Already a superstar in Ireland, folk-rock singer-songwriter and Idaho native Josh Ritter is finally getting the recognition in America that he deserves. The son of two neuroscientists, he was on his way to follow in their footsteps when he discovered Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan's "Girl from the North Country" in high school. He has since released five studio albums and has been recently named one of the 100 greatest living songwriters by Paste Magazine, alongside
Dylan, Springsteen, and Neil Young. Joan Baez has covered one of his
songs; Stephen King named one of Ritter's albums the best of recent
years and David Letterman has requested him twice, so far.
Ritter's sixth album, So Runs The World Away, was released in early May. Even before its release, critics were already calling it 'ambitious', 'literary', and a 'triumph' all around. Currently, Ritter is touring with the Royal City Band, promoting his EP To The Yet Unknowing World. It's a collection of B-sides, demos, and remixes from his last release, and is just plain good! Folksy guitar picking, Ritter's distinctive vocals, and all of those signature clever phrases are in no short supply.
An award winning songwriter, Lizanne Knott has been captivating audiences throughout the Northeast and garnering accolades from radio listeners, fans and peers around the globe. Well known locally for her floating vocals and lyrical juxtapositions, her depth and transcending warmth make for an inviting mix of music which moves easily through dark poetic ballads - to roots driven folk and folk rock. She has performed at some of the most prestigious listening venuebs, up and down the east coast and throughout England, steadily gaining ground wherever the road takes her. A frequent featured artist on London's acclaimed Bob Harris Show, BBC2 and other BBC stations, she also receives airplay on AAA radio throughout the US and is a local favorite here on Philly's WXPN. Her music has been used in independent films, TV movies, documentaries and by national non-profit organizations. Her most recent 2009/10 release "South of Graceland" rose to the Number 6th spot on Amazon UK for Hot Bestsellers (Country/Americana) putting her on the same page as Rosanne Cash and Taylor Swift.
Scot Sax, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter originally from Plymouth Meeting Pennsylvania, has co-written a Grammy-Winning song for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw (2005), toured with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (2008) and has songs in movies like American Pie and TV shows like CSI. Since 2010 Sax has been teaching a songwriting course at University Of The Arts in Philadelphia.
Suzie Brown might be a common name, but there’s nothing common about this rising talent. Brown is a practicing cardiologist who gave up a promising research career to pursue music. Having started writing songs just two years ago, she has already taken the circuit in New England by storm, selling out popular area music venues such as Philadelphia's Tin Angel and Boston's Club Passim, and opening for the likes of Livingston Taylor and Lyle Lovett. Just recently, she was named Best of Philly for music talent (Philadelphia Magazine, August 2010 edition).
"Bluesy, folky, achy, sweet-voiced Suzie Brown. A practicing cardiologist pursuing a career in singing (her own songs) and playing the guitar, she's part Emmylou Harris, part Allison Krauss, and totally worth seeing. Or even just hearing - her debut album is called 'Side Streets'."
While media outlets have seized on her unusual bio, audiences and promoters have focused on Brown’s engaging performances and her intimate songs. The easy familiarity of her melodies harkens back to Carole King’s folk-pop creations, while the yearning sweetness in her voice recalls the down-home intimacy of Patty Griffin. Brown’s songwriting is remarkably mature, combining subtle progressions with memorable turns of phrase, in the best tradition of Nashville-style songwriting.
Brown released her debut record Side Streets last fall to a sell-out crowd at Tin Angel, and has been touring nationally in support of the record ever since. Side Streets has enjoyed regular airplay on XPN as well as other local and regional radio stations. This fall, she returned to the studio to record her highly anticipated sophomore album with Barrie Maguire at the producer's helm (credits include Amos Lee, Rickie Lee Jones, Natalie Merchant). The album is set to be released April 8, 2011 at World Cafe Live. Suzie Brown will play Sellersville Theater with Peter Case, on March 21, World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington on April 3.
No stranger to Philadelphia's live music scene for the better part of the last decade or so, Kuf Knotz has created quite a name for himself accompanying nationally renowned tours with the likes of artists ranging from Common to The New York Dolls. Kuf even battered down historical barriers by becoming the first ever hip hop act to open up for the legendary "Boss" -- Mr. Bruce Springsteen, himself -- at the internationally covered rally for then presidential candidate, Barack Obama on Philly's Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Kuf's career highlights did not end there, however, going on to record "Unstoppable," the official song of World Series Champions, The Phillies, last year with fellow notorious local artists, G. Love and Chuck Treece. Bringing his solo efforts together for the first time into a cohesive 14-track LP, Kuf Knotz found a home for “Boombox Logic” on the country's very first student run label, Drexel University's Mad Dragon Records. “Boombox Logic” exploded throughout the sound waves this past October with tracks featuring G. Love, Chuck Treece and Digable Planet's Doodlebug.
An award winning songwriter, Lizanne Knott has been captivating audiences throughout the Northeast and garnering accolades from radio listeners, fans and peers around the globe. Well known locally for her floating vocals and lyrical juxtapositions, her depth and transcending warmth make for an inviting mix of music which moves easily through dark poetic ballads - to roots driven folk and folk rock.
She has performed at some of the most prestigious listening venuebs, up and down the east coast and throughout England, steadily gaining ground wherever the road takes her.
A frequent featured artist on London's acclaimed Bob Harris Show, BBC2 and other BBC stations, she also receives airplay on AAA radio throughout the US and is a local favorite here on Philly's WXPN. Her music has been used in independent films, TV movies, documentaries and by national non-profit organizations.
Her most recent 2009/10 release "South of Graceland" rose to the Number 6th
spot on Amazon UK for Hot Bestsellers (Country/Americana) putting her on the same page as Rosanne Cash and Taylor Swift.
Scot Sax, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter originally from Plymouth Meeting Pennsylvania, has co-written a Grammy-Winning song for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw (2005), toured with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (2008) and has songs in movies like American Pie and TV shows like CSI. Since 2010 Sax has been teaching a songwriting course at University Of The Arts in Philadelphia.
Suzie Brown might be a common name, but there’s nothing common about this rising talent. Brown is a practicing cardiologist who gave up a promising research career to pursue music. Having started writing songs just two years ago, she has already taken the circuit in New England by storm, selling out popular area music venues such as Philadelphia's Tin Angel and Boston's Club Passim, and opening for the likes of Livingston Taylor and Lyle Lovett. Just recently, she was named Best of Philly for music talent (Philadelphia Magazine, August 2010 edition).
No stranger to Philadelphia's live music scene for the better part of the last decade or so, Kuf Knotz has created quite a name for himself accompanying nationally renowned tours with the likes of artists ranging from Common to The New York Dolls. Kuf even battered down historical barriers by becoming the first ever hip hop act to open up for the legendary "Boss" -- Mr. Bruce Springsteen, himself -- at the internationally covered rally for then presidential candidate, Barack Obama on Philly's Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Kuf's career highlights did not end there, however, going on to record "Unstoppable," the official song of World Series Champions, The Phillies, last year with fellow notorious local artists, G. Love and Chuck Treece. Bringing his solo efforts together for the first time into a cohesive 14-track LP, Kuf Knotz found a home for “Boombox Logic” on the country's very first student run label, Drexel University's Mad Dragon Records. “Boombox Logic” exploded throughout the sound waves this past October with tracks featuring G. Love, Chuck Treece and Digable Planet's Doodlebug.
