Follywood Artists

Betsy Frank & The Bareknuckle Band

Alt-Country / Blues / Southern Rock - Athens, GA

Betsy Franck and the BareKnuckle Band mixes dirty Blues guitar, busy solid bass lines, gospel/country vocals, and rock & roll drummin'. They recorded their debut album, "Held Up By Progress" with John Keane (R.E.M., Indigo Girls, Widespread Panic), which was met with great reviews from local music media. The band's latest album "Still Waiting" recorded with Engineer, A.J. Adams of Troubadour Den Recording, was released in March (2010). Most recently, they are proud recipients of the Flagpole Music Award for Best Country/Southern Rock Band of Athens, Ga. 2010.

Big Bill Morganfield

Blues / Rock / R&B - Atlanta, GA

The son of Mississppi Delta Blues legend Muddy Waters is back on tour and tearing it up on the blues / rock circuits. Big Bill Morganfield has received widespread praise and acclaim for both his recordings and his live performance. Billboard: "Ramblin' Mind" is a vital step toward the blues credibility he seeks. Morganfield shows that his blues have their own depth." Chicago Tribute: "It's eerie, as if his father and Howlin' Wolf had never left." Entertainment Weekly: "Chicago blues is a powerful force in the right hands, which in this case, belong to the son of Muddy Waters. The comparisons are inevitable, but the big man is up to the challenge."

Bret Mosley

Alternative / Roots Rock / Funk - Brooklyn, NY

Rarely could an artist be said to transcend, yet include, the most raw & real elements of Delta blues, roots rock, folk, funk & rap. Nevertheless, with bone-deep authenticity, that’s exactly what Bret Mosley does, wrestling deftly with longing, belonging, & world-weariness. With signature idiosyncratic intensity, Mosley grooves the folk & funks the blues. Touring tirelessly, he has shared the stage with Trombone Shorty, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Good Enough For Good Times, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Garry Burnside, Jerry Joseph, Stockholm Syndrome, Outformation, etc. Comparisons have included Chris Whitley, Steve Earle, Van Morrison, Keller Williams, Ben Harper, Taj Mahal, John Butler and Beck.
Bret Mosely Press Kit

Cary Hudson & Blue Mountain

Alt-Country / Blues / Southern Rock - Oxford / Hattiesburg, MS

Cary Hudson is the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter of the alt-country / Blue / Southern rock band Blue Mountain. In the mid-1990s, No Depression Magazine credited Blue Mountain as being the pioneers of the current alt-country movement. Prior to Blue Mountain, Hudson was in a band called The Hilltops, which featured Wilco’s John Stirratt on bass. Stirratt and Hudson formed Blue Mountain together, and when Stirratt left the band to start Uncle Tupelo with Jay Farrar (Son Volt) and Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), he was replaced on the bass by his twin sister Laurie Stirratt, who Hudson later married and subsequently divorced. Over the course of his career with Blue Mountain and as a solo artist, Hudson has shared the stage with the likes of the North Mississippi Allstars, Jimbo Mathus, Kudzu Kings, Marah, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Bobby Rush, Daybreakdown, Mac Leaphart and several members of Widespread Panic.

Concrete Jumpsuit

Rock / Psychedelic / Southern Rock - Columbia, SC

Assembling in 2008, Concrete Jumpsuit is a collaboration of four individuals from diverse musical backgrounds, each contributing a unique facet to the band's sound and approach to music. Remaining loyal to their roots with a raw analog sound, they embrace elements of rock, funk, and soul with an inventive flare that is uniquely Concrete. A high energy sonic experience on stage, Concrete Jumpsuit bridges the gap between performer and audience with each live performance. With their funky, experimental sound this quartet is setting the precedent for a rock and roll revival, and the return of improvisation as an art form.

Crowfield

Americana / Rock / Indie - Charleston, SC

Crowfield's music has evolved from a vintage American sound reflecting their Heartland roots to a modern and slightly edgy style of Rock & Roll. They caught the ear of acclaimed producer Rick Beato & their debut album "Goodbye, Goodnight, So Long Midwestern" (Ten Star Records) soon followed. The band later enlisted the help of William Morris Endeavor Agency & signed with Universal Records. The second album was also recorded with Beato, but production on the songs was minimized in order to capture the emotion & energy present in the live show. The self-titled album "Crowfield" was released on June 28, the band toured with Rusted Root in 2010 & were recently picked up by Mark Bryan & Chucktown Music Group.

Davis Coen

Blues / Roots Rock - Memphis, TN

Davis Coen has been touring the U.S. since his teens, either as a solo guitar and vocal act, or commonly accompanied by bass and drums in trio line-up. Davis commonly plays at clubs, bars, and festivals throughout the Southeast and mid-south. He has also enjoyed a dozen tours of Europe, promoting over a half-a-dozen album releases. He has shared a bill or opened for many classic blues artists such as James Cotton, Junior Wells, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Big Jack Johnson, T-Model Ford, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, and John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. He has also shared bills with such non-blues performers as Richie Havens, Mountain, Eric Burdon, Tito Puente and Toots & The Maytals.

