoming show via Peace Pro Films
• Full website feature with DownloadMag.net

2nd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Mark Anthony Photography
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

3rd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

4th place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

Here’s how it works:

1. Apply to compete in the Battle. Only 24 bands will be accepted.
2.  Compete in one of four preliminary rounds on July 2, 3, 5 and 6.  Seven   bands compete per night. One winner per night moves on to the finals.
3. Four bands compete in the finals on Friday, August 17th.
4. The application deadline is Saturday, June 9th at 11:59pm.

ALL GENRES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE BATTLE! Whether you are   acoustic, rock, latin, bluegrass, funk, folk, electronic, reggae,  hip-hop, or anything else, we want you!

TO APPLY: Fill out the form at http://bit.ly/HXEKBg OR email jjbandbattle7@gmail.com with the following info:

Band Name:
Contact Person:
Email:
Phone:
Official Site:
Location:

This is a great opportunity for some MAJOR CASH for your band   (buy a van, new gear, add to your recording fund?) as well as tons of   exposure to many industry professionals. It’s also a great way for us at   Jammin Java to check out your band in consideration for future shows.

Guitar Legend Albert Lee

Guitar legend ALBERT LEE first came to prominence during a 1964-68 stint in British Blues and R & B stalwarts Chris Farlowe’s Thunderbirds. After working in the UK bands for touring country acts such as Bobby Bare and Skeeter Davis, Lee’s next full-time berth was two years with the UK answer to the Flying Burrito Brothers and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Head , Hands, and Feet. His reputation grew and session work blossomed, including appearances on “The London Bo Diddley Sessions” for Chess and Jerry Lee Lewis’ “The London Sessions”. This and other work with U.S. based greats led to a permanent position in the Crickets, and by the time that ended Albert had long since made Southern California his home. There he became friendly with Don Everly, who had also settled in Southern California; they played regularly on a formal and informal basis, with Albert contributing to Don’s 1974 solo effort “Sunset Towers”. The move to California also led to work on sessions for the debut album of Jackson Browne.

Albert Lee needs no introduction to Country music & Rock fans.  He has worked with some of the world’s top artists, from Emmylou Harris to the Everly Borthers, Dolly Parton to Eric Clapton. In November 2002, at Eric’s request, Albert appeared at the star-studded Memorial Concert for George Harrison at London’s Albert Hall, and was featured alongside Sherly Crow, VInce Gill and Eric Clapton at Eric’s 2007 Crossroads guitar festival.

Official Site |

ERICA NICOLE
Erica Nicole carries on the tradition that began with seminal country artists such as Patsy Cline and continued with the likes of George Strait and Reba McEntire. Her premiere single "Somebody Like Me", from her debut album Erica Nicole, has received great response on country radio outlets. Over 150 stations added "Somebody"; for 17 straight weeks Clear Channel listed it as their number one new artist track on country radio in North America. Stations on it included Froggy 104, WAXC, KLAW, KVAY, KBCR, KIX 96 and WYN; "Somebody Like Me" was also featured in two films in 2010- "Too Late To Say Good¬bye," and "Small Town Sat¬urday Night.". Her new single, "Shave", was just released and is now climbing the country radio charts nationawide. Discovered by producer Michael Lloyd-best known for his work with Frank Sinatra, The Moody Blues, The Monkees, and the Righteous Brothers, as well as the classic soundtrack Dirty Dancing-Erica chose Eric Carmen's classic "Hungry Eyes" to round out the album as a salute to her mentor. Erica's national showcase appearances include South By Southwest, The Big D Opry at Gilley's in Dallas, the CRS Country Radio Convention, Barnyard Jamboree and more...
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Bushwalla

This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.

A native of Cleveland, he started performing musical theater at the early age of 9 and in 1995, Billy set out to New York City to study theater at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy. While in New York, he supported himself as a street performer incorporating such feats as juggling, magic, chair-balancing, and fire-breathing. Now after spending 6 years in Los Angeles and 2 years in San Diego, Bushwalla's sound is a unique blend of funk, folk, freestyle, acoustic hip-hop with a soul deeply rooted in authenticity and optimism.

His writing talents came into being after notably co-writing Jason Mraz's debut platinum album, Waiting For My Rocket to Come and sophomore release Mr. A-Z. Bushwalla's debut EP release Ghetto Blaster (produced by Spooner Oldham) is cherished by fans worldwide and highly acclaimed in the Southern California media and radio circuit. The catchy hit Ghetto Blaster has left first time listeners and long-time fans with a reverberating melody that never tires. There the full-length album Autodidactical Freestyle & Radical, released in March of 2008, has been selling at a rapid rate with fantastic reviews on iTunes.

Jason Mraz: [Bushwalla's] appearance on all three of my studio releases should be an indicator that he remains to be perhaps my greatest musical influence - certainly in the field of live performance. Of the hundreds - maybe thousands of gigs I've seen him do - he is constantly surprising me with newness

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An Evening with Dan Navarro

As a songwriter for artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Grammy-nominated classic “We Belong”) , The Bangles, Jackson Browne, Keb’ Mo’, Dave Edmunds, The Tempatations, Dionne Warwick, Dutch superstar Marco Borsato,  The Triplets,  Austin outlaw legend Rusty Weir and many more…

As a recording and touring artist with longtime partner Eric Lowen in the acclaimed acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro and, since 2009, as a solo singer-songwriter increasingly on demand on the national concert circuit…

As a singer and voice actor in major motion pictures, television series, commercials and recordings, including the current smash hit The Lorax, plus Happy Feet (1 & 2), Rio (“Real In Rio”, nominated for a 2012 Oscar!), Ice Age (2 & 3), Robots, The Mexican, The Emperor’s New Groove, Envy; television series Prison Break, Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show; recordings with Neil Young, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel, Jose Feliciano, Susanna Hoffs and Jon Anderson of Yes; and commercials for Shakey’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Honda, El Pollo Loco, Nationwide and literally hundreds of others…

As an activist in Washington on intellectual property, performer and songwriter issues, lobbying Capitol Hill regularly, including testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Copyright Royalty Board, on behalf of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, AFTRA, NARAS, BMI , SoundExchange and the musicFIRST Coalition…

As an institutional volunteer on the elected and appointed boards of such vaunted musician and performer organizations as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Folk Alliance International, The California Songwriters Association, The Recording Academy and the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association, fighting the neuromuscular disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease…

After 22 years and 12 albums with Lowen & Navarro, Dan ventured out solo in 2009 and released his first album that year, the spirited “Live at McCabe’s”, backed by his pals from Austin-based Stonehoney. His next album, “Shed My Skin”, is slated for release in 2012. He also moonlights as a member of the four-artist Christmas revue, Decembersongs, with friends Amy Speace, Jon Vezner and Sally Barris, now booking their third annual holiday outing in 2012.

He is the father of a 15 year old son and a known abuser of acoustic guitars.

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Private Event

As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.

Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.

Official Site |

The Alternate Routes

The Alternate Routes' name suits them well. They're a band that‘s never really fit in - in a good way. Without a definitive genre to reference or an established scene to rally behind them, they've been something of a rogue wave in an ocean of bands. They built a fan base the old fashioned way, by driving around the country in a big, white Ford Econoline van, winning crowds over one-person-at-a-time with solid, catchy songs and an explosive live show. Since their genesis in 2004, co-founders Tim Warren (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Eric Donnelly (lead guitar) have taken their group through the dizzying heights and frustrating lows of the modern music industry, and have learned some valuable lessons along the way.

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An Evening with The Persuasions

Since those long ago days in 1962, The Persuasions have gone on to sing in concert halls, clubs and perform the world over. Over the years, The Persuasions have opened for Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, Ray Charles, Bill Cosby, and Richard Pryor to name but a few. Interestingly, it should be noted that acts such as Roseanne Barr and Bruce Springsteen once opened for The Persuasions. As a matter of fact they are the acknowledged Kings of A cappella with over 40 years history.T heir singing, style and musical inventory has always included the heavy influence of gospel, a major measure soul, and a dose of pop.

Legendary musician Frank Zappa and his wife Gail discovered The Persuasions (in a commercial sense) in 1968. At the urging and encouragement of a good friend of the Persuasions, David Dashev (who eventually became the groups producer and manager), Zappa listened to a tape of The Persuasions. Shortly after listening to the tape, Frank and Gail Zappa signed the group to their label. The Persuasions debut album "Straight" was a mix of studio and live recordings released during the fall of 1970. After the Straight album, the Persuasions signed with Capitol Records and have since gone on to release a string of commercially successful and critically acclaimed recordings. The Persuasions have released albums and CD with labels such as MCA, A&M Records, Elektra Records, Flying Fish, Rounder and Rounder/ Bullseye Blues, Music For Little People, (Earthbeat!/Rhino), Grateful Dead Records/ Arista and Chesky Records.

The sounds of The Persuasions have been featured in films ranging from Joe Versus the Volcano to The Heartbreak Kid and from Streets of Gold to E.T. The Persuasions are equally familiar with the small screen. The Persuasions documentary, "Spread the Word" has been broadcast on PBS. Spike Lee's "Do It A Cappella" presented The Persuasions as "the godfathers of a cappella" and has also been broadcast on PBS stations nationwide.

The Persuasions have made musical guest appearances on television shows that seem to cover the entire day! The group has performed on Good Morning America, the Today Show, The Tonight Show, and Late Night with Conan O' Brien. Weekends were covered with appearances on Saturday Night Live! The Persuasions started out as a bunch of kids hanging around singing A cappella. They have gone on to become the undisputed Kings of A cappella.

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BLUEfiveone

You may recognize BLUEfiveone as the original drummer from The Five One. Following a separation from the band, BLUEfiveone couldn't see himself quitting music, and he hasn't. Instead, he has teamed up with a group of talented musicians, forming, "BLUEfiveone and BLUE County" Together they deliver lyrics that share personal truths and songs that share emotion with you in a way that is so familiar, it's as if they were written and catered for you. The sounds they meld together are the feelings and sensations you have, and never thought could be translated into a musical medium. BLUEfiveone offers nothing more than a vision of COLOR, and that COLOR is BLUE.

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BAD DOMES
Based out of Washington DC, Rich Strayer is the mind behind the one-man laptop band "Bad Domes". Reconstructing popular music by chopping and rebuilding samples, Bad Domes performs a collage of recognizable music from multiple genres and decades. Each element of music (acapellas, drums, guitar riffs, melodies, etc..) is separated within the computer software on his laptop and triggered live on stage to create original sounds. No two Bad Domes shows are the same. What results is a unique performance in which Strayer often physically engages the crowd in a chaotic environment, while the music jumps around amongst hundreds of popular artists and songs.
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BRODY AND CHOCH
Hi-top fade house party rockers. Rockin' the party since 1986 and 1990 respectively. Brody aka the "long-legged-fiesta" swoons the ladies with his tender cadence while Choch rubs em down with his jasmine and scented oil like lyrics. The two brothers began their music venture in 2009 and since then have been creating a large buzz in the culture of hip-hop and music altogether. This highly entertaining rap duo are very reminiscent of "Kid-N-Play" splashed with "Fresh Prince" and "Tribe Called Quest". n 2011, Brody & Choch's refreshing throwback sound and entertaining performances took their fanny-packed flavor on tour with Brooklyn's punk-rock circus, Shinobi Ninja. B&C also appeared at CMJ Music Marathon in 2011 in a line-up which included The Stone Foxes, Rahzel, Soul Khan and Tribe Called Quest's Jarobi White. Soon after their tour, they were asked to open for Interscope's rock band, The Knux. Brody & Choch plan to release the, "Non Since 96 Mixtape" in March 2012 which includes classic 90's hip-hop beats with their own versus and spin to each hit. Following their mixtape will be their second full-length project, "Partners In Rhyme". Brody & Choch aren't rap. They are true-and-new old school hip-hop with a side of kickback and have fun entertainment.
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Cerca Trova

Some people spend their entirely life searching, very few stop and listen, in this malleable world.They fail to realize the importance of what goes on around them. The sound, the feeling, the edge, the music. It's all lost in the drone of their ever-busy lives. Deadlines and formats seem to rule the world. However, all it takes is one step, one reach, one song to break through to the hearts of the people."Cerca Trova." Some people spend their entire lives searching. Searching for love, purpose, and happiness. "He who seeks, shall find." Since 2005, Cerca Trova has also been searching. Across some lineup changes, a few EP releases, and copious amounts of dedication, progress is finally made. Yet the journey is not even close to being over. Through hard-hitting drums, face-melting guitar, heart-driving bass, and soul-piercing vocals, one will begin to finally understand the meaning of Cerca Trova. Join them in the search for what sets us apart from amoebas, real music. Relentless Rock n' Roll. American Rock n' Roll.

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DAUGHTER OF STARS
Daughter of Stars' style echoes that of decades past where rock 'n roll was devoid of pretention and full of hopeful innocence. Thundering riffs are tempered with heartfelt songwriting and soaring harmonies fusing each song with a searing intensity. The band burst onto the DC scene in late 2011 when Billboard Award winning songwriter Nick Samuels, formerly of Numa, found an outlet for the raw rock sound he was envisioning in vocalist Devon, whose powerful bluesy wail has been compared to 70's rockers Ann Wilson and Janis Joplin. The quartet was rounded out by former One Third Dork drummer Jon Varga and bassist David Scherzinger who layed down the solid groove needed for the songs to take flight. Be sure to catch their next show and fall under the spell of the Daughter of Stars.
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Mindy Smith CD Release

Known for her "smartly written folk and country-tinged tunes" (People) and "her bright soprano..." (Rolling Stone), critically lauded Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mindy Smith will self-release her fifth studio album on Giant Leap/TVX Records June 26. The self-titled effort is her first album of new material since 2009's Stupid Love and her first as an independent artist. Returning to the sound of her first two albums, "...her music has a reflective surface that can make it difficult to look inside" (Nashville Scene), Mindy Smith further showcases her timeless sound and music.

Of "Closer," Mindy says, "Many times in life's journey, we find ourselves disoriented. For me, I make destructive decisions that can distract me from my ultimate goal. I think I am making the right choices and staying close to my agenda but I just run off course. In "Closer," I see the North Star as the prize. One that I am always getting so close to but unable to grab a hold of and then it eludes me. Personally this song paints a picture of how I see my musical career and that I see NOW is my moment. Taking the time to listen for the answers to my questions. I guess NOW is always our moment even if it is only etching out one little piece of the bigger picture."

Co-produced with Jason Lehning, the collection features 11 original compositions-seven of which Smith wrote with the remaining four as co-writes. Recorded at Sound Emporium Studio in Nashville, the album features some of Nashville best players, including Bryan Sutton (guitar); Lex Price (bass); Ian Fitchuk (drums); and Joe Pisapia (guitar), Jason Lehning (guitar), and Dan Dugmore (pedal steel). Prior to the release of her 2004 debut, the New York native charmed fans with her rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene," for the much-praised Dolly Parton tribute album, Just Because I'm a Woman. Her Vanguard Records debut album, One Moment More, went on to earn numerous critical accolades, featured the hit single "Come to Jesus," and sold over 300,000 copies. She subsequently released Long Island Shores (Vanguard, 2006), My Holiday (Vanguard, 2007), and Stupid Love (Vanguard, 2009).

In August 2011, Mindy and longtime friend Daniel Tashian recorded "Taking You With Me," a duet featured in the film and soundtrack for Paul Rudd's film Our Idiot Brother. Her music's also been featured in national television shows such as Grey's Anatomy, HBO's Six Feet Under and the WB's Smallville and Summerland.

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

Aer + OCD: Moosh & Twist

David von Mering and Carter Schultz of Wayland, MA create music that finds its roots in reggae, acoustic pop and indie rock, with smooth guitar riffs and a strong rap component. Aer has performed at schools such as Lehigh University, University of North Carolina, University of South Carolina, University of Vermont, Roger Williams University, DeSales University, Bates College, Syracuse University, The Studio at Webster Hall, Canal Room, as well as numerous venues down the east coast to Florida and throughout the midwest. Aer has sold out headline shows at Gramercy Theatre in New York City and The Middle East Downstairs in Boston. "The Reach", which was sponsored by popular college music blog Good Music All Day, has amassed over 50,000 downloads since its May 9th 2011 release. Their latest release, EP "What You Need," rose to the #1 album on the iTunes hip-hop charts, and also made it in the top ten on the iTunes overall album charts. Their iTunes single "Feel I Bring" made the front of the Reggae page when iTunes placed the song in their "New & Noteworthy" section and one of their latest singles, "Slow Down" was featured on prolific hip-hop blog 2dopeboyz. Aer has shared the stage with the likes of Mac Miller, Shwayze and Cisco Adler, Hoodie Allen, Ballyhoo! and Cris Cab. This summer Aer will be playing The Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park NJ.

