Jeremy Pinnell
When Jeremy Pinnell released OH/KY in the summer of 2015 to stunned acclaim, it felt like an entire career compressed into one knock-out album. Hailed as, a “Mind-blowingly good” (Greg Vandy/KEXP) “ ”tutorial on classic country music” (Popmatters), Pinnell’s debut immediately differentiated as authentic and unflinching. Dogged touring through Europe and the States and celebrated radio sessions followed, cementing Pinnell’s position as a no-fuss master of his craft. His 2017 album, Ties of Blood and Affection presented a canny lateral move. Instead of doubling down on the stark themes and values of his debut, the sophomore album found Pinnell finding comfort in his own skin, achieving the redemption only hinted at in his previous batch of haunted songs. If the third time’s a charm, Pinnell is all shine and sparkle on the forthcoming Goodbye LA. Produced by Texan Jonathan Tyler, the tunes buff the wax and polish the chrome on Country music’s deeper roots. Rooted in his steady acoustic guitar, Pinnell’s songs are shot through with honest and classic elements. The rhythm section, all snap and shuffle, finds purpose in well worn paths. The pedal steel and Telecaster stingers arrive perfectly on cue, winking at JP’s world-wise couplets . Here slippery organ insinuates gospel into the conversation. You can feel the room breathe and get a sense of these musicians eyeballing each other as their performances are committed to tape. And through it all comes this oaken identity, the devastating centerpiece of his work. Honest and careworn, Jeremy’s voice can touch on wry, jubilant, and debauched - all in a single line. At his best, Jeremy Pinnell chronicles the joy and sorrow of being human, which is the best that anyone could do.
Dalton & The Sheriffs
The one constant in Dalton & the Sheriffs’ remarkable rise from three-hour sets in the barrooms of Boston, to national stages such as CMA Fest, is the band’s authenticity. Brian Scully (vocals/acoustic guitar), Jon Silva (lead guitar), James Zaner (drums), Sam Bouve (bass) and Ryan Jackson (keys/guitars) rip through shows with frenetic energy, perhaps best described as country music, tinged with Americana heartland vibes, and played with a bar-friendly edge-of-punk rowdiness. Everyone sings along. The patrons are as much a part of the show as the band itself. The result is a live band that manages to make every show -- from small clubs to the largest of festivals -- feel a little like a reunion of like-minded souls at their favorite local bar.
Dalton & The Sheriffs
The one constant in Dalton & the Sheriffs’ remarkable rise from three-hour sets in the barrooms of Boston, to national stages such as CMA Fest, is the band’s authenticity. Brian Scully (vocals/acoustic guitar), Jon Silva (lead guitar), James Zaner (drums), Sam Bouve (bass) and Ryan Jackson (keys/guitars) rip through shows with frenetic energy, perhaps best described as country music, tinged with Americana heartland vibes, and played with a bar-friendly edge-of-punk rowdiness. Everyone sings along. The patrons are as much a part of the show as the band itself. The result is a live band that manages to make every show -- from small clubs to the largest of festivals -- feel a little like a reunion of like-minded souls at their favorite local bar.
Amy Kelly Band
Amy Kelly and her band are leaving an indelible mark upon audiences in Chicago’s clubs and mainstream venues. This formidable ensemble has a substantial following and is in demand for club, festival and touring work. Amy sings a diverse set of music mixed with rock-a-billy, blues, and classic rock n roll, which always produces a hypnotic groove for her audience. A truly gifted performer, Amy’s powerful and compelling voice really captivates an audience. She is raw potent talent, cut with professionalism and class. Amy has electrified crowds at some of Chicago’s finest stages such as The Hideout, B.L.U.E.S on Halsted and Buddy Guys Legends, as well at local bars and street festivals. Her incredibly soulful vocal style was influence heavily by Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton and Bonnie Raitt. Amy is backed by the dynamic rhythm section of Paul Rzewuski on drums, Jon Richter on bass, and Sweet Lou Hallwas, who brings it all together on the guitar. Paul and Jon have played together for over 30 years in some of Chicago biggest venues, toured Europe with Chicago Blues greats, Big time Sarah and Syl Johnson and have played many of Chicago’s outdoor festivals. Newcomer Lou Hallwas brings his soulful energy to the band with his eclectic and energetic playing style. Lou just finished up his summer playing with Material Reissue, The Differents and Decoy Prayer Meeting.
