Melissa Alesi is a singer-songwriter from Delaware who combines a multitude of genres to make her own style. With a focus on folk and adult contemporary, Melissa also brings elements of alternative, jazz, country, and world music into her performance. Her background in classical voice and percussion adds to her unique, fresh sound in both her vocals and guitar playing.
Melissa began her career in late
2007 as part of the trio, High Maintenance, playing covers in venues on the Eastern Shore. After a couple of
years, she started playing solo and recorded her first full-length original album self titled, “ALESI,” in 2008.
Her second album, “House Of Stones,” takes the listener on a journey from thunderous drums and stunning string arrangements, to the beautiful simplicity of soulful vocals and acoustic guitar. The album’s title refers to taking the “stones” thrown at you by life’s experiences and using them to make yourself a stronger, wiser person.
Eric sings from the perspective of a fellow traveler who understands well the doubts and frustrations as well as the joy and laughter this life brings. He's never been afraid to tell the truth in all its ugliness and beauty in his songs.
Growing up in Kentucky, Eric was the child of a father who was a pastor and a mother who
is a lauded music teacher. Eric has been performing since he was a teen and writing since he was just twelve.
Some of Eric's biggest influences include R.E.M., Tom Petty, Over the Rhine, Sixpence None the Richer, Simon and Garfunkel, U2, and Ryan Adams.
Never satisfied sounding like anyone else, Eric strives to be an original and veer away from the ordinary. This is reflected in the wide array of artists with whom he has shared stages including The Band Perry, Tiffany, Colony House, Jukebox the Ghost, Futureman (of Bela Fleck & The Flecktones), and Cavo.
Eric recently released a winter EP and a new single. He will more music later this year.
"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
Les Kerr is a songwriter, recording artist and performer who brings blues, New Orleans music, Zydeco, rock and bluegrass together to create his “Hillbilly Blues Caribbean Rock & Roll.” A Nashville resident since 1987, Kerr was born in Louisiana and raised in Mississippi.
Les has recorded eleven albums, including his latest, Part of the Show. About Les’ music, national music publication No Depression’s Lee Zimmerman wrote, “Nashville’s Les Kerr creates a sound that’s both jovial and cerebral all at the same time…Kerr takes his stylistic additives from a variety of genres -- reggae, country, folk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll -- and meshes them into a hybrid that’s philosophical [and] sunny.”
Corey Webb, editor of Nashville Experience, wrote, “Les' music is like a passport through the American South. He takes you on a journey with lyrics that tell tales of places you'll want to see and people you'll want to meet. It's a good mix of the exotic and familiar.”
Les has performed at many festivals and has headlined annual Mardi Gras celebrations at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café since 1992. Among the venues and events where he has performed include Nashville’s Official Independence Day Celebration, the Grand Ole Opry House, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Southern Festival of Books and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Nashville (formerly the Country Music Marathon).
Regional performances include shows at the Maple Leaf Bar and Louisiana Music Factory (New Orleans, LA); Decatur, Alabama’s Historic Princess Theatre; The Listening Room (Mobile, AL); The Railyard (Decatur, AL); Hal and Mal’s (Jackson, MS); Atlanta Dogwood Festival; Knoxville (TN) Dogwood Festival; Southern Festival of Books (Nashville and Memphis) and Cookeville, Tennessee’s city-wide “Cooking on the Square” event.
The title song of his 2015 Contributor album was inspired by Nashville’s street newspaper and the premier event of the video raised money for the newspaper, The Contributor. The video for Contributor was seen worldwide and was included on CMT.com.
Mackinac Blues, from Les’ New Orleans Set CD, was included in NPR’s All Songs Considered and the New Orleans-based OffBEAT magazine declared, “Kerr’s musical styling aptly cover the gamut from rockabilly to boogie to Caribbean beats with ease.”
Les was a three-time award nominee of the former Music City Blues Society and was featured in the TV documentary Civil War Songs and Stories broadcast on PBS stations across the U.S.
Lyrics of several of Les’ songs have appeared in three volumes of Maple Leaf Rag, a New Orleans Poetry Anthology. He is also the co-author of The All-American Truck Stop Cookbook (Harper Collins) and Tennessee (Graphic Arts Press).