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

OCD: MOOSH & TWIST
Philadelphia born and raised hip hop duo. 18 years old. Moosh and Twist are brothers. OCD is a family.
Official site | Facebook | Youtube

Passafire

On Passafire’s fourth album release, Start From Scratch, the Savannah, GA based Rock outfit is truly starting from scratch. Injected with energy from a new member (keyboardist Mike DeGuzman), a freshly formed band-owned label (FlameGuy Records) and a new producer, Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers, Sublime, Meat Puppets), the band have made their best album to date. Trekking down to Sonic Ranch outside of El Paso, TX, where Connor Oberst, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sublime and many more recently recorded, they expand their sound from their previous releases; deeply honing guitar tones, exploring synth sounds, and laying down tracks of Harmonica and Banjo. "We always wanted to have a good balance of organic and synthesized sounds and we finally had the chance to make that happen this time," recollects singer, Ted Bowne. Songs like “Dimming Sky,” “Lorelie, and the title track, “Start From Scratch,” exemplify this newly found balance.

Passafire was formed in 2003 by students attending Savannah College of Art and Design. Throughout the years they have become a perpetually touring band playing hundreds of shows a year with bands like 311, Pepper, Rebelution, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, The Wailers and many more. Bowne doesn’t mind the grueling schedule and adds, “Touring is the best way to keep the buzz about the band going. What keeps it fun and exciting is the people we meet and places we get to see. We are in a new city every day so there's always something to go see or do. If we didn't tour constantly, we wouldn't be doing as well as we are. That's a fact.”

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

Kate Miller-Heidke

We all know her voice by now. Without question, they are some of the most gloriously elastic vocal chords in contemporary music. In one song, she will sound as hushed and intimate as a lover before sleep, before reverberating with an operatic force so great, it seems possible walls might collapse and time will fold in on itself. Across the Pacific and Atlantic-from Australia to Asia, the US and UK-stunned audiences have been mesmerised and transformed, one at a time, by the extraordinary talent that is Kate Miller-Heidke. Now, following double-platinum sales for her last album (2008's Curiouser), sets at Coachella, international dates supporting Ben Folds, acclaimed opera performances in Australia and the UK, and catching US critics-from the New York Times to the New Yorker-off-guard, Kate Miller-Heidke returns with Nightflight, her first solo album in three years. Over 11 songs, Nightflight signals a new-found sophistication in songwriting that sees Kate meditate on homesickness, mortality, love and surrender, in an album that is both sonically lush and emotionally stark, deeply personal and yet utterly panoramic.

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

Randy Thompson Band

From Blues to Country to Bluegrass and beyond, it is a heritage that Virginia-based singer/songwriter Randy Thompson intuitively understands and brings vividly to life. His music lovingly embraces the past even as it blazes kicking, picking, singing and rocking into the 21st Century. The Randy Thompson Band is a touring powerhouse. The Washington Post said of a recent performance, ‘He can really put it across in a live setting with undeniable confidence….a compelling performer”. The Randy Thompson Band hits the road in 2012 to fulfill on the unstoppable momentum they have built and forged on the road, the path carved from hard-lived experience. Randy Thompson’s music, like the man, cannot be stuck in one place and expected to stay put. Call it country, call it roots music, call it Americana; but if you want to call an artist who knows where he comes from, where he stands and how to make the most out of both…...call Randy Thompson. It’s the sound of the Virginia hills, of war and peace and love and fear. Randy Thompson’s music is the sometimes sad, often simple and always beautiful sound of the truth.

Official Site | Facebook |

SUPER bob

"Going to a SUPER bob show is like getting on a f'ing roller coaster, they rock your ass off and you can't wait to get back on." -Whitney (On Air personality) DC 101

SUPER bob is a four-piece high energy rock band based in the Washington DC area. Childhood friends Adam Smith (guitar) and Matt Santoro (vocals) formed the band, under the name "bob" in ‘05 with the vision of bringing something fresh to a rock scene that seemed to have forgotten what rock n roll was really about. Soon after, they added Drew Recny (bass) and Chris Faircloth (drums). This band breathes rebellious authenticity back into music and reminds you that rock music is supposed to make you get up and not give a damn about being you.

When you see SUPER bob live your senses will be overwhelmed by a borderline excess of stage presence and heart pounding sound. P.R.S sponsored guitarist Adam Smith brings a package of uniqueness, flare, and pure adrenaline that is rarely found in any one musician, while classically trained Drew Recny packs a clean, punchy bass style that is loaded with obvious talent and a technique that only comes with full dedication and commitment to his craft. Christopher Faircloth, a Spaun Drum Company sponsored drummer, brings an almost indescribable style to the table, one with high flying stick tricks, and hard pounding, ear deafening, strong beats. The proverbial icing on the SUPER bob cake is provided by Matt Santoro's vocals which can only be described as unabashedly his own. Full of ear catching melodies, unapologetic and blatantly honest lyrics, and a flow that is uncommon yet undeniably at home in rock, Santoro's songwriting couples with an unrivaled stage presence that caps off one of the best live bands you will ever get the chance to experience.

SUPER bob's buzz was established with their eye catching live shows, non-stop hustle, and no excuses work ethic. Tattoos, colored hair, dread locks, and plenty of good old fashioned rock n roll grit distinguishes them from the undedicated and identifies them as the real deal in an industry riddled with fakers. After three years of hard work at gaining recognition, winning the loyalty of fans in their local scene, and growing a fan-base across the Mid-Atlantic, SUPER bob hooked up with Grammy nominated producer Garth "GGGarth" Richardson. They went to Vancouver BC to record their first full length record entitled "bbbob" and then hit the road for the next three years playing an average of 130 shows annually over a span of 19 states.

"I have seen over 7,500 bands in the last fifteen years, and SUPER bob is one of the best. Never have I seen a band gain fans so quick and rock it on stage with such energy. They will woo grandmas to teenies" -Mick Minchow Owner/ Booking Agent/ Promoter - Ground Zero-Spartanburg SC

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

CARRY THE ONE
Carry the One combines multiple musical genres to create a sound both pleasing and unique... Funk, metal, rock, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, progressive/math rock, reggae, pop-punk, and so on. They strive to create a live experience which is both energetic and entertaining.
Twitter | Facebook

NINE DAYS GONE
Frontman Joseph Keith, bass guitarist Eric Daniel, and drummer Luke P formed Nine Days Gone in 2009 The band writes and records all original material in the Washington DC area. The bands influences come from a variety of alternative/punk bands like Green Day, Sum 41, and Blink 182. Nine Days Gone started playing shows in the Fall of 2011, and since then they have gained popularity across the DC metro area. They have been privileged enough to be featured on multiple radio stations, open for major local acts, and work with renowned producer John Piette to record their second album "As It's Always Been".
Official site | Twitter | Facebook | Itunes | Youtube

SOAR Presents ILUVATAR

A rare chance to see the progressive rock band Iluvatar performing new material from their upcoming release plus their classics from all 4 of their CDs!! The band has a renewed energy with a new lead vocalist.

Perhaps no other American band is so adept at the vintage British progressive rock formula as the Baltimore, Maryland based band Iluvatar.  Named after a chacter in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Simarillion, Iluvatar has been thrilling audiences since 1992 with their song based art rock format featuring superb lyrics and excellent musicianship.  Iluvatar are Dennis Mullen (guitar), Jim Rezek (keyboards), Chris Mack (drums), Dean Morekas (bass) and Jeff Sirody (vocals).  We are delighted to bring this finest of American progressive bands to Jammin Java where they will be debuting their newest CD.

The band is generally compared to the sounds of Rush, Kansas, Genesis, Marillion, etc. but developed their own sound many moons ago.

Iluvatar began performing live in the Baltimore area in 1992 and quickly acquired a steadily-growing following of devoted fans. Though the primary focus of their live performances was on their original compositions, the band occasionally accented their sets with music from Genesis, Marillion, Pink Floyd, and Styx.

Iluvatar’s self-titled debut CD was released on Kinesis Records in November 1993 and quickly became the label’s top-seller. Iluvatar soon began to receive international recognition for their work. Iluvatar re-entered the studio in March 1995 to record “Children”, their second album for Kinesis . “Children” firmly established Iluvatar as one of the premier American bands in the 90’s progressive movement. In 1997 the “Sideshow” CD, a collection of live tracks, alternate versions, and unreleased material was released. The latest studio CD “A Story Two Days Wide” was released in 1999. The band has continued to write and record since then and a new CD is due out soon.

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Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 7

Jammin Java presents The SEVENTH Mid-Atlantic Band Battle. Everyone   had such a killer time on all 6 battles that we’re doing it all over   again! We are searching for the best bands of any genre from up-and-down   the East Coast to prove that they have what it takes to win $2500 CASH   and more!

FIRST PLACE—GRAND PRIZE!

• $2,500 CASH
• Your own headlining show at Jammin Java
• Studio time at Cue Recording Studios with producer Jim Ebert  
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Snapp-Shot Photography, LLC
• 10 hours rehearsal studio time at The Music School at Jammin Java
• Business card or poster design from BandsByLuke
• Printing of business cards and free posters for any upcoming two shows via Donnelly’s Printing
• Professional video recording of an upcoming show via Peace Pro Films
• Full website feature with DownloadMag.net

2nd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Mark Anthony Photography
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

3rd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

4th place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

Here’s how it works:

1. Apply to compete in the Battle. Only 24 bands will be accepted.
2.  Compete in one of four preliminary rounds on July 2, 3, 5 and 6. Seven   bands compete per night. One winner per night moves on to the finals.
3. Four bands compete in the finals on Friday, August 17th.
4. The application deadline is Saturday, June 9th at 11:59pm.

ALL GENRES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE BATTLE! Whether you are   acoustic, rock, latin, bluegrass, funk, folk, electronic, reggae,  hip-hop, or anything else, we want you!

TO APPLY: Fill out the form at http://bit.ly/HXEKBg OR email jjbandbattle7@gmail.com with the following info:

Band Name:
Contact Person:
Email:
Phone:
Official Site:
Location:

This is a great opportunity for some MAJOR CASH for your band   (buy a van, new gear, add to your recording fund?) as well as tons of   exposure to many industry professionals. It’s also a great way for us at   Jammin Java to check out your band in consideration for future shows.

Official Site |

Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 7

Jammin Java presents The SEVENTH Mid-Atlantic Band Battle. Everyone   had such a killer time on all 6 battles that we’re doing it all over   again! We are searching for the best bands of any genre from up-and-down   the East Coast to prove that they have what it takes to win $2500 CASH   and more!

FIRST PLACE—GRAND PRIZE!

• $2,500 CASH
• Your own headlining show at Jammin Java
• Studio time at Cue Recording Studios with producer Jim Ebert  
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Snapp-Shot Photography, LLC
• 10 hours rehearsal studio time at The Music School at Jammin Java
• Business card or poster design from BandsByLuke
• Printing of business cards and free posters for any upcoming two shows via Donnelly’s Printing
• Professional video recording of an upcoming show via Peace Pro Films
• Full website feature with DownloadMag.net

2nd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Mark Anthony Photography
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

3rd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

4th place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

Here’s how it works:

1. Apply to compete in the Battle. Only 24 bands will be accepted.
2.  Compete in one of four preliminary rounds on July 2, 3, 5 and 6. Seven   bands compete per night. One winner per night moves on to the finals.
3. Four bands compete in the finals on Friday, August 17th.
4. The application deadline is Saturday, June 9th at 11:59pm.

ALL GENRES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE BATTLE! Whether you are   acoustic, rock, latin, bluegrass, funk, folk, electronic, reggae,  hip-hop, or anything else, we want you!

TO APPLY: Fill out the form at http://bit.ly/HXEKBg OR email jjbandbattle7@gmail.com with the following info:

Band Name:
Contact Person:
Email:
Phone:
Official Site:
Location:

This is a great opportunity for some MAJOR CASH for your band   (buy a van, new gear, add to your recording fund?) as well as tons of   exposure to many industry professionals. It’s also a great way for us at   Jammin Java to check out your band in consideration for future shows.

Official Site |

Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 7

Jammin Java presents The SEVENTH Mid-Atlantic Band Battle. Everyone   had such a killer time on all 6 battles that we’re doing it all over   again! We are searching for the best bands of any genre from up-and-down   the East Coast to prove that they have what it takes to win $2500 CASH   and more!

FIRST PLACE—GRAND PRIZE!

• $2,500 CASH
• Your own headlining show at Jammin Java
• Studio time at Cue Recording Studios with producer Jim Ebert  
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Snapp-Shot Photography, LLC
• 10 hours rehearsal studio time at The Music School at Jammin Java
• Business card or poster design from BandsByLuke
• Printing of business cards and free posters for any upcoming two shows via Donnelly’s Printing
• Professional video recording of an upcoming show via Peace Pro Films
• Full website feature with DownloadMag.net

2nd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Mark Anthony Photography
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

3rd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

4th place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

Here’s how it works:

1. Apply to compete in the Battle. Only 24 bands will be accepted.
2.  Compete in one of four preliminary rounds on July 2, 3, 5 and 6. Seven   bands compete per night. One winner per night moves on to the finals.
3. Four bands compete in the finals on Friday, August 17th.
4. The application deadline is Saturday, June 9th at 11:59pm.

ALL GENRES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE BATTLE! Whether you are   acoustic, rock, latin, bluegrass, funk, folk, electronic, reggae,  hip-hop, or anything else, we want you!

TO APPLY: Fill out the form at http://bit.ly/HXEKBg OR email jjbandbattle7@gmail.com with the following info:

Band Name:
Contact Person:
Email:
Phone:
Official Site:
Location:

This is a great opportunity for some MAJOR CASH for your band   (buy a van, new gear, add to your recording fund?) as well as tons of   exposure to many industry professionals. It’s also a great way for us at   Jammin Java to check out your band in consideration for future shows.

Official Site |

Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 7

Jammin Java presents The SEVENTH Mid-Atlantic Band Battle. Everyone   had such a killer time on all 6 battles that we’re doing it all over   again! We are searching for the best bands of any genre from up-and-down   the East Coast to prove that they have what it takes to win $2500 CASH   and more!

FIRST PLACE—GRAND PRIZE!

• $2,500 CASH
• Your own headlining show at Jammin Java
• Studio time at Cue Recording Studios with producer Jim Ebert  
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Snapp-Shot Photography, LLC
• 10 hours rehearsal studio time at The Music School at Jammin Java
• Business card or poster design from BandsByLuke
• Printing of business cards and free posters for any upcoming two shows via Donnelly’s Printing
• Professional video recording of an upcoming show via Peace Pro Films
• Full website feature with DownloadMag.net

2nd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by Mark Anthony Photography
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

3rd place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

4th place
• Full Band Press-Promotional Band Shoot by DownloadMag.net
• Gift certificate from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center

Here’s how it works:

1. Apply to compete in the Battle. Only 24 bands will be accepted.
2.  Compete in one of four preliminary rounds on July 2, 3, 5 and 6. Seven   bands compete per night. One winner per night moves on to the finals.
3. Four bands compete in the finals on Friday, August 17th.
4. The application deadline is Saturday, June 9th at 11:59pm.

ALL GENRES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE BATTLE! Whether you are   acoustic, rock, latin, bluegrass, funk, folk, electronic, reggae,  hip-hop, or anything else, we want you!

TO APPLY: Fill out the form at http://bit.ly/HXEKBg OR email jjbandbattle7@gmail.com with the following info:

Band Name:
Contact Person:
Email:
Phone:
Official Site:
Location:

This is a great opportunity for some MAJOR CASH for your band   (buy a van, new gear, add to your recording fund?) as well as tons of   exposure to many industry professionals. It’s also a great way for us at   Jammin Java to check out your band in consideration for future shows.