Hoyle Brothers
The Hoyle Brothers approach their music the way a preacher might prepare for a sermon: Reference the good Book, find a theme that resonates and deliver it with fire and passion.
That’s what makes The Hoyle Brothers so special. Their brand of genuine country music draws from the genre’s deepest traditions–lyrics that speak universal truths, melody lines that melt your heart and two-step rhythms that make your boots scoot.
The Simple Remedy
Founded several years ago by Chicago Singer/Songwriter Edward William Ryan, The Simple Remedy has grown into one of the most reliable acts on the music scene. Featuring Singer/Songwriter Amy Carlson on Vocals, Pat Keiner on Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Steel Guitar and Vocals, Pete Vancura on Bass Guitar and Jamie Gallagher on Drums.
Simple Remedy keeps audiences guessing with an exciting mix of Country, Americana and Soul music. Their shows are a genre bending journey through American Music.
Sunfallen
SunFallen will take you back a few decades to when live music meant something, not like a group of soccer Dads lip syncing to a karaoke backing track. A time when guitars howled, the base drum kicked, and the vocals of a song took you back to a place you've missed. SunFallen continues to draw loyal fans since their debut in 2009 as well as claim new fans with their signature sound and style. The band covers classic and new Rock.
Trailer Park Twisters
From small towns to the big city, the Trailer Park Twisters are ripping up all your favorite country tunes and laying waste to prefabricated homes in a 10-mile radius. Formed in 2008 by Paul Cicciarelli, the band features dynamic guitar playing complimented by swelling pedal steel and soaring vocals. From Johnny Cash to Miranda Lambert they’ve got it covered.
The Shootouts
w/ Steel Blossoms
The Shootouts debut album “Quick Draw” is an effortless blend of high-energy honky-tonk and traditional country music mixed with touches of Americana and western swing. The band marries a blend of Roy Orbison and Bob Wills with the barn-burning sounds of Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives and Dwight Yoakam. The combination offers a welcome throwback to sounds that flowed out of Nashville, Texas and California in country music’s golden years.
Composed of lead-singer Ryan Humbert, guitarist Brian Poston, bassist Ryan McDermott, drummer Dylan Gomez, backing vocalist Emily Bates and longtime sideman Al Moss on pedal steel, The Shootouts have shared the stage with a wide range of artists like Sheryl Crow, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Rosie Flores, Marty Stuart & The Fabulous Superlatives, Lake Street Dive, Jim Lauderdale, Robbie Fulks, Radney Foster, Zac Brown Band, Soul Asylum, Chris Isaak and more.
“Quick Draw” was recorded in Brooklyn, NY with producers Luca Benedetti and Jim Campilongo (Cake, Norah Jones, The Little Willies.) “We were attracted to the project by the earnest songwriting and strong musicianship,” said Campilongo and Benedetti, “The Shootouts are a hard-working and passionate band, and together we created an album to be proud of.”
Upon release in May of 2019, “Quick Draw” received stellar reviews and world-wide radio play, spending over nine weeks on the “Americana Radio Top 50” album chart as well as reaching the “Alt-Country Radio Top 20” chart.
Scott Dubose & The 101 Ranch
The road has always been an Inspiration to musicians and Scott DuBose has learned a whole lot out on the road! “I love the road; it’s always been my solace.” It seems that he’s always been on the road. As a child Scott spent a lot of time between Chicago and Southern Mississippi. Scott’s Father was from just south of Hattiesburg Mississippi, and his mother was from the south side of Chicago. “It was great having parents from such diverse backgrounds. It really gave me an appreciation for city and country life” Scott’s father was born in a log cabin on a road named after his family. “My father came from a dirt poor, dirt floor household. He really had nothing growing up and I am eternally thankful for all the gifts he gave me when was a child.”
Dry County Line
Hellin' from Chicago since 2014, Dry County Line has a strong regard for classic country music, and that's what they love to share. But they like "countrifying" non-country songs too. You never can tell. One thing's for certain, DCL is all about singing (and dancing). With this band, it's harmonize or go home. We'll take the bourbon.
