Tish brings to Uncle Calvins her newest album “Culture Swing" which has been named one of the 50 greatest Texas singer-songwriter albums by the Houston Chronicle. Tish Hinojosa is a singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas. Hinojosa’s blend of folk, country, Latino, and pop has an undeniable far reaching appeal, garnering her accolades such as a White House concert at the invitation of President and Mrs. Clinton and teaming up with artists such as Joan Baez, Booker T. Jones, Flaco Jimenez, Pete Seeger, and Dwight Yoakam. She has recorded as an independent artist as well as for A&M, Warner Bros, and Rounder Records and has been a featured artist on Austin City Limits, A Prairie Home Companion and other NPR programs. With sixteen CDs to her name, Tish’s distinct sound has gained her much critical acclaim. Her latest CD After The Fair, released in 2013, was recorded in Germany and is reflective of her 9 years spent in the Beatles old stomping grounds in Hamburg. Tish has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe and continues to draw a loyal and growing audience.

Daniel Makins was raised in a musical family as a relative of famed ballad hunter, John A Lomax. He writes and believes in songs as milestones and guideposts. His words move concerts like meaningful conversations and he hopes that the songs he has worked on become useful for listeners.

Heather Styka dances where others fear to tread, gleefully cutting to the truth with gutsy vulnerability. She combines the lyrical intricacy of folk with a catchy melodic pop sensibility and the grit of classic country in songs that are smart and disarming. Call it folk, call it Americana, call it alt-country, but Styka’s heartfelt croon draws as much inspiration from classic warblers such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald as it does from Shawn Colvin and Eva Cassidy. After growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Styka moved to the city to studying creative writing, meanwhile honing her song craft among Chicago’s long-standing folk community. Her 2011 release Lifeboats for Atlantis brought her to national attention, hitting #3 on the FOLK-DJ charts. Styka's honest, image-heavy songs have garnered her a number of awards, including being a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival (2015, 2017) and official showcases at Folk Alliance International, NERFA, SWRFA, and FARM. "With a compelling mix of storytelling and scene setting, Heather Styka takes the listener with her on every note… tugs the ear on first listen and greets you like an old friend on subsequent visits." -- Indie Music Portal, Simon Rigby

Connor Garvey is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Portland, Maine, with the amiable presence of an entertainer, the lyrical depth of a poet, and the enchantment of a storyteller. Garvey leaves audiences uplifted and inspired through a positive message delivered in a way The Portland Press Herald says proves you can be optimistic and self-aware without being boring. His unique sandy tenor and masterful blend of rhythm and melody draw comparison to Paul Simon and contemporaries Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz. He wins song competitions. He fills rooms. But most of all he moves people. First time listeners often are drawn to Garveys engaging performance style, accomplished musicianship, and memorable melodies. But his lyrics project a depth and sincerity that allow the observant listener to find meaning beyond the catchy hook. Meanwhile, the intricate production of his albums adds emotional depth and keeps the songs fresh play after play.

Cary is a captivating performer, and award winning songwriter. In 2014, she left her native state of Texas for the mountains of Western North Carolina; and the influence of her adopted Appalachian roots can be heard in the songs of her latest recording, "Case Of The Hopefuls" set to release in late November, 2017. Cary’s songs are simple, and quirky in nature, drawing you in with pop melodies and then hitting you over the head with lyrics that are deceptively deep. Guitars in the Classroom calls Cary “the Anne LaMott of songwriting…except she can get to the heart of things in 3 minutes instead of 200 pages.” Cary is a past winner of the Kerrville Folk Festival’s prestigious New Folk Competition as well as finishing 2nd and 3rd at the 2012 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and Telluride Bluegrass Festival competitions, respectively. Don’t miss Cary Cooper. She’ll leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. She is also a dynamic teacher. Since moving to Asheville, Cary has been the full time music teacher at The Franklin School of Innovation teaching chorus, the history of rock and roll and the art of songwriting to students from 5th grade through 12th. Cary spends her summers teaching songwriting to cream of the crop high school students at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan.

Americana, Folk, Blues, Country, Celtic, Charlie Roth is a unique blend of all these genres. What Charlie is best at is telling a story with his rich baritone vocal, acoustic guitar, rack harmonica, and foot percussion.

"Only as Strong as Your Dreams" is the long awaited first duo release of these two old friends and long-time collaborators and co-writers. Shake and Michael are now performing together regularly, both around their home state of Texas and beyond. Hearne and Russell are truly a powerhouse duo, with two long lifetimes spent writing, singing and playing the songs of Texas and the great Southwest. Shake’s deep poetry, beautiful love songs and delightfully expressive vocal and guitar work are perfectly complemented by Michael's blazing musicianship, "whiskey-velvet voice" (as friend Eliza Gilkyson described it), and his own rich and varied songwriting. This new album has great range and gives the listener a delightful ride through a varied landscape, from Louisiana honky-tonks (Loser’s Gumbo) to the fringes of the great beyond (Irish Prayer, The Angel’s Share - a tribute to Chuck Pyle), from the trials and tribulations of life and the music business (I Got News for You, I Heart Texas), to wisdom and inspiration on how to rise above and make it through, with your heart and soul intact (Only as Strong as Your Dreams, This Is What Happy Is). We here at Howlin’ Dog Records are excited and honored to present this collection of songs from these consummate artists. The underlined tracks below are perhaps the most immediately obvious for radio, but we think you’ll agree that there is not a song here to be missed, and we hope you’ll consider them all.

Gigi is a singer/songwriter from Texas with degrees in music from Sam Houston State University. Her music is a product of her life experiences and influences as a drummer, with a lot of rhythmic groove, but heartfelt emotion as well.

Tonight we have a special benefit show, to honor two of our recently fallen volunteers who have spent many Fridays with us, helping us put on hundreds of shows... Tom Noe and Louise Sander! We will have many stories about each of these two, and the first set will be local performers playing cover tunes that Tom made "famous" in our area... songs like Buddy Mondlock's "The Kid", Richard Berman's "On the Mexican Coast", Dave Carter's "Gentle Arms of Eden", and Steve Key's "Ree Bull". In other words, this will be a celebration of the songs Tom played the most, with a variety of performers. The second set of the show will be Tom's long time fellow Harry Chapin loving friend Bill Nash, who will be performing numerous Harry Chapin songs with a few guests to help him... songs like "Mr Tanner", "I Wanna Learn a Love Song", "Cats in the Cradle", and "Mr Tanner". In honor of Tom, Louise, and Harry Chapin, all proceeds from this benefit show will be donated to the organization Harry started and donated to "World Hunger Year", who's organization "World Hunger Organization" is still run by a Chapin (Harry's daughter Jen). All in all, this will be a great evening, with a lot of laughter and a few tears, as we honor Tom and Louise!

Oh Louise. The prankster. The Joker. The smiling face who knew no strangers. Always interested in stories, she saw connections, she saw the humor, and the human side of the tale. She was quick with a witty response, too. We remember for so many years Louise had long shining hair, and yet she was so unaffected that when she decided to cut it off, it seemed as if she had always had a short pixie hair cut. The better to frame her bodacious earrings, we're sure. It was never a competition with Louise. If you had something she liked, she would tell you so... and ask you to give it to her. And sometimes that even worked, because Louise had a joy that was contagious - why not get you some of that. Louise was practical, with quiet hobbies like reading and sewing that she could keep on hand and share in conversations. She loved to tailor clothing to suit her style. We always admired how Louise mostly chose to be happy. She knew the power of gratitude and appreciation. It seems she always expected the best. Bravo to our friend, all the best. <3