Guilt Ridden Troubadour (GRT)

Alt-Country / Americana / Southern Rock - Charleston, SC

Reid Stone (Mac Leaphart, Daybreakdown), has a new band playing his own brand of Americana and Southern rock with a North Mississippi Hill Country flair. GRT is a crowd-pleaser in just about any university, festival or bar setting. Stone has shared the stage with or opened for String Cheese Incident, Jewel, The Wailers, Drivin' N' Cryin', Tea Leaf Green, North Mississippi Allstars, Jojo Herman & Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic, Oteil Burbrige (Allman Brothers), David Allan Coe, Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormans, Bonnie Bramlett, Randall Bramblett and more.
on Facebook

James Justin & Co.

Americana / Bluegrass / Folk Rock - Folly Beach, SC / Richmond, VA

Debut album Southern Son, So Far has solidified James Justin Burke's name as an invigorating new face in Americana. Recorded at Plowground Studios, the album features Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell playing & singing harmonies on "The Rescue", while fellow Folly Beach favorites Dangermuffin back him on "I Know You Will." From alt-country to bluegrass & from indie to soul, the nine-song album showcases Burke's strengths as a solid guitarist, strong vocalist & songwriting craftsman. They have been compared to the Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show & Wilco, and recently received high praise in Relix Magazine. This spring, the band opened for Taj Mahal & were joined by Sam Bush for one show in Charleston. The band recently played Floyd Fest, Bristol Rhythm & Roots, Palisade Bluegrass Festival & French Broad River Fest.
"Sounds like an instant classic to me. Reminds me of when I first heard some of my favorite singer/songwriters." ~ Mark Bryan / Hootie & The Blowfish lead guitarist, on the new James Justin & Co. album Dark Country.

Kirk Smithhart Band

Blues / Southern Rock - Memphis, TN

The Hill Country Revue lead guitarist is touring with his own band in 2011. Smithhart has been the winner of the prestigious “Albert King Award” for best guitarist, and nominated for the “Sam Phillips Newcomer Award” at the 16th Annual Premiere Players Awards presented by the Memphis Chapter of NARAS, as well as a Top 3 finish at the Memphis International Blues Talent Competition.
on MySpace

Luke Cunningham

Acoustic / Rock / Southern Rock - Charleston, SC

After years on the road with such national acts as The Fray, Gin Blossoms and Will Hoge, Luke Cunningham’s new release of Heart Pressure weaves the experiences, tribulations and uphill battles of this independent southern songwriter into an earnest narrative that’s bound to engage listeners while at the same time resonating with any music fan who still believes in the art of storytelling.

Garnering regional praise for what the Charleston Post & Courier calls “a fine example of sincerity in music”, Cunningham’s knack for penning heartfelt lyrics gained the artist his first dose of international recognition in 2009 when was called upon to write the soundtrack for the 2010 Canadian film Blood, Sweat & Beers. Airing to over five million people in Canada and the US, the movie and Cunningham’s music would also be showcased in premiere film festivals throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

It’s of little surprise that music critics and fans are already in agreement that the highly anticipated release of Heart Pressure signifies Cunningham’s most well-rounded collection of songs yet, as it offers longtime devotees and newcomers alike a welcomed reminder of what singer/songwriters used to be. On the album Cunningham relentlessly adheres to the lyrical standards that originally separated his former band Part Time Heroes from radio rock, yet the songwriter takes it one step further by embracing new stylistic directions for the music itself. The result is a well-crafted variety of rock, Americana, singer/songwriter and pop/rock songs that evade any one definitive genre.

Mac Leaphart & My Ragged Company

Alt-Country / Americana / Southern Rock - Charleston, SC

Mac Leaphart & My Ragged Company takes the honky-tonk side of the Rolling Stones and Little Feat and merges it with the alt-country stylings of Blue Mountain and Uncle Tupelo, but with a modern Southern rock / Americana edge. The Leaphart-penned ballad "Confederate Roses" off his self-titled debut Line, Rope, Etc., has been receiving air play in select markets in the Southeast. Many will remember Leaphart as co-frontman for Five Way Friday, whose 2000 release Run Like This reached #4 on Billboard's Top Internet Albums chart. Subsequently, the band toured with Vertical Horizon & Cowboy Mouth and had several songs including "Homecoming" and "Everyone" featured in episodes of Dawson's Creek. In 2003 a full-length album entitled WRECKED was released, produced by fellow South Carolinian Mark Bryan (Hootie & the Blowfish). Leaphart has opened for or shared the stage with Ryan Bingham & Dead Horses, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Mark Bryan of Hootie & The Blowfish, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Vertical Horizon, Cowboy Mouth, Blue Mountain, Hayes Carll, Corey Smith, Todd Rundgren, Joe Firstman, Jaron Lowenstein & The Cordovas, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion.
on MySpace