Diamondback
Diamondback has been a popular staple of the Chicago Country Music scene for quite some time. We bring our female fronted, multi-instrumentalist, tight harmonied party to clubs, private gatherings and festivals throughout the Midwest. We serve up a patented mix of Classic/Prime Country, Americana, Country Rock and New Country that’s guaranteed to have folks singing along and joining the party from the first song. Our extensive song list promises something for everyone.
Diamondback remains committed to bringing Classic Honky Tonk music to the urban masses!
The Simple Remedy
Founded several years ago by Chicago Singer/Songwriter Edward William Ryan, The Simple Remedy has grown into one of the most reliable acts on the music scene. Featuring Singer/Songwriter Amy Carlson on Vocals, Pat Keiner on Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Steel Guitar and Vocals, Pete Vancura on Bass Guitar and Jamie Gallagher on Drums. Simple Remedy keeps audiences guessing with an exciting mix of Country, Americana and Soul music. Their shows are a genre bending journey through American Music.
Ward Davis
American Singer/Songwriter from Monticello, Arkansas by way of Nashville, Tennessee, Ward Davis has had songs recorded by Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Wade Hayes, Sammy Kershaw, Bucky Covington, Jimmie Van Zant, Buddy Jewel, Carolina Rain, The Roys, and more. Most recently, Ward Davis co-wrote “I’m Not The Devil” with Cody Jinks, with whom he subsequently toured with nationwide. With over 250 shows per year under his belt as both a headliner and support act, Ward Davis’ already popular live show is growing at exponential rates.
Shannon Baker
Shannon Baker is a singer-songwriter from the Southside of Chicago. Her music is heavily inspired by folk, rock, and blues, but still explores fusing other genres. Shannon comes loaded with experiences to share through stories to sing.
Tommy Goodroad & The Highway Birds
Born and raised in Minnesota, Tommy Goodroad's Midwestern-tinged country music captures the distinctive solitude of American cities and towns that would be landlocked if not for the Great Lakes. His debut album, Swimming In The Clay, is available now.
Kurtis James Band
Seamlessly weaving together authentic original music with covers of country music legends like Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard, the Kurtis James Band will bring you back to the glory days of vinyl-filled Wurlitzers and smoke-filled barrooms. With the clickety-clack rhythms of Johnny Cash, the swinging bass lines of the Bakersfield Sound, the driving drums of the 70s outlaw country movement, and wailing steel guitar reminiscent of the Drifting Cowboys, come remember what made country music great in the first place.
From the Elgin, Il area, the Kurtis James Band is Kurtis James (Guitar and Vocals), Cris Velez (Bass), Rich Becker (Pedal Steel Guitar and Electric Guitar), and Pete Steele (Drums)
Drake Milligan
At only 19 years old, Drake Milligan moved from Fort Worth, Texas to Music City. Armed with an appreciation for the history of country music, Milligan listened intently during co-writes and recording sessions, where songwriters taught him how to tell a story, legendary producers taught him how to use the mics and studio as a vehicle for his voice, seasoned musicians were willing to back the new guy, and his country music heroes shared insightful advice on how to seamlessly shift from the studio and the stage. Now at 23 years old, wisdom instilled, he’s ready to introduce himself to the world with the release of his debut EP, Drake Milligan. The five tracks will be his debut not only as a songwriter but an artist, who works tirelessly to hone his craft. Co-writing every song on the EP, he tapped into different themes to showcase his songwriting talent and vocal chops. Milligan layers the fiddle and steel in the trouble-drowning, alcohol-soaked “Over Drinkin’ Under Thinkin’” and rediscovers the lost art of fast talking in the upbeat, rebellious “Sounds Like Something I’d Do.” But it’s not all up tempo toe-tappers. It’s in the ballads that he really showcases his deep, smooth as silk vocals. “Don’t Look Down” has Milligan painting a picture of falling in love on a dance floor, defying gravity thanks to the honky-tonk’s trusty old jukebox, and “She” is a beautifully simple but emotive depiction of a lovesick boy, listing off everything he loves about a girl. Produced by award-winning industry icon Tony Brown and songwriter/producer Brandon Hood, Drake Milligan’s forthcoming self-titled EP is due out July 23 from BBR Music Group / Stoney Creek Records.
