Jill Sobule’s work is at once deeply personal and socially conscious, seriously funny and derisively tragic. In a dozen albums spanning three decades of recording, the Denver-born songwriter/guitarist/singer has tackled such topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, shoplifting, reproduction, the French Resistance, adolescent malaise, LGBTQ issues, and the Christian Right. Her hits include “I Kissed A Girl”—the first openly gay-themed song ever to crack the Billboard Top 20—and the alt-rock anthem “Supermodel” featured in the film Clueless. Sobule was one half of The Jill & Julia Show, providing music while actor Julia Sweeney contributes storytelling. Jill is considered a pioneer in crowdfunding and is constantly exploring and creating new models for artists in an ever-changing music industry. Her latest record, Nostalgia Kills – was produced by Ben Lee and released on her own Pinko Records label. Jill’s theater credits include a musical adaptation of the Broadway classic Yentl, Prozak and the Platypus, and Times Square. In November of 2019 Jill sang a song as herself on an episode of the Simpsons. Jill’s latest project is her New York Times Critics pick, Drama Desk nominated autobiographical musical F*ck 7th Grade which premiered at the Wild Project in 2022; had a reboot in the Winter of 2023 – and ran again for three weeks in 2024 (4th run, in three years). The show will be showcased at APAP 2025 in NYC for two nights in January. A cast recording will be released on May 2nd, with singles scheduled on March 7th (“Raleigh Blue Chopper”), April 4th (“A Good Life”), focus track on May 2nd will be “Underdog Victorious”, and “A Good Life (radio edit) will be released on May 23rd. She will be touring “Jill Sobule presents: Music from F*ck 7th Grade & More” shows throughout 2025 & beyond, with a focus on trying to present the full cast show during Pride Month (June). She’ll record her first album of new material in March or May for a probable January 2026 release, with singles beginning in September of this year.
“Jill Sobule can claim her place among the stellar New York singer-songwriters of the last decade. Topical, funny and more than a little poignant …grown-up music for an adolescent age.” -New York Times
Jørdyn is a black indie singer/songwriter and producer from Washington D.C. Currently residing in Cincinnati. On the verge of turning eighteen, Jørdyn released her debut single “dolly zoom” which shares their experiences with anxiety as a teenager. This song springboarded her career and two months later she took part on her first headline tour, the end of seventeen tour. Now, Jørdyn two years later released her newest single “clean” telling the story of the complicated loss of a friendship. Rebranding her sound with a more powerful and professional sound. Jørdyn’s debut ep ‘i didn’t ask for this’ (out may 10th, 2024) is about the realities, struggles, and unfairness of life. Jørdyn speaks on her struggles with loss, grief, jealousy, and displacement in life while experimenting with harmony, vocoding, and soundscapes to create her own unique sound.
Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from western North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Charts (the first drag performer to achieve this feat), was nominated for Best Pop Album at the San Diego Music Awards, and was named one of the Top Ten Queer Country Albums of 2023 by Rainbow Rodeo Magazine. Her single “Good Day” also debuted at #20 on the Billboard Christian digital sales chart. Flamy is a winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition and a 2023 QueerX Award nominee for Best Drag Artist and has been featured in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, People, and more. Her music has over 750,000 streams on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon music. A powerhouse vocalist and intrepid songwriter who blends folk, gospel, and roots, Flamy drags you into a therapeutic, theatrical mix of storytelling and song.
Described as “breathing with an expressively honest air” by Matt Herman from Camden Monthly, Junebug is the musical project created by Carolyn Fahrner. After releasing her debut EP ‘Turncoat’ in 2021, Carolyn began gigging in New York City at venues like The Mercury Lounge, The Sultan Room, and Rubulad and London venues like Green Note, Paper Dress Vintage, and The Gladstone Arms. In October, she released ‘My Therapist Told Me’ which leans into her vulnerability and ironicism, yet therapeutic necessity of creating art. Now, she’s looking towards releasing her highly anticipated single, ‘Mikey Told Me’ in 2023.
‘Original folk voice’ Ruth Theodore, has carved out a sound that is instantly recognizable. Her ability to write on any issue from her own bi-sexuality, to politics, astronomy, and even land rights with a sense of timelessness makes her a truly exciting and relevant contemporary artist whose full discography is filed in the British Library sound archives for its ‘interesting nature and originality’.
Ruth’s broad and ambitious creative visions have led to her co-producing in the USA alongside multi-award winning US producer and long time collaborator Todd Sickafoose (Ani Difranco/Anais Mitchell), Swiss-American percussionist Mathias Kunzli (Regina Spektor / Lauren Hill) and Eli Crews (Tune Yards).
