Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Carolina Chocolate Drops are a group of young African-American string band musicians that have come to together to play the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music in Carolina's Piedmont. Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson both hail from Durham, North Carolina while Dom Flemons is native to sunny Arizona. Although they have diverse musical backgrounds, they draw their musical heritage from the foothills of North and South Carolina.
Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. Signed to Rounder Records as a 14-year-old fiddler from Champaign, Illinois, she has become the most recognized face in contemporary bluegrass, a critically acclaimed artist who has brought modern sophistication to the genre while respecting its traditions. Songfacts reports that in 2011 Krauss recorded her first ever number one country album in her home country with paper airplane.
Jay Farrar
Jay Farrar is an American songwriter and musician currently based in St. Louis, Missouri. A veteran of two critically-acclaimed music groups, Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt, he began his solo music career in 2001. Beyond his established talents as a songwriter, he is a well-regarded guitarist, harmonicist, and a distinctive vocalist. His music is an informed expansion of traditional American roots music.
Romi Mayes
Quoted as being one of the hardest working independent musicians in Canada, Romi Mayes has toured internationally to festivals, theatres, dance halls, bars, pubs, cafes, and living rooms. Her last two albums "Living Room Sessions" (2005) and most recent "Sweet Somethin' Steady" (Gurf Morlix, 2006) have been nominated for prestigious Canadian music awards. Both of Mayes' albums have charted on radio stations worldwide landing on a plethora of "Best of" top year picks.
Rita Hosking
Rita Hosking is an American composer and musician based in Davis, California. She plays Americana and bluegrass styles of music, including not only well-known standards but also original songs.
The Freight Hoppers
"The Freight Hoppers high energy performances made a permanent mark on the old-time music scene from the mid to late 90’s. Based in Bryson City , North Carolina , this Rounder Records act topped the bluegrass charts with their first release Where'd You Come From, Where'd You Go. The band took a hiatus when fiddle player David Bass had to have a heart transplant, but that was not before they left lasting impressions on the festival and club circuit along with major media appearances such as A Prairie Home Companion.
Vince Gill
Vince Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music musician, songwriter, singer and a member of the Country Music Hall Of Fame. He achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country-rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a vocalist and musician have placed him in high demand as a guest vocalist, and a duet partner (with artists including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Amy Grant and Barbra Streisand).
Mamer
Hailing from the grasslands of Western China, Marmur is a legendary figure from China's underground music scene. Described as the 'Lou Reed of the grasslands', Marmur's music combines traditional Kazakh folk melodies and instruments with Western and traditional Chinese instruments. Marmur's band 'IZ' is credited with single-handedly kickstarting China's alt-country scene and has influenced a huge range of acts including Mongol-crossover pioneers, Hanggai.
The Paper Tigers
Formed in early 2006, The Paper Tigers arose from a couple of rockers' desire for something a little different, something that would stand out from the crowd. Inspired by an eye-opening stint in the bluegrass mecca of British Columbia, founding member- and Tragedy of the Commons frontman- Jeremy Wishart (vocals, guitar, mandolin) recruited ex bandmate Greg Brown (guitar, vocals) to write and perform a few songs.