Dakota Ray Parker grew up around Hillsboro, Kentucky exploring the mountains, playing in the creeks and living in a land of true freedom. The times were tough, but everything changed when his parents got him a guitar. His first songs were inspired by the local bluegrass players, 1990s country and southern gospel. In 2023, Parker quit his job to go all-in on music. His first single, “Rebel on the Run,” quickly made waves and received radio airplay internationally. Two EPs, “Kentucky Gap” and “Higher Ground,” painted pictures of his turbulent upbringing while developing his identity as an up-and-coming Americana artist. His songs range from hauntingly empty - just his voice and a guitar - to pulsing arrangements with drums, banjo, guitars and fiddle. With his Appalachian drawl and conviction for emotional honesty in songwriting, Dakota Ray Parker plays in a way that honors the local musicians and church songs that raised him. Now living in north central Indiana and raising a family of his own, Parker continues to tour the Midwest and consistently release new music.

Brett Auerbach is an indie singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Akron, Ohio. Raised in the Cuyahoga Valley, his music draws deep influence from the sounds of Appalachia and the American Midwest. Blending claw-hammer and fingerstyle guitar with open tunings, Auerbach crafts a sound rooted in delta blues and Americana, marked by raw emotion and vivid lyrical storytelling. In 2021, Auerbach co-founded the band Rye Valley alongside multi-instrumentalist Landon Kearns. The group’s debut full-length album, Miss River (2024), was written during Auerbach’s travels through the Mississippi River region and showcases their signature blend of folk, blues, and alt-country. Following the album’s release, Rye Valley joined acclaimed songwriter Clem Snide on a national tour in Fall 2024. Auerbach has also served as the lead guitarist for Ohio-based artist Chrissy Strong since 2023. Known for his dynamic performances, he continues to play regularly throughout the Cleveland/Akron area.

Working-class Americana troubadours delivering original songs and a signature sound from the heart of the rustbelt, the valley of the Cuyahoga River. Rye Valley grew out of the rich musical soil unique to Akron, Ohio, after nearly a decade of casual collaboration between founding members, Brett Auerbach (not related to Dan) and Landon Kearns. The two formally launched Rye Valley in 2021 to showcase the pairing of Auerbach’s heartfelt songwriting and soulful tenor with Kearns’s percussive multi-instrumentalism and subtle harmonies. Tyler Lobdell’s guitar wizardry brought a trio to life, further honing the emotive “Rye Valley Sound”. And when the boys want to bring a LOT of sound, bassist Kevin Brosien and drummer Tim Ellinger are Rye Valley residents that are ready to rock! The group’s debut EP, “Greetings from Rye Valley” was released in ’23. The following year, they released their first full-length studio album, “Miss River”. In the fall of ’24 and again in the winter of ’25, the Rye Valley Trio toured as opening support for legendary singer/songwriter Clem Snide (Eef Barzelay), performing to audiences in 24 cities across the USA. The sun is shining bright on Rye Valley with new music coming soon and another tour on the horizon!

Country singer-songwriter Rusty hooks. Real stories.