Official Site |

Jim’s Big Ego

Hailing from the quaint New England village of Boston, Massachusetts, Jim's Big Ego has carved a unique place in the the music world by rocking harder, fresher, louder, sweeter and better than everyone else. Jim's Big Ego's secret to awesomeness is singer, songwriter, and all around super-genius, Jim Infantino. Armed with the innate ability to create songs that are more brilliant than all others in history, Infantino gives the band the gift of greatness. Jim's Big Ego compares itself to such major players as The Great Wall of China, The Grand Canyon, Antarctica, and other things you can see from space. While the debate still rages over whether the band's formation was a matter of divine providence or historical inevitability, one fact remains clear: if the world ended today, Jim's Big Ego would die happy knowing that they were more talented than Oasis, more popular than Terence Trent D'Arby and richer than MC Hammer.

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

The Dirty Jacks

The Dirty Jacks are a progressive/alternative rock band from Rockville, MD, USA, that create and deliver a unique sound, which is winning fans throughout the DC Metro area. They have played in venues across the Mid-Atlantic such as Jammin’ Java, The Recher Theatre and Ram’s Head Live and have been featured on radio programs, including Noise in the Basement on 98 Rock.  Recently, they won the 2012 Washington Auto Show’s Battle of the Bands held at the DC Convention Center and were declared Jammin’ Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 6 Champions.  The Dirty Jacks were also voted band of the month, April 2012, on The Deli Magazine.

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

John Wesley Harding

Early show! This show will be seated on a first come, first served basis.

John Wesley Harding has released 17 albums, ranging from traditional folk to full-on pop music. His album The Sound Of His Own Voice (Yep Roc, October 2011) was recorded in Portland in November 2010. The album features 13 new songs, backed by an all star band, The King Charles Trio, featuring members of The Decemberists, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Rosanne Cash, Laura Veirs, and John Roderick. John Wesley Harding has been joined onstage by Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen (with whom he recorded a duet on his album Awake), Joan Baez, Evan Dando, David Baddiel, Rick Moody, Tanya Donelly, Josh Ritter, Andrew Bird, Rosanne Cash, Colin Meloy, Scott MacCaughey and Robyn Hitchcock, among others. He has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. His songs have been featured in films (including High Fidelity) and covered by other artists.

His series of "Cabinet of Wonders" variety shows, inaugurated in spring 2009 in New York, featured appearances by Rosanne Cash, Graham Parker, Josh Ritter, Rick Moody, Colson Whitehead, and Jonathan Ames. It's "a brilliant evening of laid-back fun" (Village Voice) and "one of the most whip-smart variety shows on the market" (Portland Tribune). Two further series in 2009/10 featured among others: A. C. Newman, Colin Meloy, Rhett Miller, Eugene Mirman, Tanya Donelly, Patrick McGrath, and Todd Barry. The Cabinet of Wonders has now moved to City Winery in Manhattan. The next series features appearances by Craig Finn, Ted Leo, Howe Gelb, Andrew VanWyngarden (MGMT), Todd Barry, John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) and many others.

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

Marah

It is hard to remain indifferent in front of this band. You feel trapped by their music, drunk with it.

Every performance by MARAH is an explosion of vitality, energy and authentic passion for pure, undistilled rock&roll. Their melodies are so wonderful that they almost hurt, hitting you with well-aimed blows of honesty. Getting through them is entering a magical universe of deep lyrical poetry, across which parade the dark side of the street, the soul's emotions and dreams. Stories that scratch the surface looking for deeper meanings, that go right through your skin and broaden your heart.

Without a break, without respite, they knit a moving visceral rock which they spit from deep inside, making bitterness turn out beautiful if you truly feel it. Without renouncing the freshness of present time, they integrate their chords together with ancestral roots which they re-invent time and time again, shaking your blood and soul to the point of distorting your senses. The result is a sort of gorgeous music they generously give away to make the world look more inhabitable to us, with more room for goodness and beauty.

Official Site | Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | YouTube

WE WERE KINGS
We Were Kings was formed in 2010. Three years in the making frontman Nate Ihara has pieced together his solo turned group effort with songs, band members, and producers one by one. Ihara formerly fronted the now defunct D.C. based band Welbilt before picking up the bass guitar for The Blackjacks, another popular band from the area currently by way of Nashville, TN. The songs are inspired by a variety of influences ranging from Sting and The Police to Elvis Costello, Brighteyes to The Black Keys, Ryan Adams, and One Republic. While the band itself is young it's members are all veterans of the music scene on both the local and national level.
Twitter | Facebook | Itunes |

MARC SCIBILIA
Marc A. Scibiliais a singer-songwriter born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Scibilia's latest release was in 2009, an ep titled From Brooklyn to Maine. Only 1,200 physical copies of the ep were numbered and pressed and almost exclusively sold at live shows between October-November 2009 while touring with singer-songwriter Derek Webb. In October 2011 Scibilia released a live performance of his song "Better Man", filmed by close friend Julian Smith (director) . The two have filmed similarly captured performances all across the country and plan to release them in 2012.
Official site | Twitter | Facebook | Itunes | Youtube

The Skatalites

The Skatalites brought together the top musicians and styles of the time-fusing boogie-woogie blues, R&B, jazz, mento, calypso, and African rhythms-to create the first truly Jamaican music: ska. Throughout the mid-20th century, experience in big bands solidified the prowess of most Jamaican musicians; yet, the genesis for many of the great Skatalites goes back to a boys' school established for the wayward. The Skatalites were formed in June of 1964 and played their first gig on June 27 at the Hi Hat club, on Water Lane in Rae Town. In the late 70's, English two-tone revival groups like The Specials, Madness, The English Beat, and Selector kept the beat alive and well. Then, in the 80's (and ever since), their American counterparts spawned a ‘third wave' and beyond... Groups like The Slackers, HepCat, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, No Doubt, David Hillyard and The Rocksteady 7, The Toasters and King Django, all pay tribute to The Skatalites as a primary influence. This new generation have collectively opened for and played with The Skatalites, raising awareness and maintaining the fan base for a never-ending wave of ska. From the start, The Skatalites changed Jamaican music forever. The creation of ska-the father of rocksteady, the grandfather of reggae-gave us eternal rhythms that now infiltrate the globe.

Official Site | Twitter | iTunes | YouTube

MURPHY'S KIDS
Armed with an intense live show, crushing rock anthems and deep reggae grooves, Murphy's Kids has been spreading a message of hope and self-reliance up and down the eastern seaboard since 1999. Having produced and sold over 2,500 copies of their first three EP's, Murphy's Kids has moved towards a more polished sound and approach culminating in 2009's release of their first full-length, entitled Departures, which was released on Community Records. Departures showcases the unrelenting energy and excitement of their live performances while deftly pairing it with concise and intelligent songwriting. Murphy's Kids have shared the stage with Soja, The Pietasters, Passafire, and more!
Official site | Twitter | Facebook | Itunes | Youtube

FULL HUNDRED BAND
While the main vein of Full Hundred is Reggae, elements of Punk, Folk, and Irish drinking songs find their way into the musical mix of this group from Baltimore. The foundation of the groups recorded sound relies heavily on the driving force of reggae drum and bass...Vocally you'll just have to listen...The vocalist is a "cunning linquist", or so his good friend the Black Widow says... Designed to function as a duo or a 4 piece and thus recorded as such, Full Hundred wants you to give them a listen.
Official site | Facebook | Youtube

Yellowman (At The Whiskey)

Known throughout the world as “The King of Jamaican Dancehall”, Yellowman has a deep history in the roots of reggae music. His upbringing at the Maxfield Home orphanage in Kingston and being albino in Jamaica were two obstacles the he overcame and went on to be (at one time) the biggest reggae artist since Bob Marley.  His ability to ride rhythm and excite a crowd made Yellow an instant hit in Jamaica. He also began to work with the Ace Sound System in St. Thomas and drew big crowds at his dancehall performances. Later in his career, Yellow began to spread out and work for a number of different producers, sometimes releasing as many as five albums per year. This led to a recording contract with CBS Records. After an extended leave of absence from the record industry, Yellowman began his comeback with the song "Blueberry Hill", and his career was re-launched. His first album for RAS came from producer Phillip 'Fatis' Burrell and was called "Yellow Like Cheese". Yellowman's witticisms are as cheeky, spirited and intelligent as ever, and delivered with his customary sharp, melodic style. A true reggae legend, Yellowman paved the way for countless dancehall toasters to follow and has had an enormous influence on the world of hip-hop.

Official Site | Twitter | iTunes |

Private Event

As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.

Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.

Official Site |

Becca Stevens Band

North Carolina-bred, New York-based singer/composer/guitarist Becca Stevens has already received copious praise from the likes of The New York Times, who described her as "a best-kept secret" and "impressively absorbing." The Boston Phoenix noted Becca's "big voice and no-bull-- emotional delivery," while The Winston-Salem Journal stated, "Stevens' singing is remarkable, soulful, pitch-perfect and subtle in its controlled acrobatics. The arrangements are exquisitely produced, and her acoustic songs boast musical textures and colors that embrace the adventurism of jazz." Stevens' intimate vocals communicate both warmth and effortless urgency, while her exquisitely understated arrangements and seamlessly crafted tunes embrace inventive acoustic textures and idiosyncratic rhythmic and melodic elements. The resulting music offers a beguiling blend of head and heart that resists easy categorization, drawing upon elements of pop, jazz or folk without limiting itself to the rules of any particular genre.

After graduating from the high school program at the North Carolina School of the Arts with a major in classical guitar, Stevens attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York. It was at the New School that she met Chris Tordini and started to put together what would subsequently become the Becca Stevens Band. Since graduating from the New School, Stevens has served as lead singer of Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, fronting a genre-bending 18-piece jazz orchestra interpreting the songs of Björk; toured and recorded with, and written lyrics for, jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti, and most recently performed at Carnegie Hall as featured singer with pianist Brad Mehldau. She's also toured as part of drummer/composer Eric Harland's all-star band; and has performed with such notable players as Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier, Mark Turner, Ed Simon, and Greg Hutchinson.

2010 saw the debut of Stevens' first choral composition, Soli Deo Gloria, commissioned and performed by the Melodia Women's Choir in New York. Becca also moonlights as one-third of Tillery, a trio with fellow singer/songwriters Rebecca Martin and Gretchen Parlato. In 2011 Sunnyside records released the critically acclaimed "Weightless" a sparkling 12-song set revealing the accomplished young songstress as a startlingly original, refreshingly distinctive talent in her own right.

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LAUREN MANN AND THE FAIRLY ODD FOLK
In a world where the gift of simply appreciating music seems to have been lost, it takes something extraordinary to capture the heart and the attention of listeners. Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk do just that. From captivating indie folk-pop melodies to an authentic and energetic performance, you'll get drawn in to the music and won't be let go anytime soon. In spring 2009, Lauren completed a four song EP with songs she recorded on her own, as well as some with local Calgary producer Andrew Hamill. A few months later she put out another self recorded EP and continued to sell these at shows. She completed two more cross-Canada tours, one with British Columbia duo Reeves, and the next with Nashville duo Handsome and Gretyl, who, as well as opening for the shows, also played as part of the Fairly Odd Folk. These three Canadian tours, as well as a three-week tour throughout Denmark, all in the first year of doing music full-time, brought Lauren's show count to just over 200. This wasn't the only milestone reached; she also charted to the #1 folk album on Earshot for the month of December 2010, recorded a new album for release in Spring 2012 at The Vanguard Room in Lakeland, Florida with Aaron Marsh (formerly of Copeland), and was invited to play at the Calgary Folk Music Festival in July 2011 alongside such acts as City and Colour, Couer de Pirate, The Hollow Brethern, The Head and the Heart, Deep Dark Woods, and many more. With infectious music and a strong ambition on their side, Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk prove that they aren't one to be forgotten any time soon.
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An Evening with Iona

Formed in 1989, IONA take their name from the small island off the west coast of Scotland. From the beginning, their aim has been to write spiritual, atmospheric, yet uplifting music that would stir the emotions, weaving complex patterns that echo the intricate knot work of the great Celtic artists. Often inspired by the great figures of the Celtic Golden Age such as Columba, Aidan, Brendan and Patrick, IONA's music is as timeless as the message that reaches out to us across the centuries

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Fleetwood Mac: A Jammin Java Songwriters Circle Tribute

Join 4 of D.C.'s most talented musicians pay homage to the legendary band that created hits like "Landslide," "Go Your Own Way," "Dreams" and "Little Lies" in an intimate storytellers setting. If you're never been to a Songwriter's Circle before, it goes like this: Rock frontmen step away from their backing bands and in a stripped-down setting play songs. Come hear The Blackjack's Anthony Fiacco, Native Run's Luke Brindley, Todd Wright, and, Honor By August's Michael Pearsall perform originals and the greatest hits of Fleetwood Mac.

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Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers

Friday, June 22nd - Acoustic full band concert

Saturday, June 23rd - Classic full-on SK6ERS show

Tickets include entry to the Jammin' Java shows on Friday and Saturday evenings, and to the field day/BBQ on Saturday afternoon. Your weekend pass comes complete with two concerts at Jammin' Java, a day of field games and BBQ with the Sixers, access to our unbelievably low hotel group rate at the wonderful Westin Tysons Corner and shuttles from The Westin to the weekend's events!

Saturday, June 23rd (Day) - Stephen and the band will man the grill and host classic field day activities (water balloon toss, three legged race, etc.) at the lovely Nottoway Park in Vienna. Food and drinks will be flowing, and Cousin Jessica will make sure there is sun block for everyone!

Saturday, June 23rd (Night) - After we all have a chance to freshen up, we'll meet back at Jammin' Java for a classic full-on SK6ERS show, the second concert of the weekend.

Sunday, June 24th (Day) - For those weekend pass holders who belong to Sixertown (the band's fan club), we will be hosting a brunch. This is sure to be a memorable send off from a great weekend. Details will be given to all Sixertown members the weekend prior to the brunch.  To join Sixertown click HERE.

On Gift Horse, their second album for Vanguard and fifth studio effort overall, Stephen Kellogg and his bandmates bring the rich legacy of American rock & roll into the present tense. This is thrilling music, muscular, immediate and life-embracing, steeped in tradition but addressing the present moment boldly and eloquently. For the past years, Kellogg & the Sixers have toured non-stop, some years clocking in close to 300 shows. They've shared the stage with such notable and diverse artists as Guster, James Brown, Jason Mraz, Kathleen Edwards, Carbon Leaf, Mike Doughty, Josh Ritter, George Thorogood and Hanson. There's nothing hidden or tentative about Kellogg's music or the values he stands for. If you've been itching to crank up some bracing, timeless rock & roll that speaks to these values loudly and proudly, then Gift Horse is exactly what you've been waiting for.

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Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers

Friday, June 22nd - Acoustic full band concert

Saturday, June 23rd - Classic full-on SK6ERS show

Tickets include entry to the Jammin' Java shows on Friday and Saturday evenings, and to the field day/BBQ on Saturday afternoon. Your weekend pass comes complete with two concerts at Jammin' Java, a day of field games and BBQ with the Sixers, access to our unbelievably low hotel group rate at the wonderful Westin Tysons Corner and shuttles from The Westin to the weekend's events!

Saturday, June 23rd (Day) - Stephen and the band will man the grill and host classic field day activities (water balloon toss, three legged race, etc.) at the lovely Nottoway Park in Vienna. Food and drinks will be flowing, and Cousin Jessica will make sure there is sun block for everyone!

Saturday, June 23rd (Night) - After we all have a chance to freshen up, we'll meet back at Jammin' Java for a classic full-on SK6ERS show, the second concert of the weekend.

Sunday, June 24th (Day) - For those weekend pass holders who belong to Sixertown (the band's fan club), we will be hosting a brunch. This is sure to be a memorable send off from a great weekend. Details will be given to all Sixertown members the weekend prior to the brunch.  To join Sixertown click HERE.

On Gift Horse, their second album for Vanguard and fifth studio effort overall, Stephen Kellogg and his bandmates bring the rich legacy of American rock & roll into the present tense. This is thrilling music, muscular, immediate and life-embracing, steeped in tradition but addressing the present moment boldly and eloquently. For the past years, Kellogg & the Sixers have toured non-stop, some years clocking in close to 300 shows. They've shared the stage with such notable and diverse artists as Guster, James Brown, Jason Mraz, Kathleen Edwards, Carbon Leaf, Mike Doughty, Josh Ritter, George Thorogood and Hanson. There's nothing hidden or tentative about Kellogg's music or the values he stands for. If you've been itching to crank up some bracing, timeless rock & roll that speaks to these values loudly and proudly, then Gift Horse is exactly what you've been waiting for.

