Newton Faulkner believes in accidents. A bona fide pop star at home in his native U.K.—where radio presence, great press and a thrilling live show drove Hand Built By Robots to the top spot on the album-sales chart upon its release there last summer—this 23-year-old singer-songwriter makes music full of serendipity and happenstance, coincidence and luck. As its title suggests, Hand Built By Robots contains acoustic music for the digital age: Faulkner croons in a voice shaped by years spent listening to Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Tom Waits and plays guitar with a distinctive tap-pick-and-strum technique that allows him to use the instrument as guitar, bass and drums all at once. Call it folk-pop for the future, and get ready to hear quite a lot of it as Faulkner goes about spreading his success to these shores.

Birds and Buildings is Dan Britton (Deluge Grander) on keyboards, Malcolm McDuffie (Crom-Tech) on drums, Brian Falkowski on saxes, and Anna Keightley on violin. Their first album, Bantam to Behemoth, was released in early 2008. Birds and Buildings meld high-energy complex progressive rock music with jazz and classical music, comparable sometimes to King Crimson, Magma, and Genesis.

The Washington City Paper writes, "Politicks offers the American public both style and substance."

Since coming together in 2001 while at Radford University, Politicks has performed on the east coast from New York to Florida, shared the stage with several Grammy Award winning artists, recorded in Los Angeles and received regular radio play in their hometown of Washington, DC.

There are three things that you can only get in Washington D.C., The President, Go - Go Music and Mambo Sauce. This electrifying group takes their name from the mystery sauce popular at Chinese/Soul Food carry - outs throughout D.C. Comprised of seven of D.C. and Go - Go musics most prominent musicians, the band has created a new form of music called "Pocket" that effectively blends D.C. Go - Go percussion with well crafted songs, explosive raps and sultry melodies. Mambo Sauce and their label Red C Records intend to use this formula to infiltrate the national music market with the D.C Go - Go sound.

"Mark Olson returns like a Grievous Angel...rapturous country soul" --Paste Magazine

"Welcome back Mark, we're lucky to have you." --PopMatters

"...the triumphant re-emergence of Mark Olson...Olson's best since his Jayhawks days." --Harp Magazine

Welcome to Lincoln, Nebraska, home of the J.V. All*stars, and 230,000 too many football fans. JVA, is Nick, Mikey, Eric, and Matty. We have lost jobs, moved out of houses, drank ourselves stupid, and become great friends through music. Thankfully, we're all together still, and things couldn't be better. We are firm believers in the notion that struggle is what turns friends into best friends. Behind the volume, thats what we are.

John Wesley

The Bobcats (in no particular order):
Bill Kirchen
Claude Arthur
Jack O’Dell
Peter Bonta
Johnny Castle
Dave Geigerich
Louise Kirchen
Alan MacEwan
Moe Nelson
Chris Watling

Chris Gaffney, lead singer of the Hacienda Brothers, has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Chris will endure extreme chemotherapy for the remainder of this year. This drastic treatment option is costly, but necessary for him to stay alive. While Chris has insurance, it will only cover a fraction of his expenses. We need to raise at least $60,000 to cover the difference. Your contribution, no matter how large or small will ease the uncertainty and provide comfort and peace during this challenging time. Come on out for a killer concert and support the cause!

*Come see The Lustre Kings as Wanda's backing band. They're great!

Wanda Jean Jackson, 20 October 1937, Maud, Oklahoma, USA. Jackson started her career as one of the rawest of female rockabilly singers before going on to successful work in both country and gospel music. Her family moved to California when she was four, settling in the city of Bakersfield, but moved back to Oklahoma when she was 12. Jackson won a talent contest that led to her fronting a radio programme. Country singer Hank Thompson liked her style and hired her to tour with his band. In 1954 Jackson signed to Decca Records, recording 15 country tracks, one of which, "You Can't Have My Love", a duet with Billy Gray, made the country Top 10.

The following year Jackson joined Red Foley's touring company and met Elvis Presley. He advised her to change her style to the new rock 'n' roll. When she signed with Capitol Records in 1956, she recorded a number of singles, one side of each a rocker, the other a honky-tonk country number. Only one of these rockabilly records, "I Gotta Know", made the country charts, but her other recordings for Capitol, such as "Honey Bop", "Fujiyama Mama" and "Hot Dog That Made Him Mad", are prized by collectors decades later. Only one, "Let's Have A Party", earlier recorded by Presley, made the US pop charts when Capitol belatedly released it in 1960. Backed by the Blue Caps, this song is delivered in raucous style and it remains an extraordinary vocal delivery. That same year, Jackson chose to stay with country and recorded her own composition, "Right Or Wrong", which has since become a hit for both Ronnie Dove and George Strait. "Right Or Wrong" and "In The Middle Of a Heartache" became the last of Jackson's Top 10 country songs in 1961/2, although she placed 30 singles in that chart in total. She recorded nearly two-dozen albums for Capitol in the 60s.

