north mississippi allstars
Nothing runs deeper than family ties. Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters understand one another at the purest level. When families rally around music, they speak this oft-unspoken bond aloud and into existence. After 25 years, twelve albums, four GRAMMY® Award nominations, and sold out shows everywhere, North Mississippi Allstars open up their world once again on their thirteenth album, Set Sail [New West Records], welcoming other family (by blood and by the road) into the fold. As legend has it, Luther and Cody Dickinson started the band in 1996 as a loose collective of like-minded second-generation musicians who shared a local repertoire and regional style. Over the years, the lineup shifted by design, and each subsequent record offered up a different combination of collaborators. This time around, they mined the talents of Jesse Williams on bass and Lamar Williams, JR. on vocals. During the Allman Betts Band Family Revival, the Dickinsons first linked up with Lamar, son of the Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams, Sr., becoming fast friends and collaborators and eventually paving the way for Set Sail.
Duane Betts & Palmetto Hotel
By the time Duane Betts began working on Wild & Precious Life — his triumphant debut solo album — he'd already spent the better part of two decades creating his own version of guitar-slinging, story-driven American rock & roll.
"It felt like the right time to make something that was entirely my own vision," he says. "This is a record that guitar players will love, but at its core, it's really a song record. It's an album about who I am, where I come from, and what I believe in."
Duane had spent 10 years playing guitar alongside his father, legendary Allman Brother Dickey Betts. He’d release an EP, Sketches of American Music and co-found Allman Betts Band.
Even so, the need to create a full-length solo LP gnawed at him; one that nodded to his roots while simultaneously pushing ahead. Following his instincts, Duane assembled Johnny Stachela, Berry Duane Oakley, John Ginty and Tyler Greenwell, and took up an offer from friends Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks to record at their Swamp Raga Studio in Jacksonville. The album was cut to 2-inch analog tape during a series of live studio performances in 2022.
The Texas Gentlemen
Pop on Floor It!!!, the new and second full-length effort from the Texas Gentlemen, and prepare your eardrums to be hit with everything from woozy, brass-fueled Dixieland-style jazz (“Veal Cutlass”), to slinky, chicken-scratch country funk (“Bare Maximum”) to lushly orchestrated pop-soul balladry (“Ain’t Nothin’ New”)—and that’s all in just the first 10 minutes of play time.
As for how the Texas quintet manages to slide so seamlessly between various styles and sounds? Well, these are no ordinary Gents. Rather, the members—co-singers and frontmen Nik Lee and Daniel Creamer (who also handle guitar and keys, respectively); guitarist Ryan Ake; bassist Scott Edgar Lee, Jr.; and drummer Aaron Haynes (who since the recording has been replaced by Paul Grass)—have spent the last half-decade or so logging thousands of hours of stage and studio time behind a wide array of artists, from legends including Kris Kristofferson, George Strait and Joe Ely to young whippersnappers like Leon Bridges and Shakey Graves.
Neil Werries & Elsah
Elsah is an American rock band based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 1997 by singer-songwriter Neil Werries. In 2002, Werries relocated to Louisiana from the Midwest and recruited the current lineup of like-minded musicians. Since then, the band has performed with Cracker, Toadies, Jason Isbell and American Aquarium.
Elsah is influenced by old-time country, '80s punk and rock ‘n’ roll music from their youth. These divergent influences blend and erupt in a triple guitar onslaught that is both fierce and beautiful to behold.
hitchhiker
The Hitchhiker reflects a group of good ole southern Rock and Roll music scene guys that have been performing since they were teenagers: Mark Dupont on drums and backing vocals, Casey Wells and Jude Dupont on guitars and backing vocals and Josie Menard on bass. Lead vocalist, Luis Mariani, thought up The Hitchhiker. Mariani is a Venezuelan-immigrant through political asylum; now American citizen; re-born crooner, located in the heart of Louisiana. The Hitchhiker's music is alternative rock, featuring a writing style crossed between Foo Fighters and the legendary Rock and Roll act Thin Lizzy
thoughts of mary
Thoughts of Mary arose from the fertile music scene of southeast Louisiana in the early 90s. Forming in Baton Rouge, Thoughts of Mary achieved regional fame on the strength of their numerous live shows, their successful debut album and regional radio airplay.
While attending Louisiana State University, Gabe Daigle (vocals), Marc Daigle (guitar) and Joel Dicharry (bass) decided to channel their energy into forming a band. They found like-minded allies in friends, Bill Rhodes (guitar) and Keith Simoneaux (drums), and began playing in area clubs. With influences ranging from the Replacements and Buffalo Tom to Neil Young, they created an original sound that blended 80’s college radio with 90's alternative rock.
The band paid their dues by touring regionally and sharing stages with bands including Better than Ezra, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Gin Blossoms, Dash Rip Rock, Cowboy Mouth, Soul Hat, and Vigilantes of Love — in the process building a loyal fanbase. In 1993, they released "Paper, Rock, Scissors," which yielded the hit, "Anymore." Toward the end of 1994, the band disbanded, playing their final sold out show at the Varsity Theatre.
Over the years, the band has regrouped to play reunion shows in Baton Rouge. During the pandemic, the band worked with Nashville-based producer Wendell Tilley (Func Haus) to remix and remaster their original recordings for new release. In December of 2021, they released a much improved mix of their original album through digital music channels.