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Empires

Empires recently finished recording their second full length album, Garage Hymns. The band's self-produced debut album, Howl, garnered a massive amount of attention when they released it on their website back in 2008, and now, with Garage Hymns, Empires feels that they have found the sound they've been searching for all along.

It's been a rapid ascent to critical acclaim for the young Empires, who came together in 2006. Howl was named one of the top five local albums of 2008 by Metromix Chicago, and Empires spent the rest of 2008 and much of 2009 building a profile locally. They sold out several of Chicago most popular music venues, including Schubas, the Beat Kitchen, and the Subterranean. Then, late in 2009, they went back into Max's studio to record again, and in 2010 they released a seven-song EP called BANG.

To generate more interest in their second collection of self-produced material, the band put out BANG in the form of monthly digital singles until physically releasing a deluxe edition of the album in March of 2010, right before their first SXSW appearance. The BANG EP and their first SXSW appearance ushered in some good national attention. With the BANG EP and a raucous makeout music video for the title track keeping a lot of attention focused on them, Empires quietly began demoing the songs that would later become Garage Hymns in the summer of 2010. Then, from February to May of 2011, the Empires fan base came out in droves once again when Empires was one of sixteen bands being considered for the August cover of Rolling Stone.

Hand-picked from over 1,200 artists by Rolling Stone editors to be part of the magazine's first ever "Choose the Cover" campaign, Empires advanced (through public voting) to one of the final four slots. Rolling Stone called Empires a "big, multi-faceted, tower of power" and said that "inspired by the independent spirit of ‘90s grunge, Empires' music takes the urgency and emotion of that era and reboots it for a new generation."

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TEAM SPIRIT
TEAM SPIRIT began when Passion Pit synth player Ayad Al Adhamy started writing songs on the guitar. Wanting more and needing to rock live, he combined with long time friends Roman Tobias Pettigrew & Dave Weingarten & together recorded the TEAM SPIRIT EP. They are joined live by Cosmo Di Giulio.
A blend inspired by motown Bass, roaring drums, ripping guitars and glam rock vocals; here is TEAM SPIRIT
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An Evening with Finbar Furey

Finbar Furey has left his mark on the music of Ireland for more than four decades. As the lead singer, banjo and uillean pipes player for The Fureys, a group he shared with his brothers Eddie, Paul and George, he helped to guide the evolution of Ireland's traditional music. Since leaving the band to pursue a solo career in 1995, Furey has continued to attract attention with his gutsy approach to the music of the Emerald Isle. He has toured extensively in Britain, Australia and Europe, treating audiences to evenings of pure Irish magic, great music, good humour, and the charm and sparkling wit associated with one of Ireland's great raconteurs. This year sees the release of a great new album, Colours' featuring new self‐penned songs such as ‘Walking with my Love'. Finbar's recently added acting to his credits, playing a singing role in Martin Scorsese's ‘Gangs of New York' followed by acting roles in Mark Mahon's ‘Strength and Honour' alongside Vinny Jones, Richard Chamberlain, Michael Madsen and Patrick Bergin. Last year he had a part in a short film, ‘Paris/ Sexy' where he plays a stunning role as a mentally ill ex‐ gamekeeper. This past year he played aa part in RTE's feted drama series, Love/Hate.

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@JamnJavaDoorGal’s LOCAL SCENE:

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FALLWORTH
Formed in 2011, Fallworth has been described as nothing short of remarkable. Combining rock, strong melodic vocals, classical piano with hard techno-centric beats, and wailing heavy guitar riffs, this up-and-coming trio has hit a major stride. Influences as wide as Rachmanninoff to Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins to Muse, Rage Against the Machine to Mute Math can be heard in their music. Lead vocalist and guitarist/keyboardist, Sean Mahon, started this as a solo project; producing and recording his original music in his home studio until he crossed paths with bassist/guitarist, JFork (from Cobbler, The War Within, and Pebble to Pearl), and with drummer, Justin LaMora (formerly of Chained Down). After making their official debut just a mere month ago, Fallworth battled it out in this year's KollaborationDC competition to an audience of 700 plus, and took home 3rd place. They are already creating quite a buzz and steadily increasing their fan-base beyond the DC area. Fallworth will soon be going into the studio in hopes of releasing their first EP later this year.
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CALL FOR FIRE
Taking the immense musical creativity of the 70's and pairing it with smashing alternative riffs, Call for Fire brings back the genuine hard rock sound while also drawing from inventive melodies to provide listeners an original experience.
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THEYCALLMEPIANO
Born in 1997, Piano is an emerging singer-songwriter with influences that span from rock to techno. Piano has written hundreds of songs but she hasn't tied herself to any specific genre of music. She writes in a style of her own that best suits her vision of a song, which is normally evoked by personal experiences. Piano's musical journey began at age three when she taught herself to play the keyboard and was immediately driven to make up her own songs. A song written for her graduating class is still being played today as students leave on the last day of school. At age ten, a collaboration with KidzBob resulted in an original series called "Rockin' it Old School" where in each episode she would give a short history of a Classic Rock Band and then perform one of their songs. It was in Elementary School that her friends started calling her "Piano" and the nickname stuck.
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MATT PORTER
"Fusing elements of singer-songwriting to shoegaze pop, there's some incredible song under this young man's belt. He has an undeniable knack for songwriting and lyrics too, seamlessly switching from more upbeat track to emotive, darker sounds and lyrics that are just as effortless and proud." - Sounds of Now Music
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EDDY FAULKNER
Eddy Faulkner got his start in music at a very young age. His first serious instrument was the Trumpet which was introduced to him by his parents in 2001. He participated in his elementary, middle, and high school concert and marching bands with the trumpet. In 2009 he had written over 100 songs. Since he had all these songs and no music to go along with them he got a keyboard for his birthday that spring. He then taught himself the basics on piano and the chords needed to build the melodies for his songs. His interest for writing and putting together songs increased and that summer he got his first guitar. He also taught himself guitar and then singing came into play. During the fall of 2009 he formed a rock band called "The Remedy" with two of his friends from high school. These performances helped build his confidence at In the summer of 2010 he put his music up online for the first time as a solo act. Earlier that year he actually started to write songs that were in a different style than his band.To this day he still puts up videos and songs for his fans and other people to see. He has now thousands of "Likes" on Facebook, thousands of views on YouTube, and an international fan base with fans from the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, England, France, India, Portugal, and many more countries.
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Jon McLaughlin CD Release Show

Speaking from his home in the Midwest on a beautiful spring day, singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin would strike you as a pretty relaxed guy. As he recounts his numerous accomplishments without any bravado, it would be understandable for McLaughlin to feel like he could coast a little as he prepares to release his third album, Promising Promises (Razor & Tie). Case in point: An aptitude for piano discovered as a child, submersion in all school related music programs, college to continue his study of music, cultivating a big online following in the early days of social media, scoring a label deal at age 21, inking big song placements on television and movies, a performance at the Academy Awards, selling 170k albums, debuting at #1 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart - pretty heady stuff for a guy from Indiana who just wanted to be able to play like Billy Joel someday.

Along with his older sister and brother, Jon McLaughlin began piano lessons at a very young age presenting an ability his parents hoped to foster. He loved playing the piano, and creating his own sounds, but lessons was another thing. "I took lessons every Thursday and I'd come home complaining to my mom. My dad traveled during the week for work, and when he'd call on Thursday nights, I'd inevitably give him the same grief I gave my mom. To their credit, they never forced the lessons; they allowed me to talk it through and somehow, at the end of every conversation, I'd say, "I think I am going to keep going." They had infinite patience with me."

He continued with piano until a rollerblading accident resulted in Jon breaking both his wrists at the age of 15. While slightly self-conscious walking around high school with casts on his arms, Jon still felt a sense of relief that the lessons stopped Taking time off helped Jon realize his enthusiasm for creating his own music wasn't going to dim. He continued on to Indiana's Anderson University where he studied music. He also started posting songs he wrote on a then-little known website called MySpace. He noticed that the "plays" for his music grew daily - he was cultivating a fan base. "I began playing live shows on weekends with my band, which I loved doing. One day I was in the computer lab and got a MySpace message from someone at an independent label telling me they liked my stuff. I literally couldn't believe it. By the end of my senior year in college I was corresponding with several major label A&R people, making plans to play some shows in New York City."

That's exactly what Jon did, lunching with label execs during the day and playing showcases at night. His short stay in New York turned in to a two-week jaunt until Jon signed with Island Def Jam Records. In short order, Jon was sent to both Los Angeles and Nashville for some co-writing sessions "No disrespect to the people I worked with, because they are phenomenal songwriters, but it was hard for me. It felt forced, and I was used to writing in my dorm room where I was never looking at clock, worried about writing a radio hit or appealing to the masses.."

Jon released his 2007 debut album, Indiana on Island, followed by his sophomore effort, OK Now in 2008. Both were successful, with Jon sharing the stage with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Adele, Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles, Duffy, One Republic, Johnny Lang, Paolo Nutini, and Matt Wertz among many others. The albums yielded placements on Scrubs and movies like Georgia Rule and Bridge to Terabithia. In the meantime, Jon's manager got a call about an Alan Menken/Stephen Schwartz song for an upcoming Disney film called Enchanted starring Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams. Immediately interested, Jon flew to Long Island to record the track. A week later, the film's producers asked Jon, by then newly married, if he'd like to perform the song in the film. He and his wife flew back to New York, where he spent a week filming the pivotal ballroom scene in Brooklyn. A year and a half later, the film was released to outstanding reviews and Jon was later asked to perform "So Close" at the Academy Awards in 2008.

As Jon began work on his third album, he realized things were changing at his label. "There were a lot of people there I loved, but it started to not feel like my home anymore. I'd been encouraged to co-write on my first two albums, with half the songs being written with other people. I also had to use musicians the producers had wanted, not my band mates, who I've literally known, and been playing with, since high school and college." The recording of this album was different: "I took a long time to write Promising Promises. I knew how I wanted to record these songs, so I got more involved with producing and engineering." McLaughlin not only wrote all the songs on the album but he also produced it. He understood this was not the album his major label wanted him to make. While Jon accepted their decision, he was not going to change the musical course that finally felt so right to him.

The result is his most authentic album yet. Promising Promises reflects Jon's confidence and maturity as a songwriter. Releasing the record on independent label Razor & Tie is also an inspired choice for Jon, who says, "It's so refreshing to find a group of people who have so much experience in the music business and are still so passionate about music. I feel like I've found the right fit with Razor & Tie and I could not be more excited about working with them."

The thirteen piano driven pop tracks include first single "Summer is Over" featuring old friend Sara Bareilles, "We toured together, and get along really great. I had not originally planned "Summer" to be a duet. When I re-listened to it, I realized that's what it needed to be, and thankfully Sara was available. It is a break up song, a situation that actually happened to a friend. He moved towns for a girl, and then it just didn't work out in the end. I thought this story was very realistic because it was down to logistics, not feelings. At the end of the summer, reality sets in and he realizes he has a life in another place. Sara brings the other side, the other emotion. It's perfect with her on it."

Other stand-out tracks include "Promising Promises," which, ironically, is the first song Jon wrote for the album while still recording for Island. "The music I was writing wasn't connecting for them, but it was for me. I wrote this song out of a real frustration with the situation. My minute long piano solo was a defiant act; I wanted to say, "Hey! I play piano!!!" This song was very therapeutic for me to write and perform. Funny enough, my former label loved the song."

"Maybe It's Over" featuring Xenia Martinez, a Season One finalist from "The Voice," is a soaring inspirational track with an amazing harmonica break about someone who dreams of becoming a successful musician but can never catch a break despite his talent. "If Only I," a song about unrequited love, is delivered both poignantly and passionately. It's Jon's favorite song on the album, too. "If I had to pick one track, this would be it. Some songs I am proud of because of lyrics, or because of the music, but I am so proud of this song on all accounts. I love the music, the melody, where it goes and the lyrics."

Promising Promises, out on Razor & Tie on May 22nd, is the record Jon's always wanted to make. "The number one thing I love about working with Razor & Tie is everyone who works there is passionate about music. They give me freedom and don't follow a ‘rulebook.' They work on things because they love the music, and they want to support my vision."

Also exciting for Jon will be getting out on the road and playing for his fans, who remain a very strong and supportive presences since his early days on MySpace. Jon is hopeful that the audience who stuck with him will be rewarded for their patience. "So much excites me about Promising Promises. Just knowing that when people listen to this record they will be hearing exactly what I wanted it to sound like makes me happy. That wasn't always the case for me. The first time my band and I played a show where people actually showed up because they wanted to be there was unforgettable to me. The music was catching on and I could hear people singing the songs with me. I looked out in the crowd and could see them feeling the music. What I really want is to be able to keep experiencing that."

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SAY CHANCE
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BOB STAMPER
Bob Stamper has been playing music since he was nine years old his grandfather taught him the ropes of bluegrass, folk and gospel music and these influences are more present now than ever in the style of bob's songs and performances as long as he's been writing and performing, bob has been instructing as well master class instruction in bluegrass banjo and guitar technique, country guitarpop and rock guitar, blues and slide guitar, song structure and theory are all available in person, over skype, or through video sessions.
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Eric Lindell (at The Hamilton)

Eric Lindell first hit the national music scene with his 2006 Alligator Records debut Change In The Weather, critics and fans alike celebrated the arrival of a roots rocker with dozens of unforgettable original songs. With his musical roots planted in Northern California, Lindell's music blossomed in New Orleans. His combination of sweet, blue-eyed soul with foot-stomping R&B, swamp pop, funk and blues won him critical and popular acclaim across the country, with reviews and features in Relix, OffBeat, The Chicago Sun-Times, Harp, Guitar Player, Down Beat, The New Yorker, The New York Press and many other national and regional publications. Singer And Musician magazine put Eric on the cover and many newspaper entertainment sections did the same. The New Orleans Times-Picayune said, "Eric Lindell has arrived. He channels Van Morrison with his irresistible soul...not a moment is wasted." The Chicago Sun-Times followed, saying "Soulful original songs fuse R&B, swamp pop and funk into a potent, party-time mix."

Lindell's live shows draw as much attention as his material. His unstoppable grooves, rocking, deeply rooted, original songs and excellent musicianship never fail to fill the dance floor. With the release of Between Motion and Rest, Lindell and his band will continue to tour heavily, giving the rest of the country the chance to discover for themselves what a growing number of people already know: Eric Lindell is a musician bursting at the seams with talent, with the uncanny natural ability to come up with one instantly classic song after another, and the desire to take his music to every corner of the music-loving universe.

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Dave Nachmanoff “Step Up” CD Release Party

A Davis, California based (and Arlington, Virginia born and raised) performer with nine albums under his belt, Dave Nachmanoff is known for sophisticated songwriting, clean guitar playing, rich and textured instrumentation and top-notch singing. He's been described as having "an acoustic style that's somewhere between the easygoing charm of Arlo Guthrie and the raw energy of Bruce Springsteen". Nachmanoff's voice has been likened to an older Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) and his guitar style to Mark Knopfler or Richard Thompson. He performs acoustic music influenced by a wide variety of styles and topics.

Nachmanoff's resume is nothing if not wide-ranging. At the age of 10 he played with Libba Cotton ("Freight Train") at the Washington Monument. He saw Al Stewart ("Year of the Cat") live for the first time at Royal Albert Hall in London in 1985, and in 2006 came back and performed with him - and continues to, most recently releasing "Uncorked" with the folk-rock legend, and frequently performing in the greater D.C. area with him. He's led songwriting workshops for German school children, synagogue groups, a Native American tribe and stroke survivors. He writes custom songs for weddings and other special occasions. As a side player (guitar, piano, bass, accordion and more) he's worked with Stewart on a regular basis as well as many others at hundreds of venues as far ranging as The Bottom Line, The Birchmere, Glastonbury Festival, and the Edmonton Folk Festival. Oh, and he's got a doctorate in Philosophy. That he earned in his spare time.