For more information, visit www.leskerr.com
"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
Carrie Hassler's amazing voice, highly entertaining performances, and numerous #1 albums and singles have garnered great attention over the last several years. She has received the Country Song of the Year Award by Strictly Country Magazine and appeared on the cover of Bluegrass Music Profiles Magazine, among numerous other recognition. She also garnered the #1 country single, "Country Strong" on European country radio and several #1 albums and singles on bluegrass music charts here in the U.S.
Carrie will soon begin recording her highly anticipated new album, but you can hear her on the 2011 IBMA Award nominated album, "The All-Star Jam Live At Graves Mountain" project (featuring Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Lou Reid and Carolina, Mark Newton, Carl Jackson, Crowe Brothers, Carrie Hassler, and Brand New Strings. The CD includes the 2011 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year" nominated song, "Graves Mountain Memories featuring: Russell Moore, Sammy Shelor, Audie Blaylock, Carrie Hassler, Lou Reid, Mark Newton and more. The album also picked up two other nominations, another one for Recorded Event of the Year and also Instrumental Recorded Event of the Year.
Carrie jumped on the scene late in 2006 with the release of "Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain" album on Rural Rhythm Records. The album was produced by Jim VanCleve of the band Mountain Heart and received immediate success debuting at #11 on Billboard Top Bluegrass Top Album Chart (retail sales) and spending nine months in 2007 on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey Top 15 Album Chart (airplay).
Just over a month after the initial album release, the single “Seven Miles From Wichita” hit the #1 spot on Sirius Radio’s Bluegrass Top 40 and went on to spend 10 months on the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Single Chart and was also a crossover in country radio as well. While that single was still charting, another single, “Going on the Next Train,” hit the same chart and appeared until January 2008. Yet another track, the gospel bluegrass song “Least That I Can Do” spent a year on Bluegrass Now Magazine’s Gospel Truths Chart.
In 2008, Rural Rhythm Records released her second album, "CHHR2" again produced by Van Cleve. The album made its debut at #5 on Billboard’s Top 50 Bluegrass Chart (retail sales)and climbed the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 15 Album Chart along with many other charts. The first single, “I Can Go Back Anytime” hit #1 on the May 2009 Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 with the second single, Faith & Hope also hitting the #1 spot on Power Source Magazine’s Top 10 Bluegrass Songs.
She has also been honored by her hometown of Pikeville, TN where the Mayor presented her with the Key to the City and proclaimed “Carrie Hassler Day."
Carrie has been influenced by a wide range of talents including Sheri Easter, a gospel singer who tinged her music with some bluegrass sounds along with the gospel message; Etta James, Patsy Cline, Dale Ann Bradley and Alison Krauss. "To this day, I remember the people I looked up to and I hope to make the same kind of mark in lives as these women did in mine," said Carrie.
"In the House" at the Grinder House is broadcast live on WFMC Jams every Friday from 6-8pm central.
Visit the Music/Merchandise section on Lee Gibson's Website and use discount code "wfmc" to receive 10% off your purchase!
Southern roots run deep in Lee Gibson’s veins and you see that on stage when he performs. Raised in the small town of Winchester, Tennessee, gave Gibson the humbleness that comes across on stage and his love for country music. As a child Lee enjoyed sitting in front of the television or radio listening to some of the greatest artists of our time, such as Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard and George Jones. Music started at a young age with Lee Gibson as he was part of the musicals and plays in his school, a member of the church choir, and he also had an acoustic show which he eventually added a full band to.
Gibson carries some of the songs from his country icons on stage as his songs tell the story of lost loves, hardships, falling in love and there are always the good drinking songs that have made history in country music. “Who You Are”, “Long Slow Night”, “My Country” and “Lincoln County Lightning” are just a few of the originals Lee Gibson performs at his shows. All of these songs telling stories that his audience can relate to.
Being compared to Dwight Yoakam and Ronnie Dunn Lee Gibson’s voice is powerful, clear and definitely country. With his influence, from these artists and so many more, Gibson pursued writing with some of the top Nashville songwriters. In 2001 he landed his first record deal and this put him on the stage with Randy Houser, Anthony Smith, Darryl Worley, T. Graham Brown, and even the late George Jones.
