When sisters Phoebe and Callie Cryar met brothers Taylor and Bruno Jones at a picnic and music jam at their mutual friend's home, little did the then-teens realize that just a few years later the four would form a folk band called, The Vespers. Despite growing up in families who had experienced careers in the music industry, they had really gleaned more about the reality that it was not an easy life path as neither of their family members remained in the business. 
When Brett Detar ended his band, The Juliana Theory, he was not sure he would ever play music again. Seeking a change, he became the customer service department and chief stain remover for his wife's vintage clothing shop. Detar fully escaped music, trying to evade his self-doubt about his ability to write songs or be an artist at all. 
Mr. Isaac Allen's debut record, Don't Smoke, shines light on the darkness of human life in his portion of urban New England, from crack houses to prisoner parents and pawning wedding rings for the next brief high. Don't Smoke's irony is not smug; it's the only tool for psychological self-preservation when you, too, are part of those hovels of which you write.
Tara Nevins waited over a decade to release her second solo record, Wood and Stone. In the interim, Nevins traveled relentlessly with Donna the Buffalo, but her musical interest began as a child in the school orchestra, encouraged by her music and dance-loving parents. 
Southeast Engine released their latest record, Canary, just as the band was dispersing geographically--relocating for their dayjobs, but coming together as a band. The guys are in Athens and Dayton, Ohio, Morgantown, West Virginia, and Durham, North Carolina, but being spread out has not seemed to detract from their mutual language as Southeast Engine.
Shurman first appeared on our radar when mentioned on Country Fried Rock by two Austin, Texas bands in 2011: Stonehoney and The Mother Truckers. When musicians recommend other musicians, we pay attention. Through the magic of the Americana Music Festival, front-man Aaron Beavers and I met through mutual friends at a casual event in Church Street Park benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. 
Dawes' most recent record, Nothing Is Wrong, launched the folk rockers from niche-favorites to headliners of sold out shows. At the beginning of the summer when it was released, fans and music bloggers latched onto their album as they had their performances, spreading the word about Dawes in ways the guys could only dream. 
Stephanie Fagan married, started her second record
, moved to Germany, waved her husband goodbye while he went to Iraq, returned to South Carolina, finished the record, played to a standing room only CD release party, and went home to Germany--all in less than a year. The twenty-something songwriter from the country takes it all in stride, and has already written her third album while her husband serves our nation.