Dave grew up in the 60's and 70's surrounded by the active folk scene of northern Virginia and Washington DC and inspired by Pete Seeger, country rock, early revival folk like the Kingston Trio and later on, 80's new wave. Toss in a bit of Celtic folk-rock a la Fairport Convention and it's clear how he got his rich melodic sound.

His brand new CD, "Step Up" takes his music to a whole new level. It's his first solo release in five years - produced by Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Steve Morse), also originally from Arlington, Virginia, and features musicians Bob Malone (currently playing keyboards for John Fogerty), Ian Sheridan (former bassist for Jason Mraz) and Victor Bisetti (former drummer for Los Lobos), and vocalists Al Stewart, Rosemary Butler (Jackson Browne and James Taylor), John Wicks of powerpop band The Records, and Liz Bligan.

Nationwide independent music consortium Just Plain Folks honored Dave with the 2001 Songwriter of the Year award. In the past few months, he has been recognized in three songwriting contests - the USA Songwriting Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards, and the Great American Song Contest. Sing Out! Magazine has praised his "... heartfelt, inspired songwriting ... with a delivery both biting and assured."

Joining Dave for his Jammin Java debut will be his brother, Michael Nachmanoff ,and The Overcommitments.

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TIFFANY THOMPSON
"The Washington D.C. / Northern Virginia area is known for its fast-paced, transient lifestyle and cacophonous atmosphere, but singer-songwriter Tiffany Thompson is imparting something quieter, more personal, and lasting to its character. While she fits right into eastern-seaboard society by virtue of being well-traveled and savvy, her essential groundedness comes through in her uplifting music and keenly insightful lyrics. That core humanity in her work has its basis in the support she enjoys from her family and her faith community. The Thompsons' passion for music extends back at least two generations, and creative collaboration between them is apparent in such recent projects of Tiffany's as her new video and EP...She characterizes her songs as often having "little journeys" in them. The mood may be one of anxiety or loneliness at the outset of the first verse, but will find its way to hope or affirmation by the conclusion..."
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THE NVA FINALS feat.  Defakto

After taking time to focus on group projects, Richmond native and Jammin Java veteran DeFakto returns to bring that engaging hip-hop so beloved by the DMV area. Approaching double-digit performances at this venue that he cites as one of his favorites, DeFakto knows how to put on a memorable show filled with moving beats, captivating call-and-response chants and surprises of all kinds. The lyricist has a slew of newer music to pull songs from, not to mention he will be fresh off of the release of his new solo album The Segment . Come out and for great time with one of the state's most accomplished and underrated emcees

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Actual Proof + DJ Mercury

All the way from Raleigh, NC comes the super cool duo Actual Proof. Signed by Grammy Award winning producer 9th Wonder, this tandem is known for precision lyricism over classic boom-bap production. Their catalogue is extensive with full-length digital releases like Talented Tenth and Still Hotter Than July. To add to their performance, they have their newly released Black Boy Radio album lead by the feel good single "All The Way" which features DMV-bred, nationally known crooner Raheem DeVaughn. With the charisma to interest hip-hop heavyweight 9th Wonder and experience sharing stages with the likes of Talib Kweli among others, this is no show to miss! Show up for Actual Proof!

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For Mercy Reunion - Benefit Concert for One Voice

Somewhere between alternative and folk lies the music of For Mercy, whose soaring harmonies, shimmering guitars and sophisticated rhythms made them a favorite on the DC/VA music scene and a fixture at East Coast colleges, festivals and clubs ranging from The Bayou to The Birchmere.
After several successful independent releases and hundreds of shows, the members of For Mercy turned their attention to other projects. Now, for the first time in years, they'll take the stage together at Jammin Java for a special concert to benefit Robbie Schaefer's One Voice, a non-profit organization that promotes peace and cultural awareness among children through music and multimedia expression.

Come early to say hello and learn more about the work of One Voice and their upcoming projects in Africa and beyond.

"Songs that examine personal relationships with intelligence, passion and insight..." -Mike Joyce, The Washington Post
"Their fusion of modern rock with traditional folk creates an exquisitely textured sound." -Olivia May, The Free Lance Star
"A darling of critics and audiences in the Mid-Atlantic states." -Oasis Alternative, Volume 3

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BIG O AND DUKES present A NIGHT FOR AMERICANS: THE PIETASTERS

With Oscar's pension for the pompous and Chad's all-American edge, growing popularity launched the boys from weeknight PM Drive to Midday hot talk on Baltimore's Live 105.7. In 2005, Big O and Dukes also became the first major market terrestrial talk show to publish their shows podcasts on iTunes. With over 1 million downloads within 6 months of launching the shows weekly podcast, this current incarnation is its purest form to date. From politics to pop-culture, each approaches subject matter from very different perspectives. The podcast format gives the guys an unbridled medium to relay their opinions and their frustrations anything and everyhing. So pull up a seat, plug in your headphones and step into the studio with Chad Dukes, Oscar Santana and Drab T-Shirt; by the end you'll have laughed yourself right out of your chair, but have gained a window into the lives of three new friends.

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SUNNY LEDFURD

If there has ever been a way to describe Sunny Ledfurd, it has got to be his ability to defy categorization. Born in Chattanooga TN and growing up in Gaston County NC, he taught himself guitar at age 15. He knew then that playing the guitar was how he would make a living. Inspired by Guns n Roses, Snoop Dog & David Allan Coe among many, Sunny's songs continually mix genres and push the envelope. "I've always liked artists that you can tell they have something to say. They're not just singing some words 'cause it sounds cool." Never one to shy away from a good time... drinking and women are involved in much of the music. With songs like 'I Don't Remember Last Night', 'Pontoon Boat', 'Adderral', and 'Myrtle Beach', Sunny takes you through life in the south as he sees it and lives it. With 6 self produced / self released (Ledfurd Recurds) albums since 2003 Sunny has plenty to tell and shows no signs of slowing down.

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PIETASTERS
All Day, The Pietasters' first album of new tracks in five years, captures the high energy, brotherly camaraderie and attention to detail on which they've built their rock-steady name as an explosive live attraction. Traveling the miles along a star-kissed path, the first break came early for D.C.'s ska darlings, when they landed a 1992 tour opening for ska originals, Bad Manners. In 1997, Rancid's Tim Armstrong signed them to Hellcat/Epitaph where they recorded two albums with producer Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion): the genre-defining Willis (SPIN Magazine called it "An equal opportunity dancehall crasher - part ‘60s keg rock, part 2Tone and part Motown") and Awesome Mix Tape #6 (CMJ noted it for "lacing a Stax shout-out feel with Caribbean rhythms"). The soul-charged Turbo was released in 2002 by Fueled by Ramen. The Pietasters shared bills with NOFX and Less Than Jake on the epic '98 and '99 Warped Tours, and followed with a stateside run with punk legend Joe Strummer Three years later, they worked as James Brown's back-up band for one surreal evening (All Day was produced by James Brown's engineer, Todd Harris). Not bad for a bunch of guys who started out as a teenaged underground band from D.C. The Pietasters have been served well by the signs they've encountered along the road during their 17 years as a band. As the sun comes up on All Day, the experience and commitment that defines The Pietasters as an entity should find friends among the faithful as well as to first-timers to the ska-soul sound.
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An Evening with Willie Nile Trio

The New York Times called him "one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years." His album "Streets Of New York" was hailed as "a platter for the ages" by UNCUT magazine. He has been called "a one-man Clash" (UNCUT) and his critically acclaimed albums have gotten rave reviews around the world. Bono, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Jim Jarmusch, Adam Duritz and Little Steven are among those who have sung his praises.

Willie Nile is a songwriters' songwriter and his live performances are legendary. He has toured across the U.S. opening for The Who at the personal request of the band and sang with Bruce Springsteen at Giant Stadium. Bruce recently joined Willie on stage in Asbury Park for Willie's song "Heaven Help The Lonely". Willie has completed a new album, The Innocent Ones, for River House Records. It was released in Europe on Oct 11th and the North American release announcement will be coming soon. The album contains 11 original songs and was produced in New York City by Willie, Frankie Lee, Stewart Lerman, Steuart Smith (lead guitarist of The Eagles) and Hirsh Gardner.

Over the years, the Buffalo, NY-born singer has recorded and performed with The Who, Ringo Starr, Lucinda Williams, Richard Thompson, Roger McGuinn, Levon Helm, The Pretenders, Counting Crows, Jakob Dylan, Rosanne Cash and many others.

The Hottest Live Photos of 2012 - Bruce Springsteen, Garland Jeffreys and Willie Nile perform during the 2012 Light of Day Concert Series at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey on January 14th, 2012.

USA Today “Top Pick Of The Week” for “One Guitar”

Willie Nile -- VHI Big Morning Buzz TV performance 11-28-11

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Sonia (from Disappear Fear)

From the Opera House in Sydney, to the Open House in Jerusalem, SONiA (Rutstein aka disappear fear) writes and performs captivating love songs and confronts the hypocrisies and biases of our culture with a positive message of openness and optimism. Having performed in Israel/ Palestine and in many parts of the world, SONiA's Judaic roots live in the colors of her songs and paintings. SONiA has performed in 16 countries and has just as many award winning Albums to her credit. She has received the GLAMA Award for Female Artist of the Year, Best Band, Best Song, WAMA Award for Best Vocalist, Out Music Award for OUTstanding World Music CD, OUTstanding Single, Best in Blues Finalist for IMA Awards, and Finalist for the Telluride Song Competition. SONiA is a member of the Grammy Foundation for the Recording Industry of America and Amnesty International. Her talent as a guitar player led the Santa Cruz Guitar Company to create a SONiA Model which has been sold in the US, Germany and Australia.

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Rachael Sage

A soulful vocalist and innovative keyboardist, singer/songwriter and producer Rachael Sage has become one of the busiest touring artists in independent music, performing 150+ dates a year with her band The Sequins throughout the US, UK, Europe and Asia. She has earned a loyal following for her infectious melodies, poetic lyrics, and often-outrageous, colorful stage banter. Sage has shared stages with Sarah McLachlan, Colin Hay, Marshall Crenshaw, Marc Cohn, The Animals and Ani DiFranco. She has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and received numerous songwriting awards including The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Grand Prize) and several Independent Music Awards and OUTMusic Awards. MPress Records will release her 10th album, “Haunted By You” in May. Featuring The Sequins as well as guest appearances by Dar Williams, Mike Visceglia (Suzanne Vega), David Immergluck (Counting Crows), Doug Yowell (Duncan Sheik) and more, it was self-produced by Sage and mixed by Kevin Killen (U2, Elvis Costello).

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In The Lobby Bar: The Bastard Suns (acoustic)

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, The Bastard Suns are quickly becoming the unofficial heralds and protectors of southern punk rock. Armed with a ridiculously infectious blend of reggae, punk, folk and ska. Bring some friends to share a pitcher or sip on a Dogfish 60 Minute. Late night snacks too. And the best part: the show is FREE!

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CARRY THE ONE
Carry the One combines multiple musical genres to create a sound both pleasing and unique... Funk, metal, rock, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, progressive/math rock, reggae, pop-punk, and so on. They strive to create a live experience which is both energetic and entertaining.
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Gary Jules CD Release

"Falling Awake", the first song from Gary Jules' independently released self-titled album appeared on two separate Billboard ‘Top 100' charts in January 2007, one week after being heavily featured in an exceptionally popular episode of "Grey's Anatomy".When the editorial staff at Billboard learned that Jules' sales numbers were generated solely by iTunes downloads with no commercial radio airplay, record company, manager, publicist, publisher, radio or licensing agent to ‘sell' the new album into the public eye, they wrote a full-page feature detailing Jules' unlikely rise to recognition with his album "Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets" (featuring a cover of Tears for Fears' "Mad World") and the excitement surrounding the early success of his follow-up, "Gary Jules".

A live performance of "Falling Awake" on Last Call with Carson Daly on March 21st has sparked a scramble for worldwide physical release and international tour plans, and locked-up opening slots for Tears for Fears this summer. After years struggling in the nascent Los Angeles underground singer-songwriter scene of the mid-90's, Gary Jules' first record "Greetings from the Side" was recorded for A&M Records and released in August 1998. Weeks later A&M's parent label Polygram was bought by MCA/Universal. Jules and "Greetings" were lost in the proverbial shuffle, but not before both received considerable critical acclaim. Zeke Piestrup of VH-1's show "Fresh" called Jules "The best American singer-songwriter to emerge out of the late '90's - and the only one worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence with Paul Simon, James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Nick Drake."

In 2001 Jules' original independent release of "Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets," which included a cover of Tears For Fears' "Mad World" that Jules recorded with friend and producer Michael Andrews for the film "Donnie Darko," arrived to even more critical acclaim. The Village Voice called it "the best album to be released this year, anywhere. Period." Rolling Stone Magazine said "Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets is at once beautiful and haunting, depressing and inspiring, lonely and welcoming - delicately crafted folk music of the highest order." In October 2001, Richard Kelly's film "Donnie Darko" came out in theaters and quickly became a cult phenomenon. Not bad for an album created in a basement for less than $100.

In 2002 "Snakeoil" was championed by Nic Harcourt, host of "Morning Becomes Eclectic" at KCRW-FM in Los Angeles, and by Bruce Warren at WXPN-FM in Philadelphia. With these giants of listener-supported radio spreading the word, Jules toured constantly as an independent artist, sharing the stage with Jack Johnson, Damien Rice, Sheryl Crow, Beck, Mason Jennings, Jewel, Jason Mraz, The Polyphonic Spree, Liz Phair, and Todd Rundgren. His year-long residency at the then anonymous Hotel Cafe in Hollywood has become the stuff of legend in the new LA underground.

Jules also played more than 300 live shows from Summer 2003 through August 2004 in the US, Australia, UK and Europe, including a 3-week Summer ‘04 run with Bob Dylan, from Ireland to Portugal. In 2006 Jules recorded his self-produced, and self-titled album, released it independently with longtime friends CdBaby.com, then left Los Angeles and moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina, where he is building a home studio and making plans for tours of the US, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

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Michael "Leroy" Bram was recently the drummer and musical director for 2010 Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Jason Mraz. From 2007-2010, with Mraz, he toured the world several times, made numerous television appearances, and performed @ countless festivals. Michael has recently recorded or performed with Willie Nelson, Joss Stone, John Popper, G.Love and Special Sauce, James Morrison, and Colbie Callait, as well as w/ blues greats Bob Margolin, Mark Hummel, Steve Guyger, Watermelon Slim and Nick Moss. He has toured and recorded with 2007 Blues Music Award nominee, Dave Gross, and 2008 Blues Music Award Nominee, Gina Sicilia, w/ blues harp aces Dennis Gruenling and Chris O'leary and also w/ slide guitar master Geoff Hartwell. Michael is also an accomplished harmonica player and singer, and performs regularly with his blues band, "Michael Bram and the Alternators". He has recorded his own album which has been played on blues radio programs worldwide.
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Rachel Platten

Beautiful, but not brazen. Passionate, but never preachy. Populist, but definitely not prosaic. New York City singer-songwriter, pianist and beatboxer Rachel Platten is by no means your average headliner-in-the-making. Her Rock Ridge Music debut, Be Here, is a bewitching collection of 10 wise-beyond-their-years piano-driven pop songs that echo elements of Alanis Morissette, Carole King, Tori Amos and Regina Spektor, while retaining a singular sense of self that is rarely found in such a young performer. Be Here was born over the course of an epic trans-Atlantic journey that took the singer-songwriter from London to Los Angeles, on to Stockholm and then back home to New York City. At each stop, she collaborated with top-tier production teams, including Fredrik Thomander (Nsync, Lady Gaga), Jerry Abbott and Grant Black (Robbie Williams, Craig David) and the Wizardz of Oz (Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne). The results are immediately appealing, spirit lifting, heartwarming and mind opening no matter where in the world you are.

Platten's uplifting, instantly catchy anthems celebrate the love and light in the world with a passionate intensity that has been missing on the radio dial for far too long. Platten enrolled in a songwriting course at the Berklee College of Music before heading to New York City in the fall of 2006. Over the next four years, she wrote the songs that make up Be Here, put together a band and toured at every opportunity, scoring opening slots for The Strokes, Ziggy Marley, Regina Spektor, Tracy Bonham and Rusted Root. Her dynamic live shows earned raves from the Boston Globe, who called her "breathtaking and brilliant," and the New York Post, who declared that she " blend[ed] sweet delicateness with pluck."

