Writer Tim Sendra describes Built to Spill as meeting “in the middle ground between postmodern, Pavement-style pop and the loose, spacious jamming of Neil Young. The group is a vehicle for singer/songwriter/guitarist Doug Martsch, who — heavily inspired by Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis — helped keep the concept of the indie guitar hero alive.”

Sub Pop’s Boise-based band formed in 1993 by Doug Martsch, and over the years, they have toured extensively and made several albums with a rotating cast of musicians, currently featuring Teresa Esguerra (Prism Bitch) on drums, and Melanie Radford (Blood Lemon) on bass.

An independent artist with an old school sound – meet Trish Toledo, a musical time traveler who reinvests brilliant pop and soul ballads from the early Sixties with modern fire and fortitude. From Carson, California, a community south of Los Angeles, Trish was born into an Ecuadorian-Guatemalan family with much older siblings. Their musical tastes – plus the influence of her father, who was a musician – provided her with access to music that existed long before her time. Although the first music she sang was cumbias and ballads, she discovered that it was the timeless pop and soul ballads that she felt most connected to. 

Orquesta Akokán is a Grammy-nominated, multi-generational big band blending Havana’s top musicians with New York-based collaborators to perform high-energy, vintage Cuban mambo, son, and cha-cha-chá. Founded in 2018 and signed to Daptone Records, they are known for reviving the rich, “banda gigante” sound of the 1940s and 50s.

At the crossroads where Southern rock and blues meet New Orleans funk and soul, Deltaphonic has spent the last decade developing an unmistakable sound. The secret to that sound is hidden in the band name, Deltaphonic. It’s a choice blend of the raw and soulful sounds that flow down the Mississippi. Deltaphonic is anchored by founder Andrew Weekes’ songwriting aesthetic, and empowered by the prodigious musicality of the band. On drums and vocals, 2x Grammy nominated Trenton O’Neal brings a distinct New Orleans feel. On guitar, the precision wizardry of Paul Provosty, and the laid-back mastery of Logan Sellers, combine seamlessly into moments that leave guitar aficionados spellbound.

A powerful and prolific storyteller through his songcraft, Jake Smith, aka The White Buffalo’s body of work includes prominent song and soundtrack placements in the worlds of TV and Film including the TV series Sons Of Anarchy, This Is Us, Californication, The Punisher, The Terminal List, and the films Shelter, Safe Haven and West of Memphis. The White Buffalo’s dark blues and light Americana-roots-tinged folk provided a soundtrack of tunes for the entire seven-season run of the FX original series Sons of Anarchy, which included 11 songs overall. The last song in the series finale for SOA “Come Join The Murder,” earned The White Buffalo his first-ever Emmy-Award Nomination. 

Born in New England, based in Bozeman, Montana, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Madeline Hawthorne pens the kind of tunes you listen to on a cross-country trek to start anew, or in the dead of night when you just need a reminder that somebody’s listening. Her 2024 independent album, Tales From Late Nights & Long Drives, serves as a fitting soundtrack to life’s trip.

DUG is a Dublin-based folk duo formed in 2023 by Lorkin O’Reilly and Jonny Pickett, blending Irish and American old-time music. Known for intricate banjo, resonator guitar, and honest lyrics, they signed to Claddagh Records (Universal) and released their debut album Have At It! in 2025. Their sound is described as infectious, contemporary folk. Formed in Oct 2023, they quickly gained traction with sold-out shows in Dublin, a 2025 Irish tour, and Grammy nominations for their early work.