Randy Weeks has been described as the “consummate songwriter’s songwriter,” so it’s no surprise that both Lucinda Williams and Robert Plant/Alison Krauss have covered his song “Can’t Let Go”. He describes his music as “60s-70s era country rock, rhythm and blues, and swampy rock ‘n’ roll”.

As part of the 80’s California music scene that included Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Jim Lauderdale, Rosie Flores and Buddy Miller, Weeks helped revive country rock and launch the Americana music movement as a member of the legendary Lonesome Strangers. The Strangers became the stronghold of California Americana, recording three influential albums, two of which were produced by Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam), which not only earned them a Top 40 Billboard hit, but also thrust them into the heart of the Americana music scene uprising.

In the late ’90s, Weeks struck out on his own, eventually recording four highly-celebrated albums. The first, Madeline (Hightone), is still considered among the most timeless albums of our generation. All Music Guide hailed Madeline as “a great album”, while Salon.com called it “maybe the best breakup album since Chris Isaak’s Forever Blue.”

After leaving his long-time home base of Southern California, Weeks spent time in Austin, TX before relocating to the Pacific Northwest, where he has been warmly welcomed by a solid base of enthusiastic followers.

Ninety miles south of Bakersfield is a small town called Cochtotan. It’s no different than any other small town; people worry about their jobs, send their kids to school and occasionally marry their cousins. On the weekends, they want to put their troubles behind them and cut loose with a couple of long necked bottles of amber intoxicant. But Cochtotan's luckier than a lot of cities in that regard, as three of their native sons have been providing the townsfolk with the kind of good rockin’ soundtrack that has them humming long after they’