Old You

Indie / Pop / Rock / Psychedelic - Charleston, SC

Old You displays a satisfying eagerness & a plump 'n' soulful mix of musical styles. Singer/guitarist Young-Mi Feldsott leads the way with thoughtful original tunes, drawing the attention of music fans & hipsters. The band has become a malleable band with a positive attitude and an ever-growing repertoire. Comparisons have ranged from Jefferson Airplane to Feist, & Janice Joplin to Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. Other comparisons have included Pink Floyd, My Morning Jacket & Santana, but the band lists their influences as Talking Heads, Led Zeppelin, Paul Simon, & Etta James. They've also concentrated their efforts on shaping a recognizable style of their own, which is a mixture of funk, indie, soul, & psychedelic.
on Facebook

Poor Bastard Souls

Indie / Southern Rock / Psychedlic - Athens, GA

Composed of current and former members of Bloodkin, Barbara Cue, Smiling Assassins and White Buffalo, the Poor Bastard Souls have been dubbed “a virtual who’s-who of Athens-based sidemen, scene veterans, and rock royalty.” Born as one-time recording project that found its fulfillment in the 2009 release Winter Breathing, the Poor Bastard Souls have since solidified their lineup and refined their live sound, delivering a raw, Americana, punk folk-rock rich with virtuoso slide guitar work and thick vocal harmonies. Winter Breathing also features guest performances by a number of prominent musicians from Athens including R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry and Widespread Panic pianist John "Jojo" Hermann, Drive-by Trucker John Neff, and Bloodkin frontman Danny Hutchens.

Ryan Bonner & The Dearly Beloved

Indie / Americana / Rock - Charleston, SC

Ryan Bonner plays a Southern brand of alternative folk music with an indie rock edge that has drawn comparisons from Wilco to Whiskeytown. A multi-instrumentalist, Bonner plays guitar, piano, harmonica, mandolin and bass, and also owns/operates his own studio on James Island. Ryan Bonner & The Dearly Beloved has been labeled "one of Charleston’s best unsigned bands."

Sarah Cole & The Hawkes

Blues / Rock / Soul - Charleston, SC

The 18-year-old blues phenom and her backband have been playing around the South Carolina and Southeast Georgia area together for a short time, but are turning some heads. The Hawkes’ sound can swing from Delta blues standards, to Southern rock, R&B and soul, with the occasional Latin groove or jazz riff. Cole and Hawkes frontman Jesse Pritchard harmonizing vocals and guitars drive the band’s.
on Facebook

Skye Paige & The Original Recipe

Rockabilly / Blues / Country Punk - Charleston, SC

Skye Paige was born in the North Georgia woods, and raised in the outer city limits of Hawtlanta,Ga. She is now refining herself on the coast, in Charleston, South Carolina. Skye Paige & The Original Recipe cooks with Fire. Skye lights up the stage when she whips out her slide and grills her Gibson well done. Rockabilly, blues, country, and Rock & Roll are the key ingredients for this musical mix. She writes and performs her own original material, and is known to throw in covers, by such greats, as Memphis Minnie, Wanda Jackson and Bonnie Raitt. Skye Paige is the Belle of the Ball, and has the right to sing the blues. She has played with the finest musicians such as Mudcat, Dash Rip Rock and the Defilers.

Stereo Reform

Crunk / Funk / Rock - Greenville, SC

Stereo Reform is an innovative rock trio with roots on both the east and west coast. After originating in Charleston, SC and having a rebirth in Los Angeles, CA, Stereo Reform now calls Greenville, SC home. Stereo Reform is influenced by a wide range of bands from Franz Ferdinand, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Beatles, to Ghostland Observatory, Average White Band and Band of Horses. Simply put Stereo Reform is a blend of rock, dance, funk, and pop. Since forming two years ago S.R. has played over 200 shows nationwide. The S.R. debut album, Robots of Evolution, is available on iTunes and many other such sites. There are two EPs available as well, The Whitestone Session and Party Light 25.

Weigh Station

Rock / Southern Rock / Jam - Charleston, SC

Weigh Station has been playing in Charleston and touring around the Southeast for the past three years, and although they are relatively new, the band has become a staple on the Lowcountry rock scene. Made up of five graduates of the College of Charleston, where the band met and formed, Weigh Station combines elements of classic rock, Southern rock and experimental jam. They have a big, loud, rockin' sound that fits in well in bars, festivals and college campuses in the South.