This praise is just the beginning for this vibrant singer-songwriter. Be Here is an ecstatic confirmation that pop music can have heart, soul, depth and gravity, while still inspiring you sing along at the top of your lungs. It's time to listen up and Be Here now.

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MADI DIAZ
Madi Diaz's EP, Far From Things That We Know, previews songs from her full-length Plastic Moon. Songs like the focus track "Let's Go" reflect Madi's lifelong attraction to song craft as well a deep-rooted affinity for contrasting types of music. One part pop music and one part organic Americana, the album is a hooky, confident collection of songs that is as heartbreaking in places as it is catchy in others, sometimes within the span of a single song. The Nashville-based musician is herself a bit of a contrast, growing up in Lancaster, PA, surrounded by Amish farms. In her early teens, she landed at the School of Rock in Philadelphia, where she was a standout student and focal point of director Don Argott's 2005 documentary. Shortly thereafter, she attended Berklee College of Music where she met long time writing collaborator Kyle Ryan. The pair moved to Nashville and quickly catapulted into the center of the city's nascent indie-pop scene, with Madi's songs gaining major exposure through television placements, such as on ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars" and Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" and "Army Wives" and garnering press with major outlets like RollingStone.com, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, and Nylon.
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Private Event

As one of the most versatile and accommodating spaces in the Washington DC area, Jammin' Java Music Club and Cafe is perfect for any private function you have in the works - day or night. Named the DC area's classiest music club by the Washington Post and Washington DC's best live music venue by America Online's CityGuide, our award-winning design creates an atmosphere that is intimate, comfortable and stylish - and our live music capabilities can add a special edge to an otherwise standard occasion.

Plan your next party with Jammin' Java and we guarantee you'll walk away feeling like a rock star.

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McLean High School and Longfellow Middle School Big Band Jam

Under the direction of Mr. Scott Weinhold, McLean's Jazz Ensemble performs at school assemblies, local venues upon request, Jazz Night with the premier Jazz ensemble of the Air Force, the Airmen of Note, and have also performed at James Madison University. The Jazz Ensemble is cheered by students and parents alike and is regularly one of the most popular performances in the McLean Band Pyramid.

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SNRG FIREDAY 8 “SEE no evil, HEAR no evil, SPEAK”

From video rotation on MTV in Asia to guest appearances on MYX North America-
SNRG continues to make it's presence felt all over the world. Performing LIVE in numerous cities, [DC, Toronto, Manila, LA and NY just to name a few] they have taken their moxie on the road to share their message at a venue near you.

What is SNRG?
-Passion. Passion shared through music, graphic design, photography, film and fashion.
-The quintessential ‘Coalition of Creatives' manifested.
-A platform of self-expression ranging from active artists- all the way to the hidden artist that may reside within you.

SNRG. Some Never Really Get. . .
those that Get it- Get us.

Feed your subconscious.

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CONNIE LIM
Connie Lim has coined her music as "retrotronica": music that exudes modern electronic textures alongside nostalgic songwriting. Lim is often referenced as the lush love child of Bjork and Norah Jones. Lim's latest single off Digsin Records, "LA City", offers poetic melody and lyrics, sung by a "brilliant voice that is both vulnerable and mighty"--Flavorpill.com.Last year Connie was chosen as a top 60 contestant out of the 70,000 auditionees on NBC's The Voice. She has graced the Staples Center as an anthem singer for The Clippers this recent January. Just his past March Connie created great buzz at her 4 showcases in SXSW alongside artists like Rachael Yamagata.
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JENN BOSTIC
Jenn Bostic is an emotive pop singer/songwriter with elements of blues and funk, for fans of Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan, and Bonnie Raitt. The music is memorable and soothing; the lyrics and genuine. Jenn Bostic will make you feel.
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Struan Shields CD Release Show

Singer/song writer Struan Shields hails from Arlington County, Virginia where he's starting to create quite the stir, sharing stage bills with other upcoming talent in the form of pop-rockers Sing Me Insomnia, fellow singer/songwriter Chase Coy, power-poppers The Hint and Shields' good friends; Indie-rock outfit The Downtown Fiction. Struan prides himself on his DIY ethic, choosing to write and record his songs at home and he also keeps a close relationship with his ever-increasing fan base, regularly communicating with them via various social networking sites and even offering a personal phone call for anyone who pre-orders the EP.

FOR FANS OF: JASON MRAZ, MATT NATHANSON, PARACHUTE, JUSTIN BIEBER

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COLIN HEALY
Known for his relatable lyrics and catchy melodies, critics describe Colin's sound as "piano driven, upbeat-but-heartbroken pop nuggets, maneuvering easily from Ben Folds-ish hooks to a youthful racket." Colin toured up and down the East Coast, and has shared the stage with bands such as The Maine, All Time Low, Parachute, We the Kings, and The Downtown Fiction. Although he's stuck in the middle of Virginia, with the help of the internet, Colin's fan-base extends internationally. He loves staying in touch with his fans online, though with over half a million youtube views, 10,000 facebook friends, and 5,000 twitter followers, Colin has a lot of fans to keep in touch with.
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JD EICHER
"A kind of gentle innocence pervades, as if not trying to grab you as it passes by, but hoping you'll be touched." - Pittsburgh City Paper. Two years after the release of their debut album and hundreds of performances later, JD Eicher & the Goodnights deliver their sophomore release, entitled Shifting, which reaches out and touches listeners with vivid portraits of love, struggle, and hope. Produced by Paul Barber (My Favorite Highway, The Bigger Lights, The Friday Night Boys), Shifting is the manifestation of the band's musical exploration and growth since the last record. "These guys can play," notes Barber, "that's what made the sessions really rewarding." Beyond the quartet's growth as musicians, the theme of 'shifting' appears in the underlying emphasis on change in the songs, Eicher's evolution as a songwriter, and the band's ability to shift seamlessly between various styles, giving the album a "mainstream likability that is both charming and contagious," praises the Herald-Standard.
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Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Muscle Theory

The cosmic American love child of Howlin Wolf and Link Wray! Known as a "musician's musician," Alvin Youngblood Hart's praises have been sung by everyone from Bob Dylan to Brit guitar gods Eric Clapton & Mick Taylor. Since the release of his 1996 debut recording, the all-acoustic BIG MAMA'S DOOR, Hart has relayed his eclectic musical message around the world.

Based on the strength of his record debut and the allure of his live shows, Hart received five nominations at the 1997 W.C. Handy Blues Awards. He was nominated for Best New Artist, Best Acoustic Artist, and Best Traditional Blues Artist and his album (BIG MAMA'S DOOR) was nominated for both Acoustic Album of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year. He received the award for Best New Artist. Hart also received two Living Blues Awards that same year. The anticipated sophomore release of TERRITORY in 1998 gave a rousing tribute to all forms of American music and received the Downbeat Magazine Critics' Poll Award for Best Blues Album (though TERRITORY is not a Blues album).

The summer of 1999 found Hart teaming up with celebrated producer Jim Dickinson to begin recording START WITH THE SOUL, a record hailed as a new-breed Southern Rock classic and one that piloted Hart's return to the "sacred garage." START WITH THE SOUL was chosen by the New York Times as one of the top 10 releases of 2000, as well as the BBC's Blues Record of the Year. In 2001 Hart shared Living Blues Magazine's best guitarist honors with fellow road dog Big Jack Johnson. The 2003 release of DOWN IN THE ALLEY garnered a Grammy nomination. Hart continued to diversify his audience by extensively touring as a member of Job Cain, a hard-rocking side project he assembled with guitarist Audley Freed (Cry of Love/Black Crowes) and Nashville musician Robert Kearns (The Bottle Rockets/Lynyrd Skynyrd). In August of 2003, Hart was invited to fill in for Taj Mahal for five nights in Tokyo as a member of Kip Hanrahan's Conjure, the world's longest running jazz poetry ensemble. In 2004, Hart received a Grammy for his philanthropic contribution to the compilation BEAUTIFUL DREAMER: THE SONGS OF STEPHEN FOSTER.

In 2010 Hart joined forces with friends Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, Black Crowes) and Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers, Tri-State Coalition) to form "The South Memphis String Band". The fun-loving and regaling trio was quickly dubbed by the media as an "acoustic super group". Recorded in a borrowed radio station studio while the band was on its first road trip, their debut record HOME SWEET HOME was received with rabid enthusiasm. The 2011 Blues Music Awards (The Blues Foundation) nominated the record for "Best Acoustic Album". The group plans to release a second album in the spring of 2012.

When not touring solo or plugged in with his revered rock trio "Muscle Theory", Hart enjoys researching, collecting, repairing and modifying obscure musical equipment.

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Madison Violet CD Release

Madison Violet is a folk/country/roots duo comprised of singer-songwriters Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac. Since releasing, No Fool for Trying (2009), Madison Violet (Brenley MacEachern & Lisa MacIassac) won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, took home a Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year, and were nominated for JUNO Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. The 2011 follow-up to their breakthrough successes The Good in Goodbye (True North Records) captures the duo's growth and musical maturity. Their distinct take on Americana-inspired melodies beautifully contrasts with their breathtakingly personal lyrics, creating songs that blend nods to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch with radio-friendly flecks of The Court-Yard Hounds.

Receiving a mass of acclaim from outlets including the BBC, the CBC, Maverick Magazine, NPR, and Penguin Eggs Magazine, No Fool for Trying made dedicated fans of even the most hard-to-crack critics. Ultimately, Madison Violet captured the attention of Mojo Magazine, landing "Small Of My Heart" on the publication's distinguished playlist, "Mojo's Top 10," in December 2009. Madison Violet also have the unique distinction of being the only Canadians to win The John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The duo has sold-out venues across North America and Europe, had the prestigious distinction of touring with Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe, and has shared stages with contemporaries such as Chantal Kreviazuk, Ron Sexsmith and The Indigo Girls. With their newest effort, Madison Violet prove on they're among Canada's brightest singer/songwriters.

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LAUREN SHERA
Music has played an integral part in Lauren Shera's life from the very beginning. The New York native grew up surrounded by an eclectic range of performers. Her original songs and soulful voice combine to create a sound that is both powerful and melancholy. Armed with a luscious vibrato, Lauren's voice is a uniquely distinctive. In 2011, Shera performed at Bonnaroo and was also hand-picked by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons to be one of three artists to introduce his renowned artist collective, Communion, to the United States. Lauren has shared the stage with such artists as Ray LaMontagne, Jackie Greene, Jason Mraz, Phil Lesh, Wanda Jackson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Billy Bragg, Nanci Griffith, Kristin Hersh, Joan Osborne and Abigail Washburn. In addition to Bonnaroo, she has appeared at the High Sierra Music Festival, Sausalito Music and Arts Festival, Monterey Music Summit and South by Southwest. When she was 18-years-old she was also invited to perform at the Bob Dylan Tribute Concert at New York City's Avery Fisher Hall. When she isn't performing solo, Shera performs with the Monterey-based female trio Honeymoon.
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DAVID RAMIREZ
From his teen years swapping songs with friends in Houston to the struggles of making a name for himself in Nashville, David's songwriting journey has spanned multiple EP's and a full-length, American Soil which garnered over 1,200 downloads in a 48-hr. period on Noisetrade. In 2010, David played 150 shows on numerous, independently booked tours. Feeling truly at home on the road, he calls his second home Austin, Texas. It's here where he wrote and recorded his latest release, Strangetown EP. The songs, with their heart-yearning lyrics and sparse musical backdrop, tells things as he sees them: honest, unfiltered and true. David Ramirez knows no luxury. He wants no satisfaction. All he needs is an acoustic guitar and the words in his mouth to tell the true stories of a wandering man. But to see him live, with only that acoustic guitar in hand, spitting those words into rings of fire, is to experience something real....something that cannot be reproduced.
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TRACE BUNDY “Elephant King” CD RELEASE

Trace Bundy must be seen, not just heard. His music is poetry in motion, using harmonics, looping, multiple capos, and his unique banter and stage presence to deliver an unforgettable live concert experience. Listening to his intricate arrangements is one thing, but seeing the fan-dubbed "Acoustic Ninja" play live confounds even the most accomplished music lovers as to how one person can do all that with just two hands and ten fingers. Trace has independently sold over 67,000 albums on his record label, Honest Ninja Music, and regularly sells-out shows with standing ovations at venues across the USA and around the world, in 16 countries and counting. Video clips circulate virally at astonishing speed, with over 17,000,000 YouTube views to date.

Over the past couple of years, Trace has shared the stage with Neko Case, Brandi Carlile, Judy Collins, David Knopfler (Dire Straits), Bill Nershi (String Cheese), Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney & Wings), David Wilcox, Chris Hillman (The Byrds), Stanley Jordan, and MOFRO, among others.

Audiocast Magazine from Austin, TX agrees: "Bundy's live show is without a doubt an event that needs to be witnessed rather than told about. With such a jaw-dropping performance, Bundy's live concert is a slap in the face that would leave a palm print on the memory of everyone in the audience."

You'll agree that Trace Bundy must be seen, not just heard.

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Rhett Miller & the Serial Lady Killers

Rhett Miller has announced the release of his new album, The Dreamer, on June 5.  The Dreamer was produced by Miller himself and will be released on his very own Maximum Sunshine Records, distributed by The Orchard. The album features guest appearances by singers Rosanne Cash and Rachael Yamagata, as well as additional percussion by Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel). The band on the record is Miller’s touring group, the Serial Lady Killers. This is the second release on his label, the first being 2011′s The Interpreter – Live at Largo. 

The Dreamer is Miller’s sixth solo record and represents the first time he has ever self-produced. In the past, Miller’s solo efforts were dramatically different from his work with Old 97′s. While the band’s songs are often steeped in Americana and country, the solo records have always been decidedly more rock and pop affairs. Until now, as The Dreamer finds the Texas-bred, New York-based singer/songwriter marrying his two worlds like never before.

Says Milller, “I produced The Dreamer myself, a first for me, and had a very clear vision of what it should be — an intimate, rootsy record that would bridge the gap between my work with the Old 97′s and the solo albums I’ve made in the past.  The Dreamer is all about simple American songs and instrumentation. It was a blast to make.”

Rhett Miller will appeared at SXS, followed by a North American tour featuring both solo acoustic shows and shows with his band, Rhett Miller & The Serial Lady Killers. l

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THE SPRING STANDARDS
The Spring Standards (formerly Old Springs Pike) are an energetic force of three-part harmony from New York City circling over a rock n' roll sound with an old country aftertaste. From small towns to big cities, they explode on stage with spirit, spontaneity, and a style all their own. MTV's John Norris says "They willingly embrace dissonance, and their execution is impeccable, from their tight, CSN-worthy vocal harmonies to their wickedly intense percussive power."
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Everything Falls CD/Video Release

Embarking on a musical career is no simple endeavor, and Tennessee native Aaron Linkous is no stranger to the adversities of the music business. Prior to his arrival in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Everything Falls frontman completed his degree in Recording Industry and learned the ropes at two fast-paced Nashville recording studios. It was there in Music City, that he honed his skills as a singer/songwriter.In 2010, Linkous relocated to the DC-MD-VA area where he soon met current bassist, Mike Smith. Together, Smith and Linkous began a diligent search for additional musicians. After multiple rounds of auditions in 2011, the duo gladly welcomed Jeff Sauber on drums and Gabe Goodin on lead guitar. Everything Falls was finally formed. Influenced by (1) the intricate, powerful riffs of such bands as Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Three Days Grace and Metallica, and (2) the lyrical sentiments of bands like 3 Doors Down and Theory of a Deadman, Everything Falls delivers a hard-hitting combination of dynamic melodies and gripping lyrics. Deemed "polished" and "radio-friendly" by Northern Virginia Magazine, Everything Falls is poised to become a front-runner in the regional rock music scene.