For more information on Drake Milligan, visit: drakemilligan.com
Drake Milligan
At only 19 years old, Drake Milligan moved from Fort Worth, Texas to Music City. Armed with an appreciation for the history of country music, Milligan listened intently during co-writes and recording sessions, where songwriters taught him how to tell a story, legendary producers taught him how to use the mics and studio as a vehicle for his voice, seasoned musicians were willing to back the new guy, and his country music heroes shared insightful advice on how to seamlessly shift from the studio and the stage. Now at 23 years old, wisdom instilled, he’s ready to introduce himself to the world with the release of his debut EP, Drake Milligan. The five tracks will be his debut not only as a songwriter but an artist, who works tirelessly to hone his craft. Co-writing every song on the EP, he tapped into different themes to showcase his songwriting talent and vocal chops. Milligan layers the fiddle and steel in the trouble-drowning, alcohol-soaked “Over Drinkin’ Under Thinkin’” and rediscovers the lost art of fast talking in the upbeat, rebellious “Sounds Like Something I’d Do.” But it’s not all up tempo toe-tappers. It’s in the ballads that he really showcases his deep, smooth as silk vocals. “Don’t Look Down” has Milligan painting a picture of falling in love on a dance floor, defying gravity thanks to the honky-tonk’s trusty old jukebox, and “She” is a beautifully simple but emotive depiction of a lovesick boy, listing off everything he loves about a girl. Produced by award-winning industry icon Tony Brown and songwriter/producer Brandon Hood, Drake Milligan’s forthcoming self-titled EP is due out July 23 from BBR Music Group / Stoney Creek Records.
For more information on Drake Milligan, visit: drakemilligan.com
Riley Brothers
The Riley Brothers are a guitar and percussion duo performing the best top 40 songs of the 60's through today! Known for their modern acoustic arrangements and tight vocal harmonies, The Rileys are the perfect fit for any venue or event!
Grady Spencer & The Work
Born in Lubbock and raised in the country outside of a town called Paducah, Grady Spencer’s roots dig deep into Texas soil. By day, Spencer is a superintendent for a commercial construction company. By any other time, he’s songwriter and front-man of Grady Spencer & The Work. The Work originally formed in 2013 on the stage of Paradox Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Drummer Blake Sager was joined by bassist Johnny Hatcher in 2016, followed by guitarist Tyler Martin in 2018. The Work’s music reflects its members: honest, good-timing, with a nod to blue-collar roots. In 2013, the band recorded and self-produced its first album at 1916 Studios in Kyle, Texas. Sleep featured Spencer and Trevor Powell on guitar and vocals, Blake Atwell on guitar, Sager on drums, and Josh Brandenburg on bass. The album was released that same year and was the band’s first introduction to the Fort Worth music scene. “Things to Do” was eventually picked up by the Fort Worth Visitors Bureau via Tom Martens, and in 2017 the city sent Spencer and The Work to Niles City Sound to rerecord and release the track as a single. Sophomore record The Line Between was primarily tracked at January Sound in Dallas, Texas. The band worked with Magnolia Records and released the album in 2016. Spencer’s vocals and guitar were once again accompanied by Powell on guitar and Sager on drums, with Steve Moore on bass, producer Ryan Tharp on guitar, and Cody Culberson singing harmonies. This album carried the band beyond Fort Worth city limits—a following started to crop up across the state and numbers rose on streaming platforms, catapulting The Work to their next album.
Giovannie & The Hired Guns
In the last few years alone, Giovannie & The Hired Guns have grown from a massively beloved local live act to an undeniable new force on the national rock scene. Formed back when frontman Giovannie Yanez was working the counter at a pawnshop, the Stephenville, Texas-based band has amassed millions of streams almost entirely through word-of-mouth, thanks in no small part to their unforgettable live show—an electrifying spectacle that invariably leaves audiences sweat-drenched and ecstatic. With their high-octane collision of rock-and-roll and country, Giovannie & The Hired Guns are now at work on a hotly anticipated new album showcasing their hard-hitting sound, emotionally raw storytelling, and the kind of authentically gritty energy that’s sorely missing from rock music today.
