Snarky Puppy
After a decade of relentless touring and recording in all but complete obscurity, the Texas-bred/New York-based quasi-collective suddenly found itself held up by the press and public as one of the major figures in the jazz world. But as the category names for all three of the band’s Grammy® awards would indicate (Best R&B Performance in 2014, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2016 and 2017), Snarky Puppy isn’t exactly a jazz band. It’s not a fusion band, and it’s definitely not a jam band. It’s probably best to take Nate Chinen of the New York Times’ advice, as stated in an online discussion about the group, to “take them for what they are, rather than judge them for what they’re not.” (website)
Snarky Puppy joins another Roaming the Arts favorite Mingo Fishtrap as a band formed out of the wonderful music program at the University of North Texas.
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Greg Brown
Greg Brown
Greg Brown’s mother played electric guitar, his grandfather played banjo, and his father was a Holy Roller preacher in the Hacklebarney section of Iowa, where the Gospel and music are a way of life. Brown’s first professional singing job came at age 18 in New York City, running hootenannies (folksinger get-togethers) at the legendary Gerdes Folk City. After a year, Brown moved west to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where he was a ghostwriter for Buck Ram, founder of the Platters. Tired of the fast-paced life, Brown traveled with a band for a few years, and even quit playing for a while before he moved back to Iowa and began writing songs and playing in midwestern clubs and coffeehouses.
Brown’s songwriting has been lauded by many, and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. He has also recorded more than a dozen albums, including his 1986 release, Songs of Innocence and of Experience, when he put aside his own songwriting to set poems of William Blake to music. One Big Town, recorded in 1989, earned Brown three and a half stars in Rolling Stone, chart-topping status in AAA and The Gavin Report’s Americana rankings and Brown’s first Indie Award from NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors). The Poet Game, his 1994 CD, received another Indie award from NAIRD. His critically acclaimed 1996 release, Further In, was a finalist for the same award. Rolling Stone’s four-star review of Further In called Brown “a wickedly sharp observer of the human condition.” 1997’s Slant 6 Mind (Red House Records) earned Brown his second Grammy nomination. His latest CD, One Night (Red House), is a re-release of a 1983 live performance originally on Minneapolis’ Coffeehouse Extemporé Records. (Bio from gregbrown.org)
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Amy Rigby
Amy Rigby
Amy Rigby has made a life out of writing and singing about life. With bands Last Roundup and the Shams in eighties NYC East Village to her solo debut Diary Of A Mod Housewife out of nineties Williamsburg; through a songwriting career in 2000s Nashville and during the past decade with duo partner Wreckless Eric, she’s released records on visionary independent labels Rounder, Matador, Signature Sounds and reborn Stiff Records as well as her and Eric’s own Southern Domestic Recordings. The Old Guys, her first solo album in a dozen years, measures the weight of heroes, home; family, friends and time. Philip Roth and Bob Dylan, CD/cassette players, touring, the wisdom of age and Walter White, groupies, Robert Altman, egg creams and mentors are paid tribute. Twelve songs written by Amy and recorded by Wreckless Eric in upstate New York, The Old Guys is the sound of a good girl grown up, never giving up.
Now a memoir joins her music. Girl to City, out now.
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D.K. Harrell
D.K. Harrell is a prominent young American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for his soulful vocals, stinging guitar style, and dynamic stage presence. Born in Ruston, Louisiana, in 1998, Harrell was heavily influenced by B.B. King from an early age, learning King’s music, tone, and stage craft by studying concert footage. This dedication led to an invitation to play one of King’s iconic “Lucille” guitars at the B.B. King Symposium in 2019, his first paying gig.
Harrell quickly made a name for himself in the blues world, winning the 2022 B.B. King “King of the Blues” Award and finishing third in the International Blues Challenge. His 2023 debut album, The Right Man on the Little Village Foundation label, received critical acclaim for its 11 original songs and blend of blues, soul, funk, and gospel elements. The album earned him the 2024 Blues Music Award in the “Best Emerging Artist Album” category.
Now signed to the legendary Alligator Records, Harrell released his second album, Talkin’ Heavy, in June 2025. The album, produced by Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, features twelve original tracks that cement his place among the new generation of blues stars, showcasing his ability to bridge traditional blues with a modern, fresh perspective. At just 27 years old, Harrell is hailed as a leading light of the younger generation of blues artists, bringing a vital energy and authenticity to the genre. Known for his magnetic stage presence, dapper tuxedo attire, and engaging interaction with the audience, Harrell is dedicated to preserving the blues while ensuring it resonates with contemporary audiences. He has toured extensively across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, performing at major festivals and captivating audiences with his high-energy, unpredictable live shows. As Blues Blast called him, he is “The fastest-rising talent in the blues today.”