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THERUINCITY
Located throughout the Washington DC area, TheRuinCity is a five-piece pop rock band strongly influenced by bands such as Augustana, The Fray, Switchfoot and Copeland. Founded and led by the writing styles of lead singer Mike Daknis and rhythm guitar player David Hoppel, TheRuinCity prides themselves in creating music with a positive message of hope. With David's little brother Josh on the lead guitar, and Kyle O'Keefe and Dillon Knighton playing bass and drums respectively, their band consists of long-term relationships and new friendships alike. Their first self-titled EP was released on iTunes September 4th, with all proceeds going to benefit a non-profit called Love146, which helps rehabilitate the victims of child sex trafficking. Their mission coincides with TheRuinCity's desire to use their music for a purpose greater than themselves. Their love of music, each other, and just having a good time results in a show filled with energy and passion. They are currently playing shows all around the DC area and working on writing new songs in hopes of releasing another EP or full length within the next year.
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LAWS OF AVERAGE
The story began when Brett and Johnson met each other in high school. They started collaborating musically and, after a brief separation during college, Jonson and Brett joined back up and formed "Ink 2 Blood." The group performed locally in Charleston until 2005 when Brett needed to relocate to Virginia for a job opportunity. After that the band members lost touch with one another. As fate would have it however, in 2009 Johnson moved to the same city Brett was living in. They started performing live acoustic sets of "Ink 2 Blood" songs on the DC rock scene and worked feverishly on new material. With their creative passion rekindled, they called in a favor from their old friend Josh to play bass and connected with a new drummer Michael to form Laws of Average (LOA)...
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MATT HUTCHISON
From the beginning, Matt has been inspired by rock greats like The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, Radiohead, and American greats Paul Simon and Buddy Holly.His approach to songwriting is cut from the same cloth that produced the catalog of these artists. Prolific and groundbreaking in their own ways, each of them built their musical empires on a foundation deeply rooted in the popular music that came before them. In this way, Matt Hutchison's music sounds instantly familiar, but equally new and engaging.Matt Hutchison has had the privilege of sharing the stage with many national and regional acts including Bon Jovi, the Gin Blossoms, Live, Sister Hazel, The Knack, Carbonleaf, Graham Colton, Violent Femmes, Cowboy Mouth, The Roots, Spin Doctors, Pat McGee, Ozomatli, Nine Days, Rhett Miller, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, and the Presidents of the United States of America.
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Adrenaline: Volume 2 featuring Grime Syndicate

Grime Syndicate is a bass heavy tag team crew hailing from Washington, DC. This audio gangbang is made up of DJ Myst, DJ Atticus, and Them Granny Slappaz. GS's diverse mix of musical backgrounds shows in their genre bending sets which boasts a healthy dose of Dubstep, Drumstep, Drum and Bass, Electro, and House just to name a few. When in the mix the four combine together like a megazord to form a giant raging filth-machine with all four jumping around, eyes bulging and bass faces on full tilt rage. In the studio the boys merge these styles into Dubstep and Drumstep with the unique signatures of the DC/Baltimore Area sound. These DC Dub Nation residents have worked crowds along side such top notch acts such as Planet of the Drums, Urban Assault, Pendulum, Reid Speed, Borgore, 12th Planet, Caspa, Bare and countless others.

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Hank and Cupcakes (at Montserrat House)

Hailed by MTV for their "Fresh new sound" and Huffington Post as one of the "15 Musical Acts to Break in 2011", this Brooklyn-based drums and bass duo pumps out edgy dance pop that bristles with sass and sexuality. Hank & Cupcakes spin vicious pop that is just as good for rocking out as it is for dancing. After making their SXSW debut, Brooklyn's resident purveyors of sexy pop HANK & CUPCAKES will be ending their six-week tour that includes festival dates at the annual Bamboozle Fest alongside artists such as Lil Wayne and Taking Back Sunday, and the fourth annual Roots Picnic, sharing the stage with The Roots, Wiz Khalifa, The Dismemberment Plan, at The Mercury Lounge on June 10th.

With their newly-inked BMG worldwide publishing deal in hand, the duo recently released the new single "HIT," which was co-produced and mixed by Grammy Award winning producer Mark B. Christiansen (N.O.R.E., 50 Cent) and Jonathan Dagan ofJ.Viewz, who has done remixes for Nina Simone, Depeche Mode and Pink Floyd. Heating up at college and specialty radio with over 90 adds to date and charting on many stations in the Top 30, Hank & Cupcakes teamed up with New York City's premiere rock radio station 101.9 RXP who premiered the single earlier this year. Hank & Cupcakes have enough hooks to become a Top-40 radio hit, enough groove to keep the crowd moving, and enough personality to merit respect from the most pretentious of listeners. The Brooklyn duo are a two person Gogol Bordello and they will have you stomping across the aisles - This is a must see live show!

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ALMA TROPICALIA
Alma Tropicália (Portuguese for Tropicália Soul) is a new creative project and DC's first ever tribute to the classic Brazilian 1960's tropicália movement. The group combines traditional Brazilian rhythms with the outrageous sounds of psychedelic pop - equal parts samba, bossa nova, forró and rock 'n' roll. Alma Tropicália is fronted by Elin, a renowned vocalist and master of Brazilian styles, who has toured the world and led her own groups at the Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and other top venues. Elin is backed by a group of the city's finest performers of Música Popular Brasileira. Together they delve deep into this mind-altering musical movement to deliver a mix of tropicália-inspired originals, as well as classic and rarely heard songs by Os Mutantes, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, Os Novos Baianos, and more, filtered through the group's signature noise rock sound.
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ACCESS ROYALE
Access Royale is an eclectic indie rock band hailing from Washington DC and they're on a mission to set stages and speakers ablaze with melodic passion. They want to go on a journey through space and time, riding colorful frequencies of sound. In a world where systems often act contrary to human needs, Access Royale releases a rebel yell through "City of Paradigm", asking listeners to look within to find their inspiration, purpose and personal truth. Access Royale is on a mission to create an unprecedented global music community and so long as you're open minded, access is granted.
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Mary Fahl (October Project)

A Voice to “Fahl” in Love With

When you’re dubbed as the “lovechild“ of Stevie Nicks and Peter Steel (by allthingsmusic.com), you know you have something special.  Mary Fahl is just that.  Flying solo from cult folk band, October Project, Fahl hits a chord with her ethereal voice and haunting lyrics.  Her music has been featured in films “God and Generals” and  “The Guys.”  Her voice is one that will certainly stay with you long after you’ve left the room.

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Cartoon Johnny

Drawing on influences from classic soul to modern alternative, Cartoon Johnny performs a variety of audience favorites and original music, bringing audiences to their feet, show after show. They've taken traditional a cappella and turned it inside out, blending unusual vocal techniques and special effects to produce a sound many mistake for a full instrumental rock band, but it's all vocal. Cartoon Johnny was named the Mid-Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes champion in 2005, and took 1st runner-up as well as Best Arrangement honors at the 2008 competition. They've played up and down the East coast at events large and small, and were honored to perform with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra Pops at the Kennedy Center's "Happy Holidays!" concerts in 2007. They were awarded with a coveted WAMMIE for DC's Best A Cappella Recording for Power Up. Cartoon Johnny took New York City by storm and won First Place and Audience Favorite at the New York Harmony Sweepstakes. Harmony, rhythm, and soul, with just a touch of mischief and a whole lot of fun -- that's Cartoon Johnny.

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Heady Entertainment Presents The Mantras

Comprised of guitarist Keith Allen, drummer Justin Loew, keyboard player Justin W. Powell, bassist Brian Tyndall, and percussionist Brent Vaughn, the band unified their musical vision in 2005 and has continued to hone their sonic direction, and precision, show by show. The Mantras continue to impress their peers, and win over new fans at every turn with their instrumental prowess, positive lyrics, and unending drive to put on an amazing show every night! This rising profile has resulted in an incredible year, seeing The Mantras and their members in numersous festival performances and sharing stages in double-bills and direct support for the likes of Umphrey's McGee, Eoto, George Clinton and P-Funk, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Papadosio, Zoogma, The Werks, and many more.

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Moogatu + Aarodynamics

MOOGATU is a Washington DC area based Progressive rock band formed in late 2010. With their dual lead guitar attack and solid rhythm section, they successfully fuse Rock, Prog, Funk, Reggae, Electronica, Jazz, and Blues improvisational styles and songcrafts while delivering a high energy live set that should have something for everyone.

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AARODYNAMICS - Aaron Malander is a musician from the filthy gutters of Fairfax, Virginia. A strange amalgamation of styles and heavily improvised live sets keep things fresh. Obscure covers, mind-altering originals, and the occasional remix keep it gangsta, grimy, jazzy, and jammy all in one strange set.

Rocknoceros Happy Family Hour

A Rocknoceros Happy Family Hour is a night out for the WHOLE family! Rocknoceros wanted to provide a way for entire families to get a night out on the town in a safe, clean, and family-friendly way. Jammin' Java, and even the famed 9:30 Club, have presented the show to the delight of everyone!

And don't forget the Signature Happy Family Hour drink special: BUY A BEER, GET A JUICE BOX! The Jammin' Java bar will be in full operation.

Zooglobble Recommended "Kudos to the great taste of the DC area. You already know what the rest of the country is starting to find out - that Rocknoceros is a gem of a band."

"An outstanding mix of folk and rock...literate songs...poppy approach...multi-generational appeal." - NPR, Best Music for Kids and Families

As every family with youngsters in the DC area already knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie. After seeing them perform, there is no denying that they are not a typical trio. Coach Cotton is the ring-leader, frequently immersed in a sea of knee-high concert goers. Wearing a wireless head-set microphone, he wades through the mass of dancing children, dispersing high-fives and shaking a tambourine. Williebob provides the necessary string work for the show, moving among a collection of guitars, mandolins, and banjos while wearing a kazoo around his neck. Boogie Woogie Bennie is a one-man-band within the power trio, employing a contraption that one four-year-old fan described as "the piano-drum". The piano-drum allows Boogie Bennie to play the bass drum with his right foot, the snare drum and hi-hat cymbal with his left foot, and the keyboard with his hands (with his left hand playing the bass parts). Together, Rocknoceros is able to cover a dizzying range of musical styles in each set. From Tin Pan Alley to the shores of Jamaica, Rocknoceros hops from genre to genre like a toad on summer asphalt. Having already released three award-winning records, the new album tells tales of the Colonel and his friends in their make-believe home of Soggy Bog. The theme of "Colonel Purple Turtle" is one of friendship and working together, a subject that matters to Coach, Boogie Woogie Bennie, and Williebob, as the three members of Rockncoeros have been best friends since they were children. The record reflects their abiding trust in each other, and their desire to share the message of camaraderie through song.

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Kopecky Family Band

‘The Family' began creating music together in Nashville, Tennessee in the Fall of 2007. What began as late night talks about life and dreams gradually flowed into eccentric and beautiful music that has led to numerous tours, including adventures to CMJ, SXSW and Bonnaroo, three EP releases and friendships across the country. The music is emotive, and evokes raw honesty and vulnerability, whilst capturing your attention through its unmistakable power and presence. The Kopeckys followed up SXSW with a mammoth CMJ 2010, where they won over NPR‘s own Bob Boilen and were invited to play at the official Paste Magazine showcase before becoming the darlings of ‘Store-Cute' and online retailer, Fred Flare. And in other big 2011 news, the band signed on with one of the most respected companies in their field, Red Light Management. This relationship is sure to help the Kopecky Family Band continue in their pursuits to make great music for their fans and themselves. Look out for the debut full length record early in 2012.

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MYNAMEISJOHNMICHAEL
John Michael Rouchell, lead singer and songwriter of the seven-piece indie rock/pop band known as MyNameIsJohnMichael, was born and raised in New Orleans. After a short stint living in New York, he's back in his hometown. Now New Orleans is in his music. The likes of Bob Dylan and Broken Social Scene eventually landed on Rouchell's radar; the former influenced Rouchell's songwriting, and the latter's heavy use of textures and anthemic tendencies further shaped Rouchell's future sound. All the different sources unite to create an indie rock/pop aesthetic full of precise, bouncing melodies and rhythms behind bold, uplifting brass, bordering on overload but never crossing the line.
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BETHANY AND THE GUITAR
Bethany and the Guitar began two summers ago when Bethany Parks and her brother, Kurtis, recorded their song "As Long As I've Got You," in her bedroom just for kicks. They created a music myspace under the name "Bethany and the Guitar," and it stuck. Because Kurtis lived in Nashville, TN and Bethany in Blacksburg, VA, the siblings would co-write by sending short video clips of a melodies or guitar riffs and built off of each other's ideas. They recorded wherever they could-guest bedrooms, dorms, and even a summer camp. These songs made up Bethany's first release, a self-titled EP that debuted February 2010. The band turned into more than a hobby when Bethany decided to leave college and move to Arlington, VA where Kurtis and his wife, Sarah, now reside. They have been playing shows around Northern Virginia and Washington, DC as often as possible. Bethany and the Guitar's first full-length album, Sparrow, was a combination of old, new, and refurbished songs and was released March 2011.
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Dopapod

Boston has long been renowned for its fertile music scene that has sprouted world-class musicians within its musically diverse landscape. One of the most promising seeds to germinate out of the area is Dopapod. Bringing together players from each time zone in the US, the quartet has been thumping up from basement parties all over the Northeast, to bumping the sound systems of major venues all across the east coast. At face value, their sound can be described as a funktronic dance party, but if you dive in a little deeper it's easy to uncover the unique genre-bending blend of funk, jazz, trance, soul, afro-beat, and prog rock.

In the course of only three years, Dopapod has already put the bug in music fan's ears from the top of Vermont down to the tip of the Florida Keys. Covering all that ground has seen the young, but very seasoned group return to areas all over the east coast and landed them spots at numerous festivals including Camp Bisco, Mountain Jam, StrangeCreek, The Big Up, The Getdown, and The Big Up. Their electric live showcase has been conjuring up a fast growing, loyal fan base, and seen them share bills with artists like Lotus, Sam Kininger (Soulive, Lettuce), Brothers Past, Biodiesel, and Dave Grippo (Trey Anastasio). Their debut album, Radar, explores the vast spectrum of Dopapod's sound and features guest appearances by Timo Shanko (G-Love and Special Sauce), Dana Colley (Morphine), and Mr. Rourke (Club D'elf). Performer Magazine has dubbed their first offering as "setting the bar respectfully high".

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COVERED WITH JAM
Covered with Jam ....is a music collective consisting of the finest Funk/Jazz/Jam/Blues/Rock/Improv musicians in the DC area ...brought together to perform their favorite tunes ...while covering them with the tastiest jams ya ever heard!!!
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Covered with Jam will be featuring Ron Holloway on tenor sax! Ron Holloway is one of the busiest tenor saxophonist's on today's music scene in any genre, known for his ability to adapt to virtually any musical environment. Ron has been a member of The Susan Tedeschi Band, The Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Gil Scott-Heron Band, Root Boy Slim's Band, and is currently a member of The Warren Haynes Band!!!
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THE ROB HORNFECK ENTERPRISE
Phat grooves combined with superb musicianship, with a major element of fun!
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Moon Hooch

Since solidifying as a band, Moon Hooch has quickly gained a reputation for inciting "subway raves" (they were banned from performing at the Bedford Ave stop off the L line in Brooklyn for "starting too many dance parties"), their strange instrumentation and explosive live show. Their frequent presence in New York City subways and parks has brought them notice and fans which has led to appearances as the house band on Australian TV show "Hamish and Andy's Gap Year," and a national tour with Mike Doughty (Doughty saw them on a train platform and immediately invited to tour as his supporting act). They are now at the midpoint of a six month residency at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory, having sold-out all shows to date.

The band has already begun to expand its sound beyond just two saxophones and drums. Wenzl inserts a cardboard tube into his saxophone to create a Dubstep style womp, and switches between a contrabass clarinet and electronic wind instrument. Recorded in just a single day, their debut record, "The Moon Hooch Album," gives the listener a taste of what's to come for these guys. They seamlessly blend House, Dubstep, Drum & Bass, and Jazz into style that is uniquely Moon Hooch: Cave Music.

