"In a few days, we'll be celebrating a new year :-) and my first post is to make you discover The Adam Craig Band. These guys are "GOOD" and I'm sure you will like it as I do." Arnaud

The Adam Craig Band has represented hard work, excitement, and passion on record and on stage since forming in 2006. Their determination and talent brought them to national prominence under the name TelluRide over the last few years, and the recent name change and the circumstances surrounding it has only strengthened their resolve to take their music to an even larger audience. Lawsuits over the band’s name prompted a transition to the Adam Craig Band. And that’s the only aspect of the band that has changed. The four-man band’s brand of country music, rooted in harmonies, musicianship, and high-energy stage shows has only improved with the adversity they have been dealt.

"Dealing with two law suits involving our name has been a distraction for several months." said lead singer, Adam Craig. "Fighting them would have cost more time and money and we felt the best thing for the band was to change our name and focus on our music. We're the same guys, and the same music, just a new name.  Many of our fans knew we were contemplating this change and we appreciate their loyalty. We can't wait for them to hear our new songs." Craig is also becoming known for writing songs for other artists including “Church Pew or Bar Stool” for Jason Aldean and “Fast Lane” co-written with Josh Thompson.

The band gained critical and fan acclaim with their debut album, Four Square Miles, a collection of 12 songs that included the nationally-charted singles “Pencil Marks” and “Stay.” The album not only showcased the band's vocal harmonies but also the skilled musicianship of each member.

The band originally formed in 2006 when Washington state-natives Adam Craig, who also plays lead and rhythm guitar, his cousin/keyboard player Ryan Jones and drummer Brian Smith hooked up in Nashville with South Carolina-native, bassist Jimi Hendrix (his real name.) Their strong work ethic, tight harmonies and stellar musicianship lead to opening gigs with the likes of Little Big Town, Blake Shelton, Sara Evans, Eric Church, LeAnn Rimes and others. The band has even opened for such legendary rock acts as Foreigner, Brett Michaels CCR and REO Speedwagon. They have developed a large and loyal following through constant touring and an active internet presence. In addition the band has performed the National Anthem for NASCAR at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen, New York tracks, the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox, the Indianapolis Colts.

Earlier this year, the guys hooked up with acclaimed producer Josh Leo, who has written songs and produced albums for the likes of Alabama, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Restless Heart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes and others. The first Josh Leo-produced single, “Nothin’ Wrong” for the Adam Craig Band is now on radio.

Ultimately, the Adam Craig Band knows that hard work and dedication to making and performing great music brings success. They've earned their successes one show and one song at a time. They love to play, they love to write, and they love to perform for fans. Most importantly, they love to be a part of a very new and unique brand of country music. Their infectious harmonies, catchy lyrics and driving grooves already have country music fans singing out loud. 
And that makes quite a sound -- the sound of a band ready to make history.

Heather Porcaro is a singer-songwriter, comedienne, and magical flapper of the future, mesmerizing your soul with melodic, winsome, unique tales and tunes. The Heartstring Symphony is her musical journey, an artistic collaboration of like-minded humans consisting primarily of her longtime accompanist and now husband Alec Dixon, and an evolving rhythm section including John Wicks ( Fitz & the Tantrums ) and Dylan Cooper ( Money Mark ). If you love classic pop, space travel, rock n’ roll, jazz and all things sweet, let The Heartstring Symphony be your guide!

Heather Porcaro comes from a long line of musicians, including a world-renowned percussionist (her grandfather Joe) and some of Los Angeles’ most celebrated studio musicians (her father Steve and uncles Mike and Jeff, known for their work with Toto, Michael Jackson, Steely Dan and many more).  Though she has inherited a share of this musical DNA, her inspiration and sound are very much her own, drawing equally from the style of the ‘20s and the high-flying songwriting of famous females like Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush and Blossom Dearie.

The Heartstring Symphony was born under a full moon in the high desert of California.  After a trip to Europe for some solo shows, Heather was reintroduced to an old acquaintance, Alec Dixon. They hit it off musically and romantically, and were soon creating music together.  With Heather’s unique stagecraft (including magic & improvisation) and Alec adding guitar melodies and soundscapes, they had an electrifying effect on audiences.  After releasing two EP’s, Heather Porcaro & The Heartstring Symphony we’re ready to take the next step.  Another old friend, Dhani Harrison, introduced Heather to producer Tony Berg (Aimee Mann, Edie Brickell, Peter Gabriel and many more).  Heather played Berg a few of her songs.  Impressed with what he heard, he decided to produce their first album.