By the early 70s Jackson began recording Christian music for Capitol and later the Word and Myrrh labels, returning to rock 'n' roll for 1984's Rock 'N' Roll Away Your Blues. In 1995 she duetted on Rosie Flores' Rockabilly Filly album, and supported the singer on her US tour. Jackson continued her comeback in the new millennium, releasing the star-studded Heart Trouble in 2003. Another new album, 2006's I Remember Elvis, featured liner notes by fan Elvis Costello.

With bluesy fingerpicking, soaring bottleneck slide, and swinging flatpicking, Brooks Williams’ music is rooted in the blues and is as fresh and original as any music you are likely to hear. His unique combination of traditional and original music inspired Dirty Linen magazine to call Brooks Williams one of "America's musical treasures."

A Statesboro, Georgia native – the town made famous by Blind Willie McTell in his song Statesboro Blues – Brooks began playing guitar at age 10 after being shown the opening riff to Purple Haze by a summer music camp counselor. Brooks’ mother responded to her son’s enthusiasm for the new instrument by buying him a Jose Feliciano-styled nylon string guitar with a double pickguard and arranged for him to learn a few chords and songs from the daughter of a friend. That was all he needed to get started. In the years following Brooks taught himself to play by listening to recordings by the likes of Eric Clapton, Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, Jorma Kaukonen, Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal. But it wasn’t until he moved to Boston, Massachusetts in his late teens that Williams put it all together. In Boston, Williams first heard roots and blues music on the radio and started to go to shows in the city’s many acoustic music clubs.

The band are proud of their authentic sound and energy. Right from the first beat, you'll be immersed in nostalgia, listening to 'the best years' of the beatles, 1960-62.

The Pete Best Band captures the sound of the Beatles in their formative years - the early years for many 'was' The Beatles. John Lennon summed this up well - "We were at our best when we were playing in the dance halls of Liverpool and Hamburg. The world never saw that."

"I closed my eyes and I thought I was back at the Starclub" Horst Fascher (Starclub Manager & German Promoter)

"The Pete Best band always sell out at the Cavern. The fans just can't get enough" Dave Jones (Cavern Club)

"A top quality band with a top quality show" Eric McDow (Canadian Promoter)

The set reunites him with producer Darrell Brown and engineer Niko Bolas, the team behind Foster’s critically acclaimed See What You Want To See. “Darrell and Niko are two of the most creative individuals I know,” says Foster. “And we’re like brothers, so we hold nothing back. The trust and freedom that brings to a project is immeasurable.”

Willson-Piper's trademark 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound has been widely admired and appreciated since the release of The Church's acclaimed albums "Starfish" and "Priest = Aura". "Starfish" contained the popular modern rock anthem "Under The Milky Way" as well as "Reptile", which was recently covered by The Smashing Pumpkins, and "Priest = Aura" included the hit "Ripple".

The Church's 2006 release, "Uninvited, Like The Clouds" was acclaimed by critics and fans alike. Willson-Piper's distinctive guitar work has always been at the forefront of The Church sound-a sound from which oceans of guitarists have drawn their influence from. The Church helped pave the way for bands such as Interpol and Radiohead. Throughout The Church's nearly 30-year career, Marty Willson-Piper's integrity and skills have never wavered through the ups and downs of the Rock 'n' Roll world.

"Nightjar" was recorded in Penzance, Cornwall by renowned producer/engineer Dare Mason, Marty's partner on his side project "Noctorum", which has released two CDs on Heyday Records. The first single from "Nightjar", entitled "No One There", is now available as a FREE download on heyday.com

Ruthie and the Wranglers combine Blues, Country, Jazz, Rockabilly and Rock ‘n Roll influences they describe as Rockin' American Roots music and their high energy and quirky original songs make them anything but typical Country. With numerous WAMMIE awards and national touring, this band consistently remains in the spotlight. Ruthie has performed sold-out tribute shows for Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Neil Young and her music continues to rank high on the Americana radio charts. The band's unique songcraft and sprightly hillbilly harmonies take you off the beaten path of typical Americana music...a welcome twist on tradition. The audience can expect fast paced guitar pickin', a right-on rhythm section, jumpin' piano and clever lyrics.

