http://www.myspace.com/chrisandrus

Rick Beerhorst's music comes from a life fully lived. Scraping the bottom of the pan to feed six children on what money he makes as a visual artist/musician living in the midwest has given his music a hard bitten reality that feels more than real.

The many years spent drawing and painting shows itself in his song writing steeped in vivid imagery and strong feeling.

studiobeerhorst.com

Rick Beerhorst photo by Micah Bloom

Ken Bierschbach has been part of the local music scene for 25 years now, and his music can be found at the place where pop, rock, folk and country meet; Garth Brooks meets Neil Diamond meets Jim Croce. Ken’s CD releases include “The Bold Type” (1998), “Somewhere Out There” (2001), and “Voyeur Constant” (2004).

He was also a featured writer and performer on “Winter in West Michigan,” a 2001 Christmas compilation CD featuring nine West Michigan songwriters and musicians.

For the last several years Ken has partnered with local luthier Mark Swanson, first performing with Mark as a duo, and then adding bass player Ron Hovingh to form the popular West Michigan band Party Of Three. In late 2006 that band was retired but the music continues with Mark and Jay Round as 13th Hour.

Ken continues to perform regularly in and around town, as well as writing new songs for his next CD release.

www.KenBierschbach.com

Ruth & Max Bloomquist’s acoustic Americana is the stuff of rustic romantic dreams. Ruth’s songwriting and rich alto voice combined with their blend of harmony, guitar and upright bass draw the listener straight to the heart of every song.

Ruth and Max have been making music together since they first met and discovered their common love for practically any music that features acoustic instruments and lyrics that touch the heart. Bluegrass, traditional country, folk… the list goes on – Ruth and Max were excited by it all. Ruth’s performing career goes back even further. She has been performing since high school. By the time she met Max, she was singing professionally and had already toured outside their home state of Michigan.

http://www.ruthbloomquist.com/

After many years of nudging to take his music career to the next level, Ralston walked away February 3rd, 2004 with three awards at the WYCE's West Michigan Jammie Awards held in Grand Rapids, MI. He received awards for the Local CD of the Year, Best Local Folk CD, and Best New Local Artist with a debut recording, Carwreck Conversations.  Since then he has garnered recognition as a writer in a number of writing events including Kerrville New Folk, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists as well as NSAI/CMT & Unisong International songwriting contests. "Ralston is a commanding presence simply because of his musical convictions" and "one of West Michigan's best singer/ songwriters" (Grand Rapids Press). He has shared the stage with noted musicians Arlo Guthrie, Lowen & Navarro, T. Bone Burnett, Richard Buckner, and the Irish band Hothouse Flowers. Ralston recently participated in an International Tribute to Townes Van Zandt in Milan, Italy, it appears no more nudging is necessary.

www.ralstonbowles.com
www.myspace.com/ralstonbowles

Andy Holtgrive is a founding memeber of Dometic Problems, a six piece band based out of Grand Rapids, MI. Having been playing for over a decade, they have build a national fanbase and have shared the stage with Barenaked Ladies, Neil Young, and Blues Traveller.  Home Again is Andy and Billy from Domestic Problems. We decided to work oout a little side project of acoustic folk songs while continuing to work out new DP material. We hope you enjoy the songs and come out to see us live. Oh yes, that's they way to take it in...LIVE!

https://www.facebook.com/DomesticProblems

https://www.facebook.com/homeagainmusic

"David Molinari's rich voice and skilled playing combine with his band's eclectic and proficient instrumentation for a pleasant listening experience.  Drawing upon early country, folk, rock, roots and jazz influences, Molinari writes in the 'Americana' style, similar to many of the best singer-songwriters.  The band's sound has a familiar and comforting feel but also reflects its experimental and creative leanings."  - Mlive.com

"Consummate musicianship and superb vocals characterize The David Molinari Band. Mixing rock, folk, and country into their extensive catalog of originals, The David Molinari Band got several calls for encore their last visit to Jukes."  - Jukes Bar, Grand Rapids, MI.

"Molinari has a knack for subtly drawing the significant strands out of everyday occurrences." -Kristin Tennant,"The Daily Grind" Journal, Kalamazoo, MI

http://www.davidmolinari.com

Every generation has its poets; the writers, musicians, and lyricists who capture the spirit and longings of their time. Those who give expression to our own personal memories and dreams as though they know us. They tell our stories, giving us the words we need to celebrate or let go. That is the soil in which singer/songwriter Drew Nelson has been toiling. Legendary songwriter John Gorka said “Drew’s songs sound like the rest of us feel. His characters are anything but defeated. They are dazed, angry, amazed and climbing.”

Drew Nelson’s latest album, Dusty Road to Beulah Land marks a notable growth in his standing as a songwriter and musician. Each song brings another side of Drew to the forefront, expanding beyond his folk-singer roots to embrace wider genres.

http://www.drewnelson.net

Pushing the boundaries between folk, pop, and roots music, Josh Rose has never been big on labels. Growing up in the sparsely populated and culturally deprived Upper Peninsula of Michigan almost forced him to forge a musical identity all his own.

Since moving to Grand Rapids, Josh decided to strike a new path in the local singer songwriter scene, but also celebrate the exceptional tradition that is already here. Josh has blazed ahead on this path with songs that stick with you and seep into your subconscious like the lingering April snows of his youth. Yet with all the questions and all of the labels, what his music boils down to is a thought: sometimes edgy, sometimes collective, and sometimes romantic.