The Heartstring Symphony’s self-titled debut is seven songs, a labor of love crafted over the course of a year.  The songs range from gorgeous anthemic rock (“Seasons”) to yearning pop (“For Love”), gentle balladry (“Just a Ghost”) to dark, danceable grooves (“Space Monkey”).  Tony Berg adds his trademark sonic power, warmth and detail to a beautifully crafted song cycle, with engineer-wizard Shawn Everett at the controls.  Steve Porcaro’s iconic keyboard feel is also heard throughout.  Heather’s voice will enchant and thrill lovers and dreamers everywhere, on a debut album that is just the start of an amazing journey.

Over coffee and psychoanalysis with Tony Berg, and legendary producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper), Heather and Alec decided to self-release the album through their own creation Keepsake Records.

Hat Check Girl, the new collaboration between veteran songwriters Annie Gallup and Peter Gallway, is pleased to announce their debut recording, "Tenderness". The album’s 13 new songs, mostly Gallup/Gallway co-writes, showcase the band’s literate songwriting, spooky ambiance, and hypnotic delivery. Annie sings and plays electric guitar and lap steel. Peter is featured on vocals, electric guitars, baritone guitar, bass, keyboards, drum programming and percussion. The songs evoke an urban landscape, longing, connection, restlessness and resolution, set against a sonic backdrop of looping beats and gorgeous guitars. The effect has been described as an intelligent, evocative and sensual slow motion dance record.

A lifetime’s dedication to her art has made Annie Gallup an icon among people who take songwriting seriously. She has performed throughout North America since 1994, including appearances at Winnipeg, Ottawa, Summerfolk and Stan Rogers Folk Festivals and Vancouver Island Music Fest in Canada, as well as concert venues coast to coast, including New York’s fabled Bottom Line. Annie has led songwriting workshops from Whitehorse in the Yukon to the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, North Carolina. She was heard on NPR’s 'All Things Considered' in an interview with Noah Adams. Her eighth album, "Weather" (2010) is a collection of songs arranged for voice and string quartet.

Peter Gallway emerged from the Greenwich Village scene of the 60’s and had released three albums on Warner/Reprise by the time he was twenty-five. He subsequently put out a dozen more recordings on various independent labels and was member of The Fift Avenue Band. As a producer he’s been involved in over fifty albums and special projects including the Grammy nominated 'Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the ‘60s' (Chrissie Hynde, Jonatha Brooke), and 'Time & Love: The Music of Laura Nyro' (Suzanne Vega, Jane Siberry), as well as, recordings for singer-songwriters Laura Nyro, Cliff Eberhardt, and Louise Taylor. Peter’s extensive touring has taken him throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan. In 2009 he released 'Manhattan Nocturne', a collection of songs arranged for jazz ensemble that chronicle coming of age in Greenwich Village.

Hat Check Girl was selected to showcase on mainstage at the 2010 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals and the 2009 Farwest Folk Alliance conferences. They are currently booking tours for 2011 to support the release of "Tenderness".

Thanks to Peter Holmstedt at Hemifran

Devon born songwriter Nicky Swann is a performer with a passion. Her delivery is warm, soulful (sometimes gritty) but always spiritually tinged. She uses elements of folk, blues and country to tell her tales of love, hope and death. She lists Paul Weller, Carole King and Janis Joplin as her big thre

Her new album "Matches and Dispatches" was released in May 2010. It is, simply put, a collection of songs about love and death. Eleven original tracks, a reworked cover of The Beatles classic "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (given new life away from its pop origins) and a new arrangement of the traditional Welsh poem "All Through the Night" (Ar Hyd Y Nos). The album was recorded at The Sawmills Studios in Cornwall and features performances from double bassist Rick Foot, cellist Bethany Porter, and pedal steel player Alan Cook. She has achieved a growing, well respected reputation in such a short space of time, singing from the heart and captivating audiences with her emotionally honest delivery.

Thanks to Peter Holmstedt at Hemifran

In this age of iTunes and 99-cent songs, it’s refreshing to hear compositions that sound like they belong together and are meant to be listened to as a continuous whole. Francesco Lucarelli has created a folk/rock mosaic, with shades of jazz, centered by his expressive, warm-grained vocals, with a community of musicians who step in and out – sometimes oceans and years apart.  Some elements recall, most notably, CSN, Jackson Browne and David Lindley, and Francesco has been fortunate to have become close to and made music with a lot of the musicians that inspired him.

"Find The Lighr" contains melodic, harmony-filled songs of wonder and reflection, quandaries and dreams, searching and growth, and ultimately acceptance and hope. The sonic quality of this recording rings so clear, especially the rich acoustic guitar tones. Stephen Barncard brilliantly mixed the album with his unique sense of how instruments and voices should sound together. So enjoy Francesco’s album, a musical ride that traverses the human highway with sincerity, style and grace.

