Frances Luke Accord are an independent Chicago-based duo hailing originally from South Bend, Indiana. Both dedicated multi-instrumentalists and meticulous songwriters, Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers distinguish their music with genre fluidity, buttery harmonies and acoustic ensembles. Although prevailingly a modern folk band, FLA sip copious inspiration from Americana, jazz, soul, and rock. In December of 2012 the duo released their first record, Kandote, a not-for-profit, intercultural collaboration with the Barefoot Truth Children’s Choir of Kkindu, Uganda — an endeavor that continues to support the primary education and musical aspirations of the choir. Bringing their world/folk sound to Chicago in the summer of 2013, the duo quickly garnered local and regional attention for their captivating live performances and stunning self-produced releases, including the Queen for Me EP (April 2014), Live @ Strobe (April 2015), and, most notably, their debut full-length album, Fluke (May 2016). Fluke, FLA's psuedo-self-titled introduction to a national audience, is a self-produced vocal tour-de-force that leaps quickly and definitively into the canopy of contemporary art. It is dreamlike and philosophical, haunting and whimsical.

Blending brave and honest songwriting, first-rate musicianship, and a huge helping of native Canadian wit, Nancy Beaudette is an artist of songs and heart. She was raised near Cornwall, Ontario, a place sustained by farming and millwork where French and English languages were friendly neighbours.

Stephen Inglis is a versatile artist. He crosses genres, yet his music always radiates integrity. Born and raised in Honolulu, he plays Grammy-nominated Hawaiian slack key guitar. He records and tours with the most respected traditional musicians. His duet album with legend Dennis Kamakahi, Waimaka Helelei, won Hawaii’s highest musical honor, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award, and the CD is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Barely out of his teens, Stephen formed a group with legendary Grateful Dead drummer, Bill Kreutzmann. Along with his strong respect for tradition, Stephen is a creative innovator. His album Slacking on Dylan opened up new territory for slack key, winning him a Hawaii Music Award. He has made three albums of his own singer-songwriter originals, acoustic and electric; and a new one, Learning You By Heart, has just been released in the Spring of 2015. Stephen lives the music life to the full: club gigs, concerts, festivals, touring, recording. He has played to sold out crowds at esteemed venues such as The Barns at Wolftrap and the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Stephen keeps expanding his musical range. And he is a great collaborator, always open to finding common ground in melody and harmony.

Michael Braunfeld is, first and foremost, a storyteller. His songs capture the everyday triumphs and struggles of ordinary people. His characters – though trapped in the particular circumstances of their own lives – appeal to a universal audience. From sold out listening rooms to festivals, Michael is delighting old fans and winning over new audiences at every stop.

Terri Hendrix is a pioneering independent Texas songwriter with an engaging melodic flair that has endeared her to three generations of loyal fans around the globe. She was recently recognized by “Acoustic Guitar” Magazine as one of Texas’ 20 essential contemporary singer-songwriters. Along the way, she’s also co-written a Grammy-winning instrumental (the Dixie Chicks’ “Lil’ Jack Slade”), and garnered such honors as a star on the South Texas Music Walk of Fame, the Art of Peace Award by Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, the Distinguished Alumni Award at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, and a 2015 induction into the Women’s Hall of Fame in San Marcos, Texas. Hendrix is also hard at work building a nonprofit creative center for the arts serving the greater San Marcos area and beyond. It’s called the OYOU, an acronym for “Own Your Own Universe” — words that this free-spirited, self-made woman has lived and thrived by her entire adult life. Few people are as important to the development of Texas music over the last 30 years as Lloyd Maines. As a Grammy award-winning producer and musician, the Lubbock-born Maines has played an instrumental role in the creation of some of the Lone Star State's most famous and beloved albums. Maines began his recording and producing career in 1974. Over the past 40 years, Maines has worked on approximately four-thousand albums alongside some of the most significant figures in country, rock, and Texas music. In addition to his producing credits, Maines is an A-list steel guitar player and multi-instrumentalist. His work has been heard on countless recordings. Maines has been inducted into the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame in Lubbock, Texas, individually and as a member of the Maines Brother's Band. He was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame June 2014. He has made more appearances on the PBS show than anyone else in the history of the program.

Chicago songwriter Heather Styka is not afraid to go where others fear to tread. Beneath “sweet, soulful vocals” (Portland Press Herald) and “nimble fingerpicked guitar” (Dispatch Magazine) lie narratives of vulnerability, strength, and wanderlust. A Kerrville New Folk Finalist and award-winning writer with a #3 album on the FOLK-DJ charts, this young troubadour has performed for over a decade, released four full-length albums, and toured from coast to coast.

Ronny Cox is a superbly talented singer-songwriter, musician and actor who has been consistently active in the music world and Hollywood for over 40 years. He was the third of five children, born in Cloudcroft, New Mexico in 1938, and grew up in Portales, New Mexico. Ronny met his wife, Mary, when in high school, and they married in 1960. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1963 with a double major in Theater and Speech Correction. Mary passed away in 2006, 50 years to the day of their first date. Ronny often talks about her during his music performances. A father to two sons of his own, he brings his extraordinary view of life into a magnetic, likable, onstage persona. Ronny’s music is eclectic, a woven tapestry of songs and stories with an over-all arc that eventually comes together and tells something about “the human condition”. Scores of fans and promoters will attest that attending one of his performances is one of the greatest evenings to experience. With the gift of a consummate storyteller, he shares funny, sad and tender moments. His loyal band of listeners are blessed, if only for a while, to spend time with a truly remarkable man. Enhancing these great stories is the music provided by Ronny and his band of world-class, virtuoso musicians. A look of familiarity has helped make Cox one of Hollywood’s most versatile character actors. His first time in front of a camera featured him playing the guitar in the Dueling Banjos scene in Deliverance, creating one of the most iconic moments in the history of moviemaking. He has also appeared in films like Beverly Hills Cop, Total Recall, Taps, Bound For Glory, The Onion Field, all told over 125 movies and television appearances. Despite his great success in movies and TV, what he says he loves most is singing and playing the guitar. According to him, nothing cuts through to the heart like music. The acting experience simply enhances his musical and song-writing skills. In 2012, Ronny became an author with the release of his book Dueling Banjos: The Deliverance of Drew. The book coincided with the 40th anniversary of the release of the film, and is a collection of stories about the making of the movie and a look behind the scenes of his springboard into Hollywood. Warner Brothers also released a deluxe version of the film that year, and the book is also now available in audio format. He’s an artist who wears a variety of hats………but his first love is music. He’s released eight CDs, including the audio version of his book. According to Cox “The truly great thing about music is that it’s like a double-edged sword. Songs can be frivolous or sad, but they can trigger an almost overwhelming emotion……immediately. What I have found is that if I open up to my audience, they not only accept that, they also help me get through it. It is that sharing…..of silliness, or sadness, or mutual understanding that I find to be very compelling.”