Winner of the 2017 Ameripolitan Music Award for Best Female Rockabilly Artist, and named the “Best Up-And-Coming Band” by Hudson Valley Magazine, Lara Hope and the Ark-Tones are New York’s premier roots rock n’ roll, rockabilly, rhythm & blues outfit. Born from a hybrid of Lara’s former rockabilly band The Champtones, and upright bassist Matt’s international psychobilly act, The Arkhams, The Ark-Tones hit the ground running in 2012 and haven’t slowed down since.

Lara Hope was featured on the cover of UK Rock n’ Roll magazine in March 2015, and New York’s Ulster Magazine in March 2016. The band has shared the stage with many well-known acts including Tiger Army, Gary US Bonds, America, Big Sandy, and Wayne Hancock, amongst others, and has performed at at a variety of national festivals including Viva Las Vegas, Ink n Iron, and The Nashville Boogie. The band is also known for their visually arresting videos – “Whiskey Pick” (from their debut album) and “I’m the One” were official selections in the 2014 and 2016 Woodstock Film Festival.

Driftless Sisters are an indie-folk duo rooted in the Midwest’s topographical “dirftless” region, featuring banjo, guitar, harmonica, and percussion. Kat Karberg and Lily Sprengelmeyer produce an eclectic sound, ranging from slow haunting melodies to upbeat driving folk-pop. The two recently produced an original nine-track album “Sparks from the Fire”, produced by Little Scream at Last Songbird Records, featuring four tracks with Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire.

Dusty, Dirty, Rock’n Roll.
Elliot Heerman on Bass and Lead Vocals
Patrick Irwin on Guitar
Jane “Damage” Halldorson on Drums

Although he’s the leader of a rowdy honky-tonk band, John Ballantyne is also becoming recognized as one of Chicago’s premier country songwriters. Ballantyne was born and raised in Scotland, though you’d never know it from his earthy vocal delivery and snarling lead guitar. Both resonate with the twang and raunch of classic country and Americana.

Besides being staples of the Chicago country music circuit, John and his band Crazy Heart (Gus Noble, Leslie Walle-Santos and Mike Fleming) regularly bring their high-energy honky-tonk sound back home for tours of Scotland, including main stage appearances at the prestigious, award-winning Tiree Music Festival.