Richard S. "Kinky" Friedman (born October 31 or November 1, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly who styles himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain. He was one of two independent candidates in the 2006 election for the office of Governor of Texas. Receiving 12.6% of the vote, Friedman placed fourth in the five-person race.
Teddy Thompson was born in London, England in 1976 and is the son of Linda Thompson and Richard Thompson (Richard & Linda Thompson), and the brother of singer Kamila Thompson. Teddy's style is difficult to categorize, because his influences are varied. Growing up around folk music, he listened to a musical gamut that covered Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke and gospel. As he fell in with other musical progeny, most notably close friend Rufus Wainwright, his sound developed into his own combination of country/western, rock, and his father's folk-rock.
Caitlin Rose is the God given name of the artist formerly known as Save Macaulay the Band.
Kasey Chambers, born June 4, 1976 in Mount Gambier, Australia is Australia's most popular country music performer with three successive albums reaching #1 on the Australian album charts in 2002, 2004 and 2006, each achieving multi-platinum sales. Kasey's signature tune "Not Pretty Enough" hit #1 on the ARIA singles charts in 2002, where it remained at the top spot for 4 weeks.
Alabama 3 are a band originating from Brixton, England, their music incorporates elements of country, acid house, blues and gospel. Named for the Alabama 2, a legal case in the American deep South during the 1930s, in which two black men were hanged for allegedly raping a white woman. The name is also a nod to other victims of injustice like the Birmingham 6 and Guildford 4. In the United States, they are known as A3, after they were sued by the legendary country outfit Alabama.
Accomplished and well-seasoned, Jenny Biddle is one of the most versatile songwriters of her time. With her blistering guitar excursions and heartfelt touch to the piano, the songstress combines her jaw-dropping skills with her fruitful ear for melody, and humble, straight-to-the-core lyrics. Topping it off with her infectious, soulful voice, Jenny offers a vivacious performance that captivates her audience, whether it be beautiful non-nonsense folk, down and dirty blues grooves, rockin’ piano riffs, or an intimate moment of reflection.
Born in Cambridge, England in1948, the youngest child of Professor Brin Newton-John and Irene, daughter of Nobel Prize winning physicist, Max Born, Olivia moved to Melbourne, Australia with her family when she was five. By the age of fifteen, she had formed an all-girl group called Sol Four. Later that year she won a talent contest on the popular TV show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” which earned her a trip to London.
Eugene Chadbourne (4 January 1951 in Mount Vernon, NY) is a USA composer, improvisor, guitarist and banjoist. He has also been a reviewer for the All Music Guide (AMG), and a contributor to Maximum RocknRoll. He is also known as the inventor of the electric rake. This musical instrument (though some would hesitate to call it "musical") is made by attaching a microphone or an electric guitar pickup to an ordinary lawn rake. The sounds that it can produce are impossible to describe.
Dan Sultan was born with pure and extraordinary talent and is quickly gaining the momentum and recognition that he deserves. He was nominated for a 2006 Deadlys Award “Most Promising New Talent”, which has now been followed up by nominations in 2007 for Artist of The Year and Single Release of The Year for "Your Love is Like a Song". Dan was invited by Paul Kelly to contribute to the Kev Carmody tribute album and identified by John Butler who has funded Dan’s debut album through The JB Seed program.
Steve Wold, more commonly known as Seasick Steve, is an American bluesman, although he rather would be called "a song and dance man." He plays guitars (mostly personalised), and sings. When asked about his nickname, Steve said: "because it's just true: I always get seasick." He is a 21st Century blues man, who reaches back to the old traditions but also has a punk sensibility, and a gravelly, soulful voice.