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STOMP STATUS
Stomp Status formed about a year ago after a jam session. The members are comprised of four George Mason University Jazz alumni/students. They decided to create a music that blended each members creative juices, and brought about a style that is deeply rooted in funk, soul, jazz, and blues. Their music is continuing to open minds in every performance, bringing possibilities of how these genre's can be stretched and molded to produce something electrically organic.
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MOONLISCIOUS
Originally formed in 2008 as a temporary project for drunken festivals and background music for bar brawls, Moonliscious has developed a steady and devoted following in the Washington, DC area. The band's sound has been described as The Meters meets Steely Dan, with just a little bit of DC go-go swing, The band members bring a mix of jazz, country, rock, funk, and jam styles to create a unique sound that's enjoyable whether you're 6 years old or 60 years old.
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A Couple of A-holes present Comedy Open Mic Night

Don't miss the first ever Lobby Bar Comedy Open Mic Night. Come enjoy food and drinks while being entertained by some of the area's best up-and-coming comedians. With a mixture of grizzled vets and fresh-faced newcomers, you're abs are sure to get a workout! And the best part: the show is FREE!

Are you a comic? To sign up for the open mic, please email coacomedy@gmail.com. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT JAMMIN JAVA.

Please note the Comedy Open Mic is R-rated.

Official Site |

Ketura

Ketura is taking over the world with their unique mixture of modern electronic dance music and pop-heavy rock...and they're not going to be satisfied with Earth alone.

Their newest singles - an electro cover of Toto's "Hold the Line" and the rapid-fire hard-style / rock hybrid "Breathe" are a testament to how far the band has come from their early days of strumming out Nirvana songs in the garage. Hailing from the east coast of the United States, Ketura's music crosses borders effortlessly, at once both cosmic and personable. Their songs deal with day-to-day life in a big way, giving dramatic expression to the thoughts, feelings and questions we all experience.

Ketura's sound - both in the studio and live - is often described as "too big" to have come from two people. Drummer Bert Windsor and vocalist / synthist / guitarist Daniel Stapleton met when they were children. Their first conversation involved starting a band together, and they've been playing music ever since. Each brings a ferocity and attention to detail to the table that causes Ketura to stand out from the rest.

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THE STORYBOARD
The Storyboard is a 6 piece indie folk pop band from Northern Virginia. The group was founded on the desire to fluently mesh the pop genre with indie acoustic music. Each member comes from significantly different musical backgrounds, which is why TSB has a distinct sound all their own. The Storyboard's debut album was released on 2-25-12 on Itunes, Amazon, and other media outlets. The album has been embraced with great reviews. The band has had their single "Delorean" played on mulitple radio stations/ radio Shows. TSB is playing shows all over the east coast, and has an ever growing fanbase. Tune in, sing along, and tell your friends!
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Bands and Beats: Dia2ill

Out of South Arlington comes the DMV's most unique & diverse artist, Dia. As he states "If Linkin Park had Lupe Fiasco and production done by Daft Punk, you get me." With a strong fan base that continues to grow Dia out sells most DMV artists. From killin tracks to murdering live performances Dia is in a league of his own. With beat boxers, break dancers, costumes, skits, and live bands, Dia is a complete entertainer. In 2007, Dia scored his first smash record "I Wanna" with fellow underground emcee Illnovelist. The single was a commercial success and even appeared on the movie soundtrack for " Running on Empty Dreams". He followed that up in 2008, with the political and inspirational track entitled "Obama" with Baltimore emcee Jade Fox and Rrice which was an attack at the republican party. Which started a buzz. Then in 2009 Midieast welcomed Dia aboard for their assault on the DMV. With the team that consists of Frayz, 2Face ya WildBoy, Rated R, and Rob Rugah. Dia brings something new to the table. Dia has been killing live performances all thru the DMV.

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MAPLE
Four friends who've played the D.C. area on and off for years, Maple is progressive Americana rock with tinges of world rhythms and funk. "Their rock sound is one of the more balanced I have heard where trying to push them into indie or classic subcategories seems misleading. These guys rock out in an agreeable way that should appeal to most every rock music fan." -David Hintz, DC Rock Live

RAW AURAS
Raw Auras is an Arlington, VA based four-piece outfit headed by Daniel Grady whose eclectic take on indie/ folk characterizes their influences of Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, and Arctic Monkeys. Transcending genres, Raw Auras's unexpected vibe ranges from simple acoustic rhythms to psychedelic outbreaks to melodic riffs while simultaneously remaining accessible to a wide variety of listeners.

CIGAR ETIQUETTE
Our songs are meant to bring feel good emotions toward life, give an understanding of what life's about and the turns it takes.

Vivacious

Jon Cresswell, the face of Vivacious, is a young and energetic singer/songwriter with a passion to create music that is not only pleasing to the ear but has a deeper meaning than your average tune. "My music comes from my heart, every song is a story in my life, an experience I would never take back because it made me who I am today. I hope people can hear my music and relate to the lyrics in a positive way." -Jon

Vivacious is more than just music for him, it's a way of life. Come say hi this May 26th at his kick off show!

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BANDITS & BEGGARS
Having only been around for less than a year, Bandits & Beggars has already made their mark on the East Coast. Hailing from Fairfax, VA, this quartet sets out to deliver an unforgettable show with their catchy tunes and energetic stage presence. Their music is well-received in any given venue, with sounds ranging from a raw powerhouse of guitar-driven rock punctuated by complex rhythms, to somber melodies accentuated by soaring vocals.
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CRUSH ATLANTIC
Crush Atlantic is an emerging electronic pop group consisting of three best friends from the DC area. Their youthful anthems are all about staying out late and living life to the fullest. The guys are currently in the studio finishing up their debut EP with the producers of Hot Chelle Rae. Check out their single "Keep This Night Alive" now, which official Grammy blogger Arjan Writes describes as "one of those top-notch pop tracks that is too irresistible to be denied."

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In The Lobby Bar: The Blackjacks (Classic Rock party show!)

Have you seen Jammin Java's new Lobby Bar? It's a whole new thing. Come check out the build-out!

The Blackjacks, one of our favorite local bands, will be playing a marathon set of mostly classic rock covers and some slammin' originals starting at 10pm and going until last call. Expect to hear lots of hits from the 60's and 70's. Bring some friends to share a pitcher or sip on a Dogfish 60 Minute. Late night snacks too. And the best part: the show is FREE!

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An Evening with Steve Forbert

Singer-songwriter Steve Forbert had his first major hit in 1979 when he was only 25 years old, shortly after moving to New York City from his hometown of Meridian, Miss where he had been working as a truck driver. Thirty-plus years later, he's still writing acclaimed songs and has released 14 studio albums, including a Grammy-nominated tribute to another Mississippi legend, Jimmie Rodgers. He performs around the world and even finds time to pursue his latest artistic adventure, this time in photography: an exhibit of his cell phone photographs recently opened at a Nashville art gallery.

From those humble beginnings Steve eventually moved to New York City to focus on his music, and found that his artful mixture of introspective pop, rock, folk, country and soul could not be ignored by the music industry. In 1978, just months after arriving in the big city, Forbert signed his first record deal with CBS Records. His debut album, Alive On Arrival, showcased his distinctive musicality and became one of the year's most acclaimed albums. After being compared to folk-based stars like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, Forbert still managed to forge his own, more modern path with his hit sophomore record Jackrabbit Slim. The highlight of the album was the #11 Billboard hit "Romeo's Tune:" an upbeat song with timeless lyrics sweetened by a poetic sensibility, which has since become Steve's signature style. His brash-yet-sensitive take on songwriting and his unaffected delivery propelled the album up the charts, leading to sold-out shows and a feature in Rolling Stone magazine and even a high profile cameo a Cyndi Lauper's tux-wearing, flower-toting boyfriend at the end of the "Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun" video from 1983.

Steve was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in 2006, and "Romeo's Tune" was covered by Keith Urban in 2007. Forbert is one of the few artists who can mesmerize a crowd with nothing but a distinctive voice, an acoustic guitar and his trusty harmonica slung around his neck, letting the purity of his music stand on its own. As one reviewer recently remarked, "Forbert is a hardcore troubadour who, artistically speaking, continues to fight the good fight by releasing one excellent album after another and working his ass off show after show to earn every single fan's loyalty."

Meet me in the middle of the night
Let me hear you say everything's alright
Let me smell the moon in your perfume
- "Romeo's Tune"

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Dangermuffin

Sometimes a band sticks in your mind like good batter sticks to your ribs. A memorable name helps, and Dangermuffin is no pushover of a moniker. But it's the combination of round-the-fire looseness and polished groove that leaves the Charleston-based group's catchy hooks lingering in our ears. As Carolina public radio favorites, they have toured their raspy Southern style as far as Colorado's Jazz Aspen festival. Dangermuffin has shared the stage with the likes of Widespread Panic, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Xavier Rudd, and Tea Leaf Green. According to Ray Waddell of Billboard, this eclectic trio "make[s] endlessly listenable music, with ambitious chording and instrumentation and few boundaries in their musical exploration."

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David Mayfield Parade

Grammy-nominated musician and producer David Mayfield is a force of nature on stage. His energy and out and out enthusiasm for performing are evident at every show whether it's with Cadillac Sky, The Avett Brothers, Jessica Lea Mayfield or his own band, The David Mayfield Parade. Mayfield's songwriting "feels as classic as {his}...wardrobe" says Paste Magazine and his song "Ballad Of Restored Confidence" is featured as the cover mounted track on November's issue Uncut Magazine. His forthcoming album "The David Mayfield Parade" is an extension of his irrepressible energy and abundant love for the music that has inspired him over his young lifetime. It listens like an AM radio record with strings and production born out of such classics as Randy Newman's Sail Away or Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water but without forgetting the fundamentals of rock-n-roll!

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A Duo-licious Night w/Cletus and Lori

Award-winning singer-songwriters on their own, Cletus Kennelly & Lori Kelley combined their artistries, developing a style and a sense for each other's voices that is magical. "I haven't heard harmonies this tight since Simon & Garfunkel" (Gene Dawson, Dawson Concerts) Their work has earned them 40 WAMMIE nominations and 12 WAMMIE awards (Washington Area Music Awards) between them, including the WAMMIE award for BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK GROUP (three times). Both approach their writing from a lyrical, melodic place with songs that speak to the heart. The wit and depth each adds to the other's songs makes for an engaging show. "Cletus and Lori are two standout solo performers whose voices blend beautifully." (Scott Moore, Moore House Concerts) As solo artists, and again as a duo, both Cletus & Lori were selected to perform at D.C.'s Kennedy Center.

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ilyAIMY
Since 2001, Rob Hinkal (guitar, vocals) and Heather Lloyd (guitar, vocals, djembe) have fronted Baltimore-based ilyAIMY (i love you And I Miss You). Capping off their decade-long musical partnership with a year of honors from the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, the National Association for Campus Activities and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, they've played everything from bait shops, to biker festivals, to clothing-optional resorts. It's agreed: "all they need is two acoustic guitars and a djembe" to sound as full as rock band, "but they also engage their audiences with humor and write award-winning folk songs". They have supported the likes of Dar Williams, Ellis Paul and The Gym Class Heroes. Heather's incredible voice and Rob's percussive acoustic guitar are what it's all about. References to folk, rock, Americana and alternative, with lush male/female harmony and tribal percussion. Called "a welcome jolt in ... folk" and "an acoustically roiling, combustible attack on the usual singer/songwriter fare" by reviewers, they have been compared to everything from Buckingham/Nicks to Ani DiFranco to an acoustic Tool to Rusted Root.
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NAKED BLUE
Jen and Scott Smith (Naked Blue), met at Gordon Miller Music in Towson, MD. Within a year, they had begun a writing, recording and personal partnership that has produced 5+ recordings and won critical acclaim. Their dynamic live performances, either as a duo or as the front people for a full band, have taken them all over the country and to Europe, creating life-long loyal fans wherever they go. Always looking for ways to help promote their favorite independent artists, Jen and Scott created their own studio, The Wood and Stone Room, where they've produced some of the best acts in the Mid Atlantic region as well as started a vibrant live video series, Live @ the Wood and Stone Room. this year, expect new music and lots of performance dates from Naked Blue.
Official site

VERONNEAU
Véronneau is an acoustic, song-based group playing Latin Jazz, Gypsy Swing and much more. Equally at home in an intimate jazz club, world music or folk festival, Véronneau are audience favorites performing in English, French and Spanish. Lynn Véronneau lights up the stage, engaging the audience with her vocal interpretations. The acoustic guitars of Ken Avis and David Rosenblatt and percussion of Pete Walby provide the rhythm, harmony and energy to propel the music from Brazilian samba, to French chanson to standards of The American Songbook. Together they bring fluidity and playfulness to the tunes. The multi-national band performs music inspired by jazz from around the world. Pieces such as "Blue Skies," "La Mer," and "Like the Gentle Rain" reflect their distinctive original sound, authentic but never conventional. Since forming in 2010 Véronneau's multi-national musicians, currently based in Northern Virginia, have delighted audiences at clubs concerts and festivals.
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Our Vintage Film

Our Vintage Film is a concept band which means we write albums that are unified by a theme. Our Vintage Film can be perceived as Our Old Memories, memories played back to us through an old fashioned camera, or in a music sense. Using catchy, nostalgic, and reverse instrumental riffs, we want to keep you continuously thriving in a state of beautiful reminiscence.

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BONAVENTURE
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THE OFFSET
Hailing from Alexandria VA, The Offset is an alternative rock band who has been gaining a great reputation within their local scene and on the web due to their demo and shows. They have shared the stage with international acts the likes of The Wailers (former backing band of legendary reggae icon Bob Marley). The Offset plays a very personal brand of indie rock, taking a look back at the lessons learned by icons such as The Beatles (with their trademark song structure) and The Kinks (with their emblematic guitar riffs), but also embeds the straight forward and modern approach of internationally acclaimed acts such as Incubus, Jack Johnson and The Foo Fighters.
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MONEY CANNOT BE EATEN
Late 60's aggressive rock vs a dream that the buffalo will one day once again roam the Americas.
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Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

For Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, 2011 was a year packed with over 200 high-energy, spirited performances, including such mega-musical events as Farm Aid, Bridge School Benefit, Stagecoach, and Country Throwdown, the chance to spread their unique brand of gritty rock and roll to millions of people via the greatest of the late night shows, Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the adoption of the name Realers by their growing base of supporters.

But 2011 was also the year, through blood, sweat and trying times, that Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real - which also includes drummer Anthony LoGerfo, percussionist Tato Melgar and bassist Corey McCormick - made good on that promise to keep it real, and to make their way out of the shadow of a famous father and into the hearts and souls of music fans nationwide the way that they wanted to... on their own downhome rock and roll merits.

During the summer of 2011 Nelson, 22 years old at the time, found himself in the most intense writing jag of his early career. His journey spanned three soul-searching summer months during an intense 15-week tour. The result, the band's second full-length album, Wasted. On Wasted the band's familiar sound evolved from past recordings. A huge influence on this was Neil Young, whom Lukas calls a "distant mentor" and who suggested the band try a different approach to recording their new album. Helping the band fine tune their sound was Wasted co-producer Jim "Moose" Brown, the Grammy Award-winning session musician/songwriter/producer and Bob Seger guitarist.

The album also pays homage to two of Lukas' favorite musicians, Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young, through creative renditions of a "Pail Gap" / "Hey Baby, "and "LA". There's also a cover of the song "Peaceful Solution" co-written by Lukas' father Willie Nelson and sister Amy Niccore. Lukas' dad also offers backing vocals on "Sound of Your Memory" and "Fathers and Mothers." Lukas' aunt, Bobbie Nelson, plays the piano on "Fathers and Mothers" as well.

The band had a magical time in the studio, taking Nelson's acoustic guitar renditions of the 14 tracks and turning them into true Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real creations. With the line-up in place and the new record out, POTR set out in 2011 to deliver their message of love, peace and honesty to the world.

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SPIRIT FAMILY REUNION
Spirit Family Reunion play homegrown American music to stomp, clap, shake and holler with. Ever since they started singing together on the street corners, farmer's markets and subway stations of New York City, their songs have rung-out in a pure and timeless way. When Spirit Family Reunion gather to sing, there is communion. Strangers and neighbors come to rejoice in the sound, and there is no divide between performer and spectator.
"Dusty acoustic guitars, wailing fiddles and weeping accordions, with a woozy-yet-skintight rhythm section-- and topped off with burr-edged vocals that sound like they've been soaked in a Mason jar for generations -- it's the type of music that blurs the line between past and present so thoroughly, and so deftly, that time feels irrelevant." -Paste Magazine Best of What's Next
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