Interviews

The Crystal Casino Band, a four-piece indie rock band originally formed at George Washington University in 2015, has been making waves in the music scene since their debut album in 2021. With their latest album release, Maryland House— produced by Kyle Downes and Jay Nemeyer (Color Palette)— the band showcases their artistic growth and pays homage to their lives as young adults in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area.

North Carolina-based indie-pop band, The Collection, released their newest EP, How To Survive An Ending, on January 27th. The EP centers around the theme of empowerment and encourages listeners to break away from societal expectations and find their own strength to get through difficult endings.

ALO, short for Animal Liberation Orchestra, is a band consisting of Zach Gill, Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz, Steve Adams, and Ezra Lipp. The three original members met in Saratoga, California when they were pre-teens and bonded over their shared love for music. They formed a band in junior high, and after years of hard work, dedication, and shared experiences, they have created their best work to date.

The best part of Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers is not just the colorful sounds and uplifting energy but the lyrics, "Maybe love is also knowing when to let go." The new extended EP, The Painted World has fresh sounds with ancient roots and more of the lovely lyrics they are known for.

The Lil Smokies formed under the big sky of Missoula, Montana in 2009 and have created an original assortment of music that can quench the most diverse musical pallets. At first glance the band looks like a traditional bluegrass band with all of the usual stringed suspects including banjo, dobro, fiddle, standup bass and acoustic guitars. They say you can't judge a book by the cover and The Lil Smokies are the perfect example of why you can’t define a band by their instruments.

Jesse Lynn Madera has added her unique touch to the iconic track "Unchained," famously performed by Johnny Cash and produced by Rick Rubin in the late '90s. The song marks the production debut of renowned singer-songwriter Dan Navarro (Lowen & Navarro), and was engineered by multi-GRAMMY award-winner Jim Scott, who has worked with iconic artists such as Tom Petty, Sting, and The Bangles.

Chicago Farmer has, for twenty years, sung songs of the Midwest, songs celebrating his small-town heritage of hard-working people, making it through life’s good and hard times and proudly wearing their dirty uniforms, whether they live in the country or in a city.

Arlo Guthrie, whose enduring legacy as a folk artist, activist, and humorist spans seven decades, retired from the stage in 2020 for reasons of health and wellness. Wonderfully, Arlo recently withdrew his retirement announcement for a short “Arlo Guthrie - What’s Left Of Me - A Conversation With Bob Santelli” tour, set for April in the Northeast.

The 2023 Gem and Jam is one to be remembered! This year’s festival had workshops on topics from mycology to movement to mindfulness, musical performers & guests that blew our socks off, and spaces that cultivated groundedness and inspiration.

The Get Right Band is a dynamic indie rock power trio hailing from Asheville, NC. With over a decade of musical exploration, the band is dedicated to creating authentic, self-expressive music that pushes the boundaries of genre and speaks to the human experience. The band's sound melds elements of 60s/70s psychedelia, 90s alternative rock, and modern pop/rock into a unique style that is at once nostalgic and fresh.

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