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.
Joel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician who has been a longtime favourite on campus radio charts throughout the country. He was a member of the Halifax based alternative rock band Thrush Hermit from its founding in 1992 until its breakup in late 1999. Joel was the lead singer and guitar player for the group. He was also the band's primary songwriter. After the breakup of Thrush Hermit, Plaskett embarked on a solo career.
Halfway is a 7 piece country rock band from Brisbane Australia. formed in 2000. They have released 2 Albums on Laughing Outlaw Records. The first "Farewell to the Fainthearted" in Oct 2004 & the second "Remember the River" in nov 2006.
Mark Kozelek was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio. Upon relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, he met drummer Anthony Koutsos. After the pair moved once again to San Francisco, California, Red House Painters formed with the addition of guitarist Gorden Mack and bassist Jerry Vessel. From 1992 to 1996, Red House Painters released a series of acclaimed albums, showcasing Kozelek's intense, highly autobiographical songs.
Elliott Brood is a three-piece alternative country band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukelele and harmonica, Casey Laforet on guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukelele and Stephen Pitkin on percussion, sampler and backing vocals. The band bills its own style as "death country". Members Mark Sasso and Casey Laforet grew up together in Windsor, and began playing as a band after moving to Toronto following high school.
A.A. Bondy is an abbreviation of Auguste Arthur Bondy (aka Scott Bondy), the former lead singer of Birmingham, AL's Southern grunge darlings Verbena. After Verbena broke up in 2003, Bondy retreated to a Catskills home in Palenville in upstate New York and in time began writing songs again, emerging with a stripped-down indie folk sound. He recorded and mixed his debut album, "American Hearts", at a barn near his home, releasing the project in 2007 on the Superphonic imprint. The album was picked up by Fat Possum and re-released early in 2008.
The Kill Devil Hills are a 6 piece country, swampy blues band from Perth, Western Australia. Their 2004 release Heathen Songs was followed in 2006 by The Drought, an album which has been widely praised by local reviews. The multi-award-winning group spent the best part of 2009 completing their third album, ‘Man, You Should Explode’ released nationally in September 2009 through Torn and Frayed/Shock.
This Frontier Needs Heroes is the American Folk duo of brother-sister Brad and Jessica Lauretti. Listening to This Frontier Needs Heroes is like having Brad and Jessica play in your backyard while the sun comes up. They play intimate, striped down songs full of honest personal stories of love, loss and longing for a better world. Both poetic and rowdy, Brad and Jessica will make you laugh and cry with their raw powerful delivery and delicate harmonies.
Josh Ritter (born in Moscow, Idaho on October 21, 1976) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band (as Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band). Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine. Born to two neuroscientists, Ritter bought his first guitar from the local K-MART after hearing the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash classic Girl From the North Country.
The Ghost Hotel began life as a three-piece pop-rock band back in 2005. Formed as a vehicle for the songs of former Team Jedi bassist and guitarist Aaron Gibson, the band brought on a mixture of rough and ready guitar noise, acoustic twang and pop sensibility. Boasting the formidable rhythm section of Jack Kennedy (Grand Central - Bass) and Steven Rea (The White Trash - Drums), the trio set ears pricking up around Perth and were soon supporting the likes of Bob Evans and Youth Group.