"A wicked tongued poet and singer ... The B is most definitely back."-- Curve 2007

"Onstage, the politically charged violinist/vocalist is a force to be reckoned with a hellfire storm of hip-hop, rock, rap, and unrestrained rage."-- Flavorpill LA

Debbie Hunter is very multi-faceted. She is a performer, writer, teacher, director, arranger, singer, player, and scholar. She sings, plays guitar, piano, organ, harp, fiddle, viola de gamba, mandolin, flute, recorder, accordion, and hammered dulcimer. She works within the genres of folk-rock, traditional, sacred, medieval, renaissance, and original music.

Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish write songs that link images of a forgotten past with contemporary words. They are engaged to be married, and both work as teachers in Virginia.The Honey Dewdrops were recently finalists in Prairie Home Companion's Talented 20s Talent Show!

The FRANK VIGNOLA QUINTET shatters the barriers between popular music and traditional jazz to create an exciting new sound in acoustic string music. Their repertoire, together with their amazing virtuosity, puts them in pioneering territory, mixing high-energy original material with unique renditions of contemporary tunes. The result is a smokin’ blend of contemporary acoustic rock, gypsy jazz, bluegrass, swing, blues, along with inspired translations of old standards. Frank Vignola, one of the world’s most highly sought after acoustic guitarists, has amply demonstrated his mastery of every genre, from fusion and commercial pop-jazz to hard bop, post-bop, swing, rock, and blues. He has toured and recorded with the diverse likes of Bucky Pizzarelli, Les Paul, Lionel Hampton, Donald Fagen, Queen Latifah, Ringo Starr, Madonna, David Grisman, and Mark O’Connor. Young mandolin phenom Josh Pinkham adds astonishing musicianship and a dynamic stage presence to the Quintet. By age 13, Josh was the Florida State Mandolin Champion and placed 3rd at the Merlefest Mandolin Contest. Now, at 18, he is already regarded as a world-class mandolinist. Rounding out the band’s lineup are guitarist Vinny Raniolo, percussionist Rich Zukor, and bassist Pete Coco. The Frank Vignola Quintet’s high-octane performances and good-time vibe never fail to bring ecstatic fans to their feet. Audiences revel in their uncanny ability to develop a great melody line into incredible solos and instrumental work. Thrilling original compositions peppered with jaw-dropping renditions of popular favorites make each FRANK VIGNOLA QUINTET appearance an unforgettable experience.

“The monstrous Frank Vignola …is one of the most vicious tremolo-pickers on the scene.” - Guitar Player Magazine

“ ...one of the brightest of the young guitar stars.” - New York Times “Vignola lives in a music world without boundaries. He and his group dial into …music from all over the planet and wrestle, cajole, and seduce it into a harmonious and sometimes quirky melting pot.” - Modern Guitars Magazine

“Frank Vignola turns an endless array of inventive phrases on the guitar. Lightning fast single-note runs veer into perfectly placed sliding chords, yet dazzling virtuosity never comes at the expense of his pure musicality and heartfelt soul and sentimentality.” - Jazz Improv Magazine

"Pat Humphries’ set musically reiterated her outstanding ability as both creator and interpreter of enduring anthems. The composer of the lasting "Never Turning Back" rendered "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" and "Swimming to the Other Side" with uncommon grace matching a remarkable certainty and strong stage presence." --Dirty Linen

Holly Near is a unique combination of entertainer, teacher and activist. An immense vocal talent, Near's career as a singer has been profoundly defined by an unwillingness to separate her passion for music from her passion for human dignity. She is a skilled performer and an outspoken ambassador for peace who brings to the stage an integration of world consciousness, spiritual discovery, and theatricality.

"Now 14 albums into his career, Paul has become something of an institution. His dozen-plus Boston Music Awards and frequent appearances at the esteemed Woody Guthrie and Kerrville Folk festivals have cemented his place in the canon of noteworthy American songwriters of the past half-century." -- Nathan Baker, The Cleveland Scene

Susan draws big, enthusiastic audiences who delight in her lively, diverse and powerful performances. Thanks to the internet, she has fans on every continent. She performs solo and with her band and has appeared at such venues as The Bottom Line in NYC, The Birchmere, and Rams Head Tavern. In addition to touring with Jewel, Susan’s credits include performing an acoustic set with Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley; sharing bills with Jill Sobule; and opening for Kenny Loggins, Patty Griffin, Dar Williams, Janis Ian, Todd Snider, Tuck and Patti, Iris DeMent, Lucy Kaplansky, Lloyd Cole and Catie Curtis. Susan also endorses W.L Gore’s Elixir Strings. The most frequently heard comment at her gigs is, "Great songs--and how does all that big, beautiful sound come out of someone under five feet tall?" Find out at www.susangreenbaum.com.

