Spencer LaJoye is making queer indie folk music for everyone. They are a coast-to-coast singer/songwriter and vocal loop artist with Midwest roots, a classically-trained violinist with an inner theater kid’s love of group choreography, and a student of Americana music with a theology degree hanging in their studio. LaJoye has been writing and touring their autobiographical folk songs for over a decade, but their viral 2021 anthem “Plowshare Prayer” secured them a permanent place in hearts and households across the world, as well as a peculiar career as a veracious songsmith with an unshakeable pastoral presence. Charming and banter-heavy, Spencer’s performances keep audiences laughing one moment and weeping the next.
Artist Category: Indie Folk
Emma Cook
Emma Cook has been looking out. With her upcoming album release, Of the Morning, Emma turned inward to share her rawest songs yet, chronicling her time turning thirty a month into the global pandemic, and becoming a mother. She’s singing about forbidden fruit and moon phases and the climate crisis, and unveiling every feeling in between. With thoughtful lyrics and upbeat grooves, her commanding and expressive vocal range soothes.
A “formidable songwriter and instrumentalist” songwriting and performing since 2005, Emma grew up in the rich Michigan folk and roots music scene. Now based in Vermont, Emma’s sound effortlessly blends the folk, Americana, blues, and soulful pop music that raised her, into something that is uniquely her own.
Ollella
Ellie Barber a.k.a. Ollella’s career as a musician started early, when she sang before she could talk. Trained as a classical cellist since the age of nine, the Seattle indie-folk musician merges her technical string background with authoritative vocals and live-looping. Described as “really outstanding” by NPR Music and “so tastefully done” by Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast), Ollella’s sound is organic with a side of edge, pulling on influences such as Feist, Cat Power, and Sylvan Esso. She is a two-time finalist in the NPR Tiny Desk Contest (2024, 2022), has had music featured in film and TV, and is a frequent collaborator with others. She finds herself drawn to music because it unlocks a particular flavor of humanity – one that fits the type of world she believes in.
Peryle
Peryle is a groundbreaking New England-based singer-songwriter who has immersed herself in the world of music since her early years. Her music is a blend of indie-pop and folk. Her songs are often personal and introspective. Beyond her musical endeavors, Peryle is driven by a fervent desire to effect positive change in the world. She utilizes her platform to spread love and advocate for social justice. With her star on the rise, Peryle is poised to make a lasting impact in the music industry. Her skillful songwriting, captivating vocals, and an unyielding dedication to social change set her apart as a true force to be reckoned with. She hopes you get exactly what you need when you listen to her music. Take a deep breath and enjoy.
Tall Tall Trees
Tall Tall Trees is the musical id of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Savino, a pioneer in the realm of experimental, DIY banjo music. Accompanied by his trusty Banjotron 6500, a highly customized, electrified banjo and effects pedal setup, Savino has wowed audiences since the 2009 debut of his self-titled album with his eclectic and innovative blend of psychedelic folk, rock and world music. His work seems to actively evade comfortable definition, upon first listen one will recognize the tenderness of Cat Stevens, the melancholy introspection of Elliott Smith, the anthemic psychedelia of Pink Floyd, and a deep abiding respect for Earl Scruggs. Savino often performs solo, showcasing his fleet-footed loop pedal mastery, as well as alongside long-time collaborator and fellow innovator, Kishi Bashi. He has recently collaborated with fellow psych-banjo maestro JD Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers, releasing Ponder Machine, a psychedelic banjo opus on the Shimmy Disc label. Tall Tall Trees latest release and 5th LP, Stick to the Mystical I, featuring a collaboration with Josiah Wolf of the band Why? is out September 8th, 2023 on Joyful Noise Recordings.
davy
davy is the recording project of singer-songwriter + producer duo Megan and Daniel Tavani. The Boston-based couple weaves their classical background with indie-folk & alt-pop idioms to depict stories of life, grief, faith, and love. Daniel is an independent music producer, audio engineer, and multi-instrumentalist, touring with artists such as Owl City and Josh Garrels. Megan enjoys an eclectic freelance career as a vocalist, cellist, and songwriter, most recently recording and performing with the Porter’s Gate.
Zoe Lloyd
Zoe Lloyd is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Her debut album Blue Letters (January 2023) walks the line between indie rock, folk, and country. Born and raised in Massachusetts, she and her band are working on new album at Woolly Mammoth Sound in Waltham, MA. Blending elements of modern indie folk artists like Adrianne Lenker with her old favorites such as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Townes Van Zandt & others, Zoe Lloyd writes old songs with a new voice.
Kalliope Jones
Kalliope Jones (Isabella DeHerdt, Wes Chalfant, and Alouette Batteau) is a post-rock power trio from Western Massachusetts. Originally a folk-rock group, Kalliope Jones has developed its soundscape to bend gender-genre-genius from r&b, pop punk, and alt indie. Kalliope Jones weaves three unique songwriting styles into a fusion that fabricates the fibers of cosmological being. Through confession and collaboration, the band has made its way to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, the Iron Horse Music Hall, the Wolftrap Center for Performing Arts, Club Passim, and most recently, Dar Williams’ River Roads Festival, where Kalliope Jones played alongside the likes of Amy Ray, Shawn Colvin, and Lisa Loeb. Kalliope Jones has been sonically compared to Annie DiRusso, HAIM, and boygenius. At 22, 22, and 24, Kalliope Jones’ ever-heightening anti-solipsistic sophistication is representative of wisdom beyond their years and no sign of slowing down.
Adeline Hotel
In the tender, surrealist world that Knishkowy has developed under the name Adeline Hotel, stories have been told through sprawling psych-rock epics (2020’s Solid Love), stark solo guitar performances (2021’s Good Timing), piano-led orchestral song cycles (2021’s The Cherries Are Speaking), and lush, jazzy compositions that felt like a genre unto themselves (2023’s Hot Fruit). Inspired by indie lifers and fellow world-builders like Jim O’Rourke and Phil Elverum, the Ruination Records co-founder has rewritten the rule book with each new project, inviting listeners to join as he discovers new channels for his singular voice. By now the sound of Adeline Hotel is equally identifiable through Knishkowy’s dextrous fingerpicking—the aural equivalent of tracing your fingers through cool sand at sunrise—as his low, whispered vocals and autumnal melodies.
Grace Givertz
Hailing from the sunshine state of Florida, Grace Givertz captivates audiences with her indie folk compositions, blending earworm melodies with heartfelt storytelling. As a multi-instrumentalist, she infuses her music with a diverse array of sounds, weaving folk, Americana, and indie rock into a tapestry uniquely her own. Drawing inspiration from her personal journey living with chronic illness, Givertz’s music resonates with raw emotion and introspection. Her experiences infuse her songs with depth and authenticity, inviting listeners to explore themes of resilience and vulnerability. She has also been heavily involved with the Black Opry, an organization dedicated to highlighting and supporting Black musicians in the country music industry.