Singer/songwriter Patty Reese has made her mark over the past 15 years performing over 250 dates a year. She recently received the 2007 WAMMIE for Female Roots Rock Vocalist as well as Silver and Finalist awards from the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for two tracks off her upcoming CD. Her powerful vocals coupled with her strong work ethic have propelled her to an all American gifted performer. With an undying passion for creating and delivering soulful music, Patty Reese’s style has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge and Janis Joplin. Inspired by the vocals of Etta James and Aretha Franklin, Reese’s own standout vocal style encompasses pop, blues, folk and rock.

Billy Coulter’s music straddles the line between Roots Rock and Power Pop. Drawing on influences as varied as Bob Dylan to Johnny Cash to Squeeze, he’s created an organic sound that seems familiar but is definitely new. Coulter’s inspired and energetic performances have graced the stages at some of the area’s top venues. His sultry voice won him the 2007 WAMMIE for Male Roots Rock Vocalist and Coulter’s songwriting skills have been honored by the Billboard and Mid-Atlantic Song Contests, including the latter’s Gold Award for 2005 Rock Song of the Year.

Backed by players from D.C. rock stalwarts, Coulter’s band delivers authentic rock ‘n roll. Drawing on influences as varied as Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash to Mott the Hoople and Squeeze they’ve created an organic sound that seems familiar but is definitely new.

Old School Freight Train, from Charlottesville, VA, combines thought-provoking lyrics with captivating melodies, soulful vocals, virtuosic instrumentals and imaginative arrangement. Blending folk, jazz, soul, pop, bluegrass, Latin and Celtic, OSFT offers a unique musical experience the Boston Globe claims is "the Next Big Thing" and the Chicago Tribune claims is "accessible but uncompromising in creativity."

Distinct as a dusty street, as if grown from the earth, rooted in soil and dirt, yet blossoming with flowery heartache, Drew’s music possesses a brand of yearning for the simple things - front porches, letterboxes, and all things folk and blue. Working with award-winning producer, MARCO DELMAR, and such talented musicians as drummer ROBBIE MAGRUDER, bassist JON NAZDIN, as well as close friend and fellow musician, PAUL CURRERI, Drew has released a body of work with eloquent testimony.

Euphonism is a Washington, DC based vocal band with a diverse musical background. Members share a passion for the pure, electrifying blending of voice. Euphonism brings a mixture of angelic harmonies, driving beats and moving rhythms to audiences in the capital area and beyond.

+ Edie Carey
[Curtis] songs define the term folk-pop precisely. PASTE MAGAZINE

Catie Curtis delivers her most personal effort to date with Long Night Moon, an intricate work of stripped down modern folk. With grace and confidence, a more mature Curtis mingles reflections on motherhood (New Flowers), cold New England winters (Hey California) and delayed gratification (Long Night Moon, a song written about waiting for the belated arrival of her adopted baby daughter) with the unflinching dedication to social issues that has long characterized her strongest work.

Long Night Moon features the track People Look Around for which Curtis (along with co-writer Mark Erelli) was honored with the Grand Prize in this years International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries from 82 countries). People Look Around addresses the human toll and the divisive political landscape that arose in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Throughout their career, The Nighthawks have released more than 20 albums and have toured the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan. They play a wide variety of music that has appeal to a diverse audience.

The group is made up of four extremely high caliber performers: Mark Wenner (vocals and harmonica), Pete Ragusa (drums and vocals), Paul Bell (guitar and vocals), and Johnny Castle (vocals and bass).

The Nighthawks currently play 175-200 shows a year and are considered one of the best and most active blues bands around.

In recent years, the band has also received their share of TV exposure, appearing first on the show “Homicide” on NBC and then on the HBO program “The Wire.”

In 2004, The Nighthawks made a change to their lineup - when long time members, Mark Wenner (harp/vocals) and Pete Ragusa (drums/vocals), were joined by Paul Bell (guitar/vocals) and Johnny Castle (bass/vocals).

This new lineup transformed what was already an internationally respected blues band into a highly energetic and extremely versatile musical powerhouse - leaving fans to conclude that "The Nighthawks are now the best they've ever been!"