Juliet Bennett Rylah is a journalist and musician, fronting the band The Fainting Generals. Musically speaking, she's a classically-trained flautist but also plays piano and guitar.

She enjoys politics, mixology, Houndstooth and history, and writes predominantly about these things.

myspace.com/thefaintinggenerals

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Recently relocated from NYC to nearby Fremont MI, Charlie Cheney is an international touring musician and acclaimed songwriter. "Discovered" by Jackson Browne and Pat MacDonald at Steel Bridge Songfest in 2006, he has since had songs included on nine international compilation CDs for SBSF, FAWM, and others. He is a feature participant in the FAWM.org "14 Songs in 28 Days" challenge each year, as well as the "50 Songs in 90 Days" challenge.

In October he co-wrote and recorded four songs as part of the Halloween themed "Edgar Allan Polka" festival and is looking forward to bringing a lively song to "A Winter's Tune" this year. He plans to write the song in the middle of the night on November 12th as he rides the train from Sacramento to Portland during his current month long Amtrak train tour up and down the west coast from L.A. to Seattle and back to San Diego. To follow the progress of his tour, tune into his internet radio podcast at http://www.charliecheney.com/radio

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Nicholas James Thomsma was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. His songs are a folksy blend of rock, pop, and bluegrass firmly rooted in a bed of deep country and traditional folk. Wearing his heart on his sleeve his songs are about real life, true love and heartbreaking loss.

Michigan is certainly listed as an influence and the Great Lakes State shines proudly through his music. In Grand Rapids he hosts 2 open mic nights (Founders Brewing Co. and Z's Bar and Grill), providing up and coming singer/songwriters a platform to cut their teeth as well as giving seasoned musicians a place to communicate their newest compositions. He also sees open mic's as a place for musicians to socialize and build the community.

Nicholas James is well known for his inspired versions of other artists work, taking cover songs and making them his own. His repertoire includes literally hundreds of songs, from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley, Patsy Cline to Radiohead, Pink Floyd to Woody Guthrie and everywhere in between. Every year he hosts a Bob Dylan Tribute Concert, with several bands and singer/songwriters performing their versions of Dylan's tunes.

In addition to paying tribute to some of the greatest songs of all time by performing them on a regular basis, he also writes his own material and has piles of notebooks filled with original compositions. His music has been used on compilation albums, at graduation ceremonies, and in student projects.

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Jeff Rose spent his early years traveling the dusty roads of the Midwest and Canada playing music with the band Iowa Rose, writing songs and pursuing his dream of being a broke and itinerant musician. After several years he achieved this dream.

Subsequently, he spent the next few years of his career writing popular country songs that weren't. The suits in Nashville said that his songs were "too country" which he took to be a wonderful compliment.

Feeling the pressure to expand into a more lucrative market Jeff formed the bluegrass band "Detour" an adventure that has received serious accolades for his songs from Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Now, the Michigan Bluegrass Letter, and several other reviewers. The Lansing State Journal said; "Detour may be the finest bluegrass band our state has yet produced".

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Ben Scott-Brandt has been a songwriter and vocalist in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for 12 years.  He was the founder of the now-defunct Bunkbed Nights, an indie folk-rock group known for their unexpected house show performances. Formed in 1999, the group morphed from alt-country trio to seven-piece rock outfit, eventually swelling to a thirteen-member micro-orchestra and choir.

This bizarre metamorphosis proved too much to withstand, and they disbanded in 2006. Highlights of their career include an album sung in a made-up language, experimental instrumental arrangements featuring bowed bicycle wheel spokes and crumpling plastic bags, and their predilection for playing on the floor without amplification.

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Jen Sygit has been writing songs since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Her parents report that as a child she gravitated toward the musical instruments in the room and within minutes was able to play melodies on them.

As early as Elementary school Jen could be found writing love songs on her parents beat-up organ in their basement and by middle school she was also composing songs on her acoustic guitar (a gift bought on a whim by her parents- upon which she has never had a lesson). It was this affinity for music that led her parents to encourage Jen to audition for the Interlochen Fine Arts Camp which she attended for several years during her adolescence studying voice, trombone, piano and visual art.

Jen now has three albums under her belt with her latest So Long Pollyanna to be released on Earthwork Music in May ‘09. Her last release Leaving Marshall St. was nominated for a Detroit Music Award for BEST ACOUSTIC/FOLK ALBUM in 2007 and made it to 9 on the independent roots music charts that year. The album also landed on a number of ‘Best of’ lists as well.

AWT2009 SONG CONTEST CO-WINNER!

Having just finished his first full length LP under the moniker Chain of Lakes, Kyle Rasche brings his blend of indie acoustic folk to Grand Rapids just in time for A Winter’s Tune.

Born in Detroit and raised between a house in Lansing and a cabin in Michigan’s captivating north, Kyle’s songs champion his undying affection for his home state.

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AWT2009 SONG CONTEST CO-WINNER!

Siusan O'Rourke is a Brooklyn, New York native who was brought up in the traditions of her Irish and English family.  She has a deep and factual understanding of true traditional Irish music and is one half of the duo formerly known as Stonecross with Zig Zeitler.

Together, they have toured internationally for several years.

Siusan and Zig have released two Irish CDs; Dark Irish and Immigrant Heart and one Americana Roots album entitled The Usual Suspects. They are managed by Michigan based label; Smokin' Sleddog Records and appear on the record label's  compilation; An Americana Christmas, Volume 1.