Jack Blocker is an Americana singer-songwriter whose music is rooted in sincerity, storytelling, and a deep love for his home state of Texas. Drawing inspiration from Texan legends like Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson, Blocker describes his music as “friendly, honest, and Texan”— a reflection of both his lyrical style and the atmosphere of his live shows. Whether he’s jumping around on stage with a full band or singing solo with just an acoustic guitar, Blocker’s performances are captivating and compelling. “My goal is to give some new life to each song that only exists in that moment,” he says. One particularly memorable show in Nashville was performed completely unplugged after lightning took out the power at the venue. The crowd stayed, lit the room with phone lights, and Blocker played the full hour-long set without any mics or production. “It was a really special evening,” he says. Blocker’s highly anticipated debut album, The Land On Most High, is available now on his own label, Elbow Grease Records. Recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studio B by Mitch Furr and produced by Patrick Lyons (Colter Wall, Josh Meloy, Noeline Hofmann), the album establishes Blocker among the most compelling emerging voices in country music. “The Land On Most High is a collection of nostalgic daydreams,” says Blocker. “It’s a picture that’s painted using hundreds of little memories and moments—the driveway basketball games, motel naps, homemade slip ‘n slides, and trailside snacks that seemed insignificant at the time but continually creep back around to scratch my brain.” Blocker is focused on building a lasting community around his music, staying true to his voice, and continuing to write songs that will be remembered when people look back on folk/country music from this era. He says, “My hope is that the deeper I dive into my own memories through these songs, the more vividly each person listening will imagine theirs.”

The Hen and The Crow are an Appalachian Gothic and folk-country duo composed of husband and wife Wesley (he/him) and Caroline (she/her) Crow. Crafting songs that feel both timeless and urgently modern, they explore themes like family farms, deconstruction, and land preservation while embodying the quilt of Southern Ohio and Appalachia.