There is still uniqueness in his songwriting with the upcoming release of his sophomore album. You hear a collection of all of Lee Gibson’s influences on this album. There is love and heartbreak, happiness and despair, the jovial and serious and an album showing Lee Gibson’s talent and love of music.
As Lee Gibson steps on stage he does so with the experience he has gained over the years of working in the music business. His 6 foot 4 inch stature carries the deep richness in his voice as he sings to his audiences. His songs tell stories about who he is and some of the things he has experienced, as well as some classic country and rock and roll to get everyone up and out of their seats dancing. Gibson reaches out to his audiences and they love him as he makes time for them after a show.
This will be an exciting year for Lee Gibson. In November Gibson will be part of the An American Legacy Tour, starring Ronnie McDowell. A cruise is planned that will depart on the Carnival Fascination from Jacksonville, FL to the Bahamas, November 12 through November 15. Several other projects are in the works for Gibson and he is looking forward to this year and where his career is going.
As you walk into the venue you look on stage and Lee Gibson is performing. His voice carries through the sound system and you know you are about to see a great country singer on stage. His experience and talent shows through and the friendliness in his voice welcomes you to a seat. This is a Lee Gibson show. Quality, talent and pure country.
Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) Female Artist of the year nominee. Check out her music at www.tiannawoods.com and on digital sites. Electronic Press Kit can be found at www.sonicbids.com/tiannawoods
Biography
Tianna Woods is a multi-talented country recording artist from Burlington Ontario who is no stranger to the stage. Over the years she has performed in countless fairs, festivals, jamborees, corporate and private parties. She has performed in Canada, the U.S. and as far away as Japan. Tianna has released 2 holiday singles, as well as 7 national singles to Country Radio including -“Next Door Neighbour”, “Can You Hear Me Now”, “Rain on the Roses”, “Wow” and 2 that landed in the top 100, “Dancin’ With Elvis” and “I’m There”. Her latest single “On the Rise” is her debut single from her upcoming F.A.C.T.O.R. funded album that will be released in 2015. With her national single release history, Tianna now has a high level radio profile and her performances are always met with stunning reviews. Tianna will tell you, “Singing & performing has always been my passion. It has always felt so natural. Being on stage is like my second home.”
In 2013 Tianna was named “Artist of the Month” by the Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO). In 2014 she made the first round CMAO nominations for Female Artist, Rising Star and Single of the year. In 2015 she was nominated for the CMAO Female Artist of the year (along with Michelle Wright, Kira Isabella and Beverley Mahood) and Rising Star of the Year.
Tianna is also a multi-instrumentalist playing 7 instruments - piano, guitar, saxophone, drums, clarinet, fiddle and North American flute. She has headlined and performed at such festivals as Celebrate Ajax by the Lake
(6 consecutive years), Mitchell Fall Fair, Boothill Country Jamboree, Rockton World’s Fair, Redpath Tall Ships Festival, Caledonia Fair, the Niagara Regional Exhibition and performed at the Ribfests in Toronto and Burlington, with well over 50,000 in attendance. She has also opened for such acts as country male artist
“Tim Hicks” and country duo “One More Girl”.
Tianna is also a musical theater actress and has appeared in the musicals "The Music Man", Brigadoon",
"Once On This Island", "The Mikado", "Anything Goes", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "That's Showbiz", which performed in New York City. Her stage production manager created an incredible production of "Anne of Green Gables" with Tianna landing the lead role of “Anne”. The show toured throughout Japan. While in Japan, Tianna also toured the schools with her band, meeting and performing for the children of Japan.
Tianna launched her kick off tour show It’s About Country Music and “Then Some” at the Backstage Capital Theatre in Delhi, ON and will be booking more dates for 2015. Her show features her music, as well as country music through the years and “then some” from artists including Merle Haggard, George Strait, Alan Jackson,
Joe Cocker, Dan Hill and many more. The show also features Tianna’s vocal, and music theatre background, as well as the 7 musical instruments she plays. Special guests include - Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee - Wendell Ferguson and Singer/ Songwriter - Michael Warren.