What ever happened to all those dudes that were in those local metal bands of your youth? Well, in the case of The Hard Wood Boys they play old timey traditional folk with a twist now. With a few instruments (and some cleaning supplies made into instruments) these four long time friends are bringing you that hot new jug band joint straight from the underground. And by underground I mean rural Illinois. Featuring a washtub bass as well as mandolin, banjo, washboard and guitar The Hard Wood Boys tap into the very earliest American roots music. If the name Alan Lomax means something to you then this is your kind of band.

Carolina Still is an acoustic band with a new sound and an old-time feel. They will take you down on the farm, out into the tobacco fields, and down a dirt road with a trunk full of ‘shine; you never know where they might take you. One thing’s for sure, you will be schooled in southern American culture after listening to their music. They blend musical styles such as old-time, bluegrass, country, blues, rockabilly, punk, and many more. Their sound is deeply rooted in traditional music but is delivered with a more progressive edge and a great amount of energy.

Ganelle Djarlo is a Country/Americana Singer/Songwriter who has performed and worked with music in many places all over the world from Nashville to New Zealand. Ganelle has been performing since the age of 3, and began songwriting at the young age of 14. Ganelle’s songs are real and come straight from a woman’s soul. Donny Ray Reed is a Country Soul songwriter. Donny Ray has lived, traveled, and toured throughout Europe and the United States, and writes about the many unique experiences and people that he has come across on his path. Ganelle and Donny Ray offer a truly unique and talent filled show by combining Ganelle’s original Americana/Country songs, Donny Ray’s original Country Soul songs, along with traditional country and soul covers from Patsy Cline to Willie Nelson to Dottie West to Ray Charles.

I 57th South is a band that doesn’t fit into a single category. They can shift gears from Cash/Waylon to Buddy Holly/Carl Perkins to Skynyrd/Allman Brothers to Beatles/Springsteen. From the largest city to the smallest town – just like I 57 they travel as far as possible with an Illinois perspective on music.