"The looks and hooks of John Mayer"--Rolling Stone

Note New Showtime

Stephen Norfleet and Josh Walker

Stephen Norfleet began playing saxophone in his hometown of Newport News, VA at the age of 11. At Newport News' Menchville High School, Norfleet received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and was also selected as a member of the U.S. Collegiate Wind Ensemble, a group of talented student musicians culled from across the United States given the opportunity to perform across Europe. In 1994 he re-located to Richmond, VA where he received a tuition scholarship to attend Virginia Commonwealth University's Jazz Program. Past graduates include Steve Wilson, Victor Goines, Clarence Penn, Nate Smith and James Genus. Stephen graduated from VCU in 2000 with a degree in Saxophone Performance. While in Richmond Stephen was thrust into the role of band leader when he created the internationally acclaimed Devil's Workshop Big Band. Garnering praise from around the globe, validation arrived when the band's debut CD, 'Idle Hands', received a four-star review in one of the nation's leading authorities on jazz, Downbeat Magazine. In 2003 Norfleet moved to New York City to pursue a performance career. While in New York he became an award-winning saxophonist when he was chosen by ASCAP as a recipient of their Plus Awards Program, and in 2004 he was selected to enter the Graduate Program at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. While continuing his studies at MSM, he studied Saxophone with Bob Mintzer and David Liebman, Studio Techniques/MIDI/Digital Audio Composition with Richard Sussman, and collaborated with noted jazz artists such as Cecil Bridgewater, Steve Slagle, Phil Markowitz and Garry Dial. In May 2006, Stephen completed his studies at Manhattan School of Music, earning a Master's degree in Jazz/Commercial Music. Most recently Stephen has begun his career as a much sought after instrumentalist and music educator. He currently lives in Charlottesville, VA.

So sang Dan Bern in one of his early songs. But really we all just live in Dan’s world, and he’s been generous enough to let us believe otherwise all along. Let’s face it: the man has more stray thoughts, makes more obscure and askant connections, tries on more hats, slips into more pairs of shoes, eavesdrops on more conversations, reads more minds, and hears more voices than the rest of us. And what a lucky break for us that he’s had a pen laying around to document, describe, and share so many of them.

Emmanuel was voted Rolling Stone (Australia) Magazine's "Most Popular Guitarist" for two consecutive years. He has earned four Platinum and Gold albums, two consecutive "Golden Guitar" awards (2006, 2007) at the CMAA Awards in Australia. Another stellar career highlight was Tommy’s performance (with his brother Phil) at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremonies, viewed by over 2 billion people around the world. Emmanuel has set sales records that have yet to be broken and performed with hundreds of musical legends including Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Keith Urban, Eric Clapton, Sir George Martin, Tina Turner, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Nokie Edwards (of the Ventures), Hank Marvin, the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic, the Dortmund (Germany) Symphony, and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Tommy hosts several annual "TommyFest" concerts, where other stellar internationally recognized musicians are invited to share in a four day all-out celebration of music.

As a solo performer, Tommy’s dazzling performance, flawless guitar skills and voluminous repertoire never fail to amaze and engage his legions. From the wilds of Australia's outback to bustling major cities throughout the world, Emmanuel's flair and unforgettable showmanship have created an enviable fan base that continues to grow even larger every year.

Lucy Wainwright Roche is a singer-songwriter and performer known for her clear, powerful voice and her refreshingly straightforward stage presence. Lucy hails from what could be called a musical dynasty. He parents are musicians, Suzzy Roche and Loudon Wainwright III, and her maternal aunts are Maggie and Terre Roche, who with Suzzy Roche formed the group The Roches. Her paternal half-siblings are Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright. Her Aunt Sloan Wainwright and her uncle David Roche are also musicians. Lucy has sung with all of the afore-mentioned.

Rocknoceros

Mary Gordon began her songwriting career about 20 years ago writing songs for children. Her first album, I Won't Go to Bed Until I Sing My Song, is enjoyed by families around the world. It will soon be re-released as a cd. More recently, though, she began to write and compose music for adults, and has performed in Central Virginia venues including First Night Virginia, Gravity Lounge, Mountain View Grill, Acoustic Muse, Acoustic Charlottesville, The Prism, and Rapunzel's. A regular at the Swannanoa Gathering, students and instructors alike seek her out for her incredible harmonies. It's not unusual to find visiting artists on any of Charlottesville's stages to ask Mary Gordon to come up to sing backup harmonies.

Local recording guru, producer and guitar virtuoso Jeff Romano has been half of Nickeltown, a "King of My Living Room" and an integral part of Hogwaller Ramblers and Who Shot John? Tonight, it's just Jeff and his favorite musical partner--his guitar. Mighty fine, indeed.

The Hackensaw Boys with very special guests Paul Curreri and Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Smither is an American original, a product of the musical melting pot, and one of the absolute best singer-songwriters in the world.

ROLLING STONE: Bathed in the flickering glow of passing headlights and neon bar signs, Smither's roots are as blue as they come. There is plenty of misty Louisiana and Lightnin' Hopkins in Smither's weathered singing and unhurried picking. So fine.

WIRED: The masterful combination of pure folk songwriting and intricate guitar blues are tangible signs of the singer-songwriter's vigorous genius. A megawatt solo performer.