Dave Zimmer (author of Crosby, Stills & Nash: The Authorized Biography)

Thanks to Peter Holmstedt at Hemifran

Gothenburg guitarist Rolf Jardemark's new album Sunset in Guitarland offers rich West Coast Jazz, nine original compositions, produced in the spirit of Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton and George Benson.

Just in time for his 50th birthday, and after an impressive quarter-century on the professional scene, he returns to the sound that marked his debut Soft Landing (1989). During the 90’s and 00’s most of Jardemark creative energy was dedicated to exploring the jazz heritage. His breakthrough album Guitarland (1994) caused the Swedish TV program Jazz duel to dub him successor to Rune Gustafsson – godfather of Swedish jazz guitar since the 1950’s.

Produced by fellow guitarist Peter Friestedt, Sunset in Guitarland features some of the most iconic studio legends in Los Angeles. Michael Ruff and Bill Cantos offer outstanding vocal and keyboard performances. Behind the drums we find John JR Robinson – considered one of the world's most recorded drummers and immortalized for his contributions to Michael Jackson's Bad and Off the Wall – and Ralph Humphrey, who has played with everybody from Frank Zappa to Wayne Shorter. "I saw Ralph with Zappa at the Concert Hall in Gothenburg at the age of 14. He was fantastic on both Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe, when Zappa was in the gap between hard rock and jazz" Rolf says.

"Sunset in Guitarland" also includes great contributions from Brazilian drummer Cuca Teixeira and renowned Swedes Ulf Wakenius (guitar), Lars Danielsson (bass), Per Lindvall (drums) and Dan Evmark (keyboards).

"Sunset in Guitarland" is available at Zinkmusic.com

Throughout the last 20 years, Steve Hornbeak has become a highly sought after musician and  vocalist performing and recording with such artist as: Faith Hill, Lee Greenwood, Phil Vassar, Jo Dee Messina, Jessica Andrews, Billy Gilman, Tracy Lawrence, Vince Gill, Kenny Loggins, Michael Bolton, Night Ranger, Eddie Rabbitt, and most currently, Richard Marx and John Michael Montgomery.  He has also appeared on countless TV shows including: The Grammys, The Billboard Awards, ACM Awards, Country Music Awards, David Letterman, The Tonight Show, the house band for CMT’s “Can You Duet”, and the worldwide broadcast of “Rejoice” on Total Christian Television. He has produced projects in his studio for Grammy winner Richard Marx as well as Journey, Billy Gilman, Jessica Andrews, Dan Hill and many other major artist and songwriters.

Even through all the years of touring in the mainstream, Christian music has remained a huge part of Steve’s life and his relationship with God. When giving his testimony you’ll hear Steve say “Many nights on the road when I have broken down, I would listen to my favorite CCM artists and think about my life and what my purpose is, and I would pray for strength to get me through. Christian music has always been what kept me focused on God and seeking the plan He had for me.  I’ve known for a long time that God had a greater purpose for the music he gave me. My journey hasn’t been perfect...I still have a ways to go, but I’ve never been more sure of the call on my life.”

With the release of his first CD “Hear My Prayer” Steve has finally been able to see the fruition of his calling. Steve’s music appeals to all age groups, and with the sincere delivery that comes from the depths of his heart, audiences are moved by the message of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Of all his many blessings, Steve's most cherished is his gift of faith, which is clearly evident through his songs.

In this concept album, Freegh renews with a long tradition of progressive and psychedelic rock, with lyrics exploring the mythical journey of a character taken out from the “Tales of an Astral Traveler...” by Anne and Daniel Meurois-Givaudan. 
We are led to follow the humanist and mystic quest of a hero destined to save Akhenaten's hidden Principle from the hands of dark side forces.

Musically speaking, Freegh ambitions obviously to walk on the steps of such 
early giants as the Genesis of the Peter Gabriel era, Yes or Pink Floyd, whose influences can be felt here and there throughout the album and stage performances. 
A strong emphasis on finely structured songs and melody lines keeps it how-
ever well in tune with today’s mainstream pop culture. Rich and well crafted instrumental and vocal arrangements contribute to make this album a masterpiece in the original sense of the word, an ambitious project carried from beginning to end by this new band and wholly devoted to this new concept : Freegh

Thanks to Nick Barbier

Mr. Mister's Steve George, Richard Page and Pat Mastelotto talk about their 4th album, "Pull" in an exclusive interview at Little Dume Recording.