Old Man Markley are not your run-of-the-mill band. They’re not a traditional bluegrass band, nor a typical punk band. Instead, the band meld elements of both genres into a musical style that has resulted in a boot-stomping good time for fans around the world.

The seven piece – rounded out by Johnny Carey (vocals, guitar), Annie DeTemple (autoharp, vocals), Joey Garibaldi (bass, vocals), Jeff Fuller (drums), Ryan Markley (washboard), John Rosen (banjo) and Katie Weed (fiddle) – roared onto the scene in 2010. Their unique blend of punk rock sensibilities, ear for pop melodies, and deeply rooted love for bluegrass caught the ear of Fat Wreck Chords, who released OMM’s debut album Guts n’ Teeth in 2011.

Word quickly spread of the their incredible live shows, and over the next few years the band found themselves shredding strings on stage with the likes of Flogging Molly, The Reverend Horton Heat, and NOFX. Old Man Markley were quickly embraced by the punk rock community for their incendiary performances. At the same time, bluegrass fans warmly welcomed the band, earning OMM a #8 debut on the Billboard Bluegrass chart for Guts n’ Teeth. From rivets to rhinestones, even the world of glossy country music embraced OMM, yielding them a slot at California’s country festival mecca, Stagecoach.

After two years of relentless touring and winning over thousands of fans, Old Man Markley returned to the little house in Southern California where it all began to record their follow-up album, Down Side Up. With Fat Wreck Chords owner and NOFX frontman Fat Mike in the producer’s chair alongside singer/guitarist Johnny Carey, Old Man Markley plucked, bowed, and strummed their way through thirteen galloping new songs.

“With the support of Fat Mike, we went out on a limb with this album,” says Carey. “We didn’t restrict our creativity and can’t wait for the world to hear the variety on our album.”

It paid off. Down Side Up debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart. OMM followed the release with multiple tours across the United States, and international tours through Canada, across Europe, and in Japan, to play songs for old friends and new fans. A more cohesive unit than ever, Old Man Markley overflows with passion for their craft and for each other. Just have a listen for yourself.

This Chicago based Indie Americana band might be young, but they are a force to be reckoned with. Fleeting Suns got together in the early days of 2013. A mixture of family, friends, roommates and strangers assembled to bring to life the music of Andy Burrows, and share it with Chicago and the world. After a Spinal-Tap-esque rotation of the drum chair, the band finally settled in with Kelsi Richter on keys, Dan Kristan on bass, and Nicky Cameron on drums. The well-crafted songs tell stories that are at once uplifting, heartbreaking, mysterious and universal, set to three part folk harmonies with driving country-rock rhythms. The Fleeting Suns look forward to relating their collective stories and bringing joy, sorrow, and everything in between to whoever will open their ears.

As a young man Carter saw a guitarist by the name of Jack Owens — of Bentonia, Mississippi — in a documentary that had been rented on video from the local public library. Carter, from that point on, was deeply influenced by the music of Owens; and the school of music that is native to the Bentonia region of Mississippi. By far, the most well known musician from Bentonia was Skip James. During Carter’s last decade of living and busking on the streets in Chicago, he earned the nickname “Mississippi” through his front porch, “down-home” style of playing. Today, Carter’s blues has remained firmly rooted in the blues tradition and style of Bentonia; and has grown into something completely original and unique to the genre. In the summer of 2009 Carter played at the now legendary Deep Blues Festival of Minneapolis. In March of 2010 he performed at the Blues Autour du Zinc, blues festival in Beauvais, France. In the spring of 2010 he toured the South American country of Peru. And he also traveled to Bari, Italy to perform at the Tra Blues e Avant-Garde, blues festival in July of 2010.