Shaina Shepherd is a singer, songwriter, vocal teacher, and community organizer in Seattle, WA. Known for her pervasive style as front-woman to soul-grunge band BEARAXE, her notable vocal stylings have brought her into various creative spaces — from collaborating with Duff McKagan, Chong The Nomad and Acid Tongue to sharing stages with rock stars like Dave Matthews and Thunderpussy to being a soloist with the classical ensembles around the country. Inspired by the parallels between gospel and garbage metal, Shaina Shepherd is not your average vocalist. Living in the city where both Soundgarden and Quincy Jones cut their teeth, Shaina lends her soulful voice to projects of all genres. 

“I was alone, unpacking boxes in the strange old craftsman I rented a room in during my divorce. Out of nowhere my computer turned on and started playing Townes Van Zandt’s ‘For the Sake of the Song’. I shivered. I melted. I picked up my guitar and wrote ‘If Not The Man’” Years later, in an "about damn time" kind of moment, Seattle based singer-songwriter Caitlin Sherman is stepping out solo. She’s had her fair share of collaborations over the years, most notably the cosmic psych rock of Evening Bell and the hazy noir of Slow Skate. As a songwriter and arranger in both projects, she also held the role of girlfriend and wife. Now she is neither. Death To The Damsel is a meditation on love lost and independence found in the wake of back to back romantic/musical entanglements. Each song an act to unbind oneself from the past in order to look forward. There will be no White Knight to free the damsel. It’s high time she untie herself from those tracks and make a move. “Find me a fire, I’ll find the escape, an exit from all that we built an invisible stairway, hidden from shame for a quick getaway.” And so that “heroine without a hero needed” emerged with ten songs charting her own path. Dark contemplative songwriting explored through fresh unpredictable pop sensibility, dripping with art and purpose. Longtime friend Colin J Nelson produced, mixed and engineered the album in his Fremont studio Her Car. And while past projects incorporated vast soundscapes and string arrangements written by Sherman herself, she made the decision to stick to a set band sound making sure the song itself was the centerpiece. The pair worked to carve out a sound that protected the intimacy of the lyric and emotion with a studio band that could react to those dynamic needs.

BYLAND is the moniker and last name of Seattle based, Albuquerque raised, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Alie Renee. Her latest studio record, “GRAY”, is brilliantly "a little weird" and breathes intriguing and often offbeat arrangements. Alie’s cinematic, indie-rock sound is tethered by timeless songwriting and attentive production. Her music is grounded by vocally vulnerable moments that will move you to lean in and open yourself up. After releasing her studio record, “Gray” in late 2020, Byland received recognition from outlets like KEXP, American Songwriter, and Pop Matters, among others. The record was co-written with her partner, Jacob John and produced by Nathan Yaccino, along with additional mixing by Andy Park. Notable contributors alongside Alie include a lineup of powerful females - Jessica Dobson (Deep Sea Diver), Meagan Grandall (Lemolo), and Abby Gundersen. After having spent two in Albuquerque, Alie moved back to Seattle in early 2022, where she is currently working on her second studio record with partner and co-writer, Jake, and Producer, Nathan Yaccino.

The Hasslers, Missoula Americana/ Alt-Country troubadours, have been spending the last year in the Pacific Northwest, getting their feet wet in the big city music scene, playing venues weekly in Seattle and Portland, wowing crowds with their electric stage presence and gutwrenchingly honest lyrics, and most importantly, recording their full-length album, "State Center".   This new 12 song LP documents their move, both musically and lyrically, through homesick blues songs, lovelorn country songs, and a new turn into roots-rock with horn arrangements, funky guitar licks, and wailing organ riffs.  As winners of the emerging artist contest, they played the main stage at Red Ants Pants Music Festival last year alongside Jason Isbell, Brandie Carlile and Josh Ritter. They'll be taking their show on the road in Summer '16. Recently they've been seen with acts like Blitzen Trapper, the Cave Singers, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, the Gypsy Lumberjacks, the Black Lillies, the Heartless Bastards, and many more!