Brandi Carlile
Brandi M. Carlile is an American singer-songwriter and producer whose music spans multiple genres. As of 2018, Carlile has released six studio albums and earned seven Grammy Award nominations, including one for The Firewatcher’s Daughter and six for By the Way, I Forgive You. Wikipedia
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Etienne Charles
Etienne Charles
Hailed by The New York Times as “an auteur” (Ben Ratliff), by Jazz Times as “A daring improviser who delivers with heart-wrenching lyricism” (Bill Milkowski). According to Downbeat Magazine “Charles delivers his ebullient improvisations with the elegance of a world-class ballet dancer.” (John Murph). He has received critical acclaim for his exciting performances, thrilling compositions and knack for connecting with audiences worldwide. In June 2012, Etienne was written into the US Congressional Record for his musical contributions to Trinidad & Tobago and the World. Perhaps more than any other musician of his generation or Eastern Caribbean origin, Etienne brings a careful study of myriad rhythms from the French, Spanish, English, and Dutch speaking Caribbean to the table. Crucially, as a soloist, he fully understands the New Orleans trumpet tradition; which is readily discernible in his trademark instrumental swagger, and what famed Crescent City Pianist, Jelly Roll Morton so succinctly captured in the now immortal phrase, ‘The Spanish Tinge’. He has performed and or recorded with Monty Alexander, Roberta Flack, Frank Foster, Ralph MacDonald, Johnny Mandel, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Maria Schneider, Count Basie Orchestra, Eric Reed, Lord Blakie, David Rudder, and many others. He holds a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. Etienne Charles has taught as an Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Michigan State University and the University of Miami.
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Della Mae
Della Mae is a GRAMMY-nominated, all-female string band that has spent the last 15 years redefining the boundaries of bluegrass and Americana. Founded in Boston in 2009 by fiddle champion Kimber Ludiker, the group has evolved from a regional sensation into a global force, touring over 30 countries as cultural ambassadors.
The band’s sound is a “melting pot” of their diverse backgrounds, blending high-energy bluegrass with indie-folk and modern country. Their performances are celebrated for their “sensory yet assertive” style, balancing traditional roots with contemporary songwriting.
Della Mae’s discography is marked by steady growth and critical acclaim. Their 2013 album, This World Oft Can Be, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and helped them win the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year award. Subsequent releases like Headlight (2020) and Family Reunion (2021) continued to push their lyrical and sonic boundaries.
In early 2025, the band reached a new creative peak with their album Magic Accident, released on January 23 via Compass Records. Produced by banjo legend Alison Brown, the album is described as their most collaborative work to date, featuring original songs from every member. Standout tracks include the title song, penned by Woodsmith, and “Out Run ‘Em,” written by Smith.
Beyond the stage, Della Mae is a “movement” focused on female empowerment and social advocacy. They use their platform to mentor young musicians and support initiatives for gender equality and labor rights. Through their work with the U.S. State Department’s “American Voices” program, they have brought bluegrass to audiences from urban schools in Kazakhstan to rural festivals in Brazil, proving that their music transcends cultural and geographic borders.
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Rodney Crowell
Born in 1950 in Houston, Texas, Rodney Crowell has built a career as one of the most significant figures in the evolution of Americana music. Raised in a musical household where his father led a honky-tonk band, Crowell began playing drums in that group at age 11. His journey took him to Nashville in 1972, where he befriended a circle of legendary songwriters, including Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. This early period was formative, as Crowell absorbed the craft of songwriting with a literary and poetic lens that would define his life’s work. His talent was quickly recognized by Emmylou Harris, who recorded his song “Bluebird Wine” and invited him to join her famous Hot Band as a guitarist and harmony singer in 1975.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Crowell established himself as a premier songwriter for other artists. His compositions reached the top of the charts via icons like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Bob Seger, whose recording of Crowell’s “Shame on the Moon” became a massive pop and country success. Crowell also served as a producer, notably for his then-wife Rosanne Cash, helping to shape the sound of neo-traditionalist country music. However, it was his 1988 solo album, Diamonds & Dirt, that made him a superstar in his own right. The album achieved the unprecedented feat of producing five consecutive #1 country singles, including “After All This Time,” which won him his first Grammy for Best Country Song.
As the 1990s progressed, Crowell consciously moved away from the mainstream country machine to pursue more personal and autobiographical projects. This shift began in earnest with the 2001 release of The Houston Kid, a semi-autobiographical collection that explored his childhood and roots with stark honesty. This record, along with follow-ups like Fate’s Right Hand and The Outsider, is regarded by critics and Crowell himself as some of his most vital work. His literary prowess eventually extended to the page with his acclaimed memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, published in 2011.
Crowell’s later career has been marked by high-profile collaborations and continued innovation. He reunited with Emmylou Harris for the 2013 album Old Yellow Moon, which earned another Grammy for Best Americana Album. He has remained remarkably prolific well into his 70s, releasing projects like the Jeff Tweedy-produced The Chicago Sessions (2023) and his 20th studio album, Airline Highway (2025), which features contributions from younger artists like Ashley McBryde and Lukas Nelson. Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and recipient of the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Crowell is celebrated as a “songwriter’s songwriter” whose influence spans over five decades of American roots music.
