Claire Lynch’s sweetly pure voice has always been in high demand. Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Ralph Stanley and Emmylou Harris (among others) have called on her to sing on their records, while Lynch’s original songs have been covered by A-list folks in the acoustic world. But it’s Claire Lynch leading her own band that garners the most accolades – including 2 Grammy nominations, countless specialized awards and other nominations - along with reverent standing ovations for her shows at prestigious music festivals and theaters.
“I’m already bracing myself,” Eilen Jewell reasons, matter-of-factly, “for a little controversy.”
Boise-born and Boston-based, Jewell has quickly distinguished herself as one of the rising stars of a new generation of roots musicians. Her first two albums, Boundary County (self-released, 2006) and Letters from Sinners and Strangers (Signature Sounds, 2007) were astonishingly assured efforts, which matched Jewell’s understated yet insightful songs with a rugged blend of Americana styles. They were met with a great deal of acclaim, with No Depression raving that “Jewell is showing she can wander with the best of them, and write riveting song-stories about her adventures along the way.” Indicative of Jewell’s strong following in Europe, The Word in the UK described her as “A voice of real distinction [that] manages to transcend some powerful influences and pierce the fog long enough for her own point of view to emerge.”
The name itself suit this band perfectly.
Driven is a new and upcoming band comprised of 5 young and talented musicians that have a love for traditional bluegrass music. The band formed as a simple group of friends that met at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas only a couple years ago. Their hard drivin' sound is inspired by the very roots of this music such as people like Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers. Whether they're singing in concise harmony or tearin' it up on a blistering instrumental, Driven brings an exciting energy to the stage that can't be missed. The band is comprised of Jimmy Campbell from Kansas City, Missouri on banjo and vocals, Brandon Mclemore from Colby, Kansas on mandolin and vocals, Blake Mclemore from Colby, Kansas on bass and vocals, Jake Workman from Draper, Utah on guitar and vocals, and Jimmy Vincent from Tulsa, Oklahoma on fiddle.
Sister Wives first public gig was in January 2003. Since that time, the band has appeared twice on Channel 4's Good Things Utah, performed three times on the Festival Stage at the Utah Arts Festival, KRCL's Day in the Park, and been named one the of the Best New Bands of the Year in the SLAMMy's (Salt Lake Music Awards) voted by the readers of Salt Lake City Weekly Magazine. Sister Wives appear regularly at the Port 'O Call, Hog Wallow, Mo Diggity's and the Zephyr and Dead Goat Saloon (may they rest in peace) and are sought after for private appearances in and around Salt Lake. The band has been invited to regional festivals in Moab and Cedar City. The Sister Wives' music is also played by many of the programmers on KRCL radio station in Salt Lake, KZMU in Moab and KPFT in Houston. Below, you can learn more about the individual members of the Sister Wives and their stories.
Bill Vernieu and Joanna Joseph both have unadorned singing styles that convey the simple-and-true, and make for great harmonies. On the other hand, Joanna's soothing tones contrast well with Bill's high-voltage energy. The result is an engaging combination.
Every now and then, we all need to hear the music of 1930s Paris made famous by guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli. From time to time, we all crave "jazz manouche," "gadjo swing," "jazz hot," "hot swing" or "gypsy jazz." Well, even if you don't think you do, trust us, you do. It's what you'd love to listen to on a hot summer night, while dancing barefoot on the grass under twinkling patio lights. The Red Rock Hot Club is Utah's own gypsy band, playing on acoustic stringed instruments—including replicas of the odd-looking guitars that Reinhardt played. Look for them at the Bayou and Caffe Niche … or whenever there's a gypsy wind.
Red Desert Ramblers perform old-time, country, swing, and bluegrass music. Past performances include-Memorial Day Bluegrass Festival (Grand Junction, CO); Southern Nevada Bluegrass Music Association (Logandale, Nevada); Bannock County Bluegrass Festival (Pocatello, Idaho); Darrington Bluegrass Festival (Washington), and they were the first Utah band ever chose to perform at the International Bluegrass Music Association Fan Festival Convention in Nashville.
The Kap Bros. Band have been performing throughout the intermountain west since 1981. Original founding members are brothers Roby and Richie Kap who have been performing together for 35 years. Roby Kap is the front man, lead singer, guitarist and master harmonica player. Brother Richie Kap plays a variety of instruments including lead guitar, mandolin and vocals.
They are the Bluegrass Patriots, one of the very, very few working bands in the bluegrass world to have testimony from the father himself. In history and tradition, for 28 years the Bluegrass Patriots, from Fort Collins, Colorado, have faithfully represented the unbroken circle that is bluegrass. But longevity is a reward reserved for those bands with the talent, drive, and class to sustain the highest levels of musicianship and entertainment. And like an old instrument, their sounds have grown sweeter through the years. Present as always in their show are the stunning lead and harmony vocals by all five members, the bluesy and punchy picking, well-penned originals, and folksy charm on stage. Slowed, they have not. Try to catch them if you can in ’09 somewhere between California and Ireland.
Hotter than a Runaway Train -
RIDIN' THE FAULT LINE is a bluegrass group featuring Mike Akin (banjo, dobro and lead vocals), Larry Swift (mandolin and harmony vocals), Richard Schmeling (guitar and harmony vocals) and Janna Lauer (bass).
The group's contagious traditional sound has earned them opening slots for Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Steve Kaufman, Don Williams, Alison Brown Quartet and Mountain Heart.
For The Sacred Shakers, there's nothing finer than old-time, country and blues-influenced gospel music. Think Hank Williams, The Carter Family, The Stanley Brothers, Son House, and Mississippi Fred McDowell.
Blue Sage is a high energy folk/bluegrass ensemble who's songs reflect the culture and history of the west.
The heart and soul of Blue Sage lies within the repertoire of folk singer Mike Iverson. Regarded as one of the finest clawhammer style banjo players, Mike also plays guitar, and harmonica with the trio.