‘Having received critical acclaim for her four outstanding and unique records’ there is a brand new studio album on the brink of release!
Living in squats, boats, pubs, abandoned warehouses, busking in high street doorways, sleeping for 2 years under a workbench, and overcoming cancer, have all been a part of Ruth’s creative journey. These life experiences bring a warmth and depth of perspective to Ruth’s lyrics that are particular to her disarming writing style.
Described as *’one of the most exciting, original, and under-rated artists in the UK’. Ruth has gained the support of some impressive contemporary creative allies from around the world, appearing as special guest for US folk icon Ani DiFranco, performing with Dar Williams, Nick Harper, Jeff Lang, Rory McLeod, Chastity Brown and Hamell On Trial.
Kristen Ford is a singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist influenced by greats such as Alanis Morrisette, Radiohead and Ani Difranco. She navigates life as a biracial, queer girl and tours globally in pursuit of the perfect show. Her live performance morphs from unplugged solo acoustic to screaming, electric guitar soloing in front of a rock band to her dynamic one woman band using loops, beatboxing and a healthy case of ADHD to her advantage.
Ford’s Righteous Babe Records debut, produced by Ani Difranco and mixed by John Driskill Hopkins (Zac Brown Band), is set to release late 2024.
Hailed by NPR Music as “pure, irresistible joy” and praised by The Guardian as “global crossover at its best…as cheerfully infectious as it is original,” David Wax Museum’s eclectic and exuberant sound blends the ancient and ever-relevant rhythms of traditional Mexican music with amber pop hues and unabashed rock riffs, all tethered together by seductive harmonies.
Co-fronted by multi-instrumentalist Suz Slezak with her raucous accordion and sublime fiddling along with the charismatic energy of David Wax, their on-stage chemistry is both captivating and intimate. Since their early breakout as a buzz band at the revered Newport Folk Festival, the band has toured the world with their two young children in tow, performing at festivals in North America and Europe, and sharing stages with The Avett Brothers, Los Lobos, The Wood Brothers, Old97’s, Buena Vista Social Club, Gregory Alan Isakov, Watchhouse, Josh Ritter, and Guster, among others.
Transmitting their kinetic energy in platforms including CBS This Morning: Saturday, Tiny Desk Concert, and NPR’s World Cafe, they have also soundtracked love stories on and offscreens, from the Netflix #1 show Firefly Lane to the wedding of US Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. Canada’s CKUA Radio praised their latest album You Must Change Your Life as “truly transformative — a colorful, multi-layered dream world which speaks to both the most earthly and the most ineffable sides of our human existence.”
Not long after crossing beyond the neon into Al’s Tavern, one might catch murmurs drifting up and down the bar during Dean Johnson’s bartending shifts – nudges and whispers that he might just be the best songwriter in town. “Wait ’til you hear him sing. Just don’t ask him to do it, because he won’t. He might do another show this year, but probably not.” Al’s regulars, howsoever biased, speak of his talent like a family secret – Seattle folklore. How many times, and for how many years, has Dean elusively replied to some variation of the question, “When will there be a record?”
The phrase “hidden gem” would seem appropriate here, but it’s a misnomer when talking about Dean Johnson. He shines bright, in plain sight, and it was only a matter of time before people stopped to take a look. Dean’s gentle and passionate approach to songwriting has inspired many, and his work provides the listener the opportunity to believe once more that a song can be more than the sum of its parts. If you catch even a phrase of his melodies or the sobering tone of his voice, it waltzes its way into your heart like a letter written, signed, sealed and delivered just for you.
His debut album Nothing for Me, Please was recorded at Mashed Potato Records in New Orleans with the help of Sam Gelband and Charlie Meyer, Dean’s bandmates in The Sons of Rainier; as well as Mashed Potato regulars Sam Doores, Duff Thompson and Steph Green. The record is a hazy, relaxed daydream – anthems for those who know the sweetness and coldness of quiet moments, the power and the pain of love. Whether you’ve been waiting patiently these many for Dean to release these songs, or you’re just now coming across his work for the first time, the name Dean Johnson, much like his songs, won’t soon leave your mind.
Anna is a founding member of The Croaks. Characterized by their epic narratives, slippery riffs and serpentine arrangements, The Croaks deliver Merriment and Mischief in the form of freak folk-prog to the Boston area.
Lake Saint Daniel is the musical project of Daniel Radin, who has been playing music in Boston for years. Previously, he fronted the indie rock bands The Novel Ideas and Future Teens. Recently, Daniel self-released his debut solo album under the name Lake Saint Daniel. The album, titled “Good Things”, is a reflective work that uses soft vocals and thoughtful guitar work to explore new emotions brought on by the global pandemic.
