Alt-country

Brandi Carlile (b. June 1, 1981, in Ravensdale, Washington) is an American singer and songwriter. Carlile's music has been categorized in several genres, including pop, rock, alternative country, and folk. Columbia Records signed Carlile in late 2004 on the strength of songs she'd been recording periodically at home. Released in 2005, Brandi Carlile showcased those early songs along with several newly recorded tracks.

David Dondero is a singer/songwriter whose music has been compared to such American folk music/troubadour greats as Woody Guthrie and Townes Van Zandt. He began in 1993 as a member of the band Sunbrain, and later played in This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb and The Flatwheelers. He is currently on the Team Love Records label and has toured with such acts as Bright Eyes, Tilly and The Wall, Spoon, and Willy Mason.

Gillian Welch's musical style combines elements of bluegrass, neotraditional country, americana, old time string band music, and folk into a rustic style that she dubs "American Primitive". Her music is often described as haunting or soothing. Welch was born October 2, 1967 in New York City and was adopted when she was three days old. She moved to Los Angeles at the age of four. By the age of seven, she had learned to play the guitar. Studying at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Welch discovered bluegrass music through the "mountain soul" stylings of The Stanley Brothers.

The Barker Band started when twin brothers Jake and Sam Barker began playing bluegrass with their dad, Lenny and their oldest friend, Laurie Sherman. It wasn't long before they started writing and recording their own songs, drawing on influences from bluegrass, rock, country and blues. The band made their live debut in 2004 and by 2005 the band had expanded to include vocalist Nella Johnson and bass player Tom Wright. Drummer, Ru Shreeve, joined the band in 2006.