Slow Bloom is Josh’s first full length album, showcasing his poignant and insightful concoction of modern folk and pop.  Produced by Michael Crittenden, this album contains song after song of cognition-splitting music that will passionately fill the air between all of us…

www.josh-rose.com
www.myspace.com/strikerrose

Brant Satala is a Singer/songwriter, Alternative-Folk, Indie, self-produced composer, and recording artist. If you like Ray LaMontagne, Glen Hansard, Iron & Wine, Damien Rice, and the like, you will probably very much enjoy Brant's music.

Brant quit school at age 7 to tour with Paul McCartney, which lasted almost a day before his mother caught him heading out the door with a knapsack and a JC Penny guitar, and saw that he was walking the wrong direction.

Currently, Brant performs solo, as well as with Cole (Brant & Cole), throughout Michigan, and the region.

Playing in several bands and projects in the late 80s through mid 90s, Brant has played solo acoustically throughout Western and Northern Michigan for the past 13 years.

http://www.brantsatala.com
www.reverbnation.com/brantsatala
www.cdbaby.com/satala
www.itunes.com/brantsatala

Sara Q has been a part of the West Michigan music scene for over 15 years playing guitar, bass, and presently mandoliin in the all-girl string band, Nobody's Darlin', where she is the primary song writer and vocalist for the band. This year marks Sara's fifth A Winter's Tune. Her first year as a performer was with one of her previous bands, Chasing Our Tale, with which Sara wrote their original Christmas song "Mary Must Have Freaked Out."

Sara Q is a multi WYCE Jammie nominee and winner for her recordings with Nobody's Darlin, her solo album "Songs to Make Your Other Dog Jealous," and for other assorted compilation projects. When Sara is not spending her time enjoying corporate cubicle life, aside from music she enjoys photography, the martial arts, and Scrabble. Sara lives in the West Michigan area and loves coming home from a gig to the coolest husband and most awesome little boy in the world.

http://www.nobodysdarlin.com/

Sara Q photo by Paul Jendrasiak

Over the years Jimmie Stagger has been known to a select few as a guitar slinger who can hold the stage with any of today's guitar heroes, and mop the stage with many more, but all in all that's not what the soft spoken man is about. "'Blues isn't about that, it's a feeling down deep in your heart," says Stagger. "'Some people say that playing this music is simple, just 12 bars. True, the basic format is 12 bars, but if you can't feel the spirit and history of the music, it isn't blues, it's just 12 bars."

Jimmie has been influenced by many of the great bluesmen over the years, but the great slide player Bukka White was so impressed with bottle neck work of the eighteen year-old Jimmie Stagger that White proclaimed, "Young man, you have crossed the ocean, an you can play my songs any time." That started a friendship that would last until Bukka White died in 1977. Jimmie has shared licks with many contemporary blues artists as well, including Donald Kinsey, Johnny Winter, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

"With a big, rich voice reminiscent of Jimmy Thackery... Stagger is a compelling storyteller who makes you feel his pain and share his joy."
-Mark Smith, Blues Review Magazine

"Hell of a slide player"
-Johnny Winter

"Now that's the way it's to be done!"
-Bo Diddley

Jimmie Stagger Recordings:
Cruel Hearted Papa
The Triumphant Return of Slim Jim

Dean Wiers-Windemuller was born and raised in West Michigan. He got his first guitar at the age of 14 and was primarily self-taught throughout high school. At the age of 19 he left Michigan to attend Wheaton College in Illinois, where he studied jazz and classical guitar. In 2003 he spent his first extended stay in Chicago and began to learn blues fingerstyle guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Dean enjoyed Chicago so much that he moved there upon graduation from Wheaton in 2004. He spent a year living on the north side, taking private lessons from great players in the area, performing jazz, classical, and Irish traditional music, and maintaining a private teaching studio of 20 students.

Dean returned to his native West Michigan in August of 2005 and began performing heavily as an acoustic blues and folk solo artist. In September of 2006, Dean formed Open Land with Chicago musicians Dave Miller (lead guitar), Hyosub Kim (upright bass), and Andre Beasley (drums and percussion). In October of 2006 Dean joined Tango Folias (grtango.org) with Carmen Maret (flute), Andrew Bergeron (guitar) and Debbie Crosser (violin).

Dean is currently performing as a solo act and with his groups at venues throughout the Midwest.

Judging from the packed room, smiling faces, and tapping feet our patrons felt the performance was a real treat...Dean provided the library with one of our best-attended programs...I expect in the future to see him listed among the state's most talented performers.
- Loutit District Library, Grand Haven, MI
  Kerry FitzGerald, Assistant Director

...One senses a close personal tie between Dean and the music he writes...
- Recoil

This singer-songwriter and blues fingerstyle guitarist who's studied music in Chicago renders impressive musicianship...
- Grand Rapids Press

http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=55561

http://www.thewilleys.com/

Karisa Wilson is an award winning singer-songwriter from Michigan. Her debut album "Little Girl" won the WYCE's Album of the Year Jammie, one of Michigan's most prestigious indie music awards. Karisa writes and performs a blend of Indie pop, jazz and blues. Now an accomplished vocalist and guitarist, Karisa started her musical journey as a classical violinist. In high school she found her voice, and after college she picked up a guitar.

As she played local gigs in West Michigan, demand for her unique soulful blend of jazz, blues and folk—think eclectic Americana—grew.

She completed the recording and production of her debut album, Little Girl, in just eight months, and with help from engineer Greg Baxter and a few friends, managed every detail of the album, and planned every detail of the event.  The August 2007 release party at the historical Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids, Michigan was an unexpected success. “I was blown away when the event sold out,” she says. “They had to lock the doors.”

Karisa went on to capture the 2008 WYCE 'Best New Artist', as well as the coveted 'Album of the Year' Jammie awards.>

http://www.tempwebsite.com
http://www.myspace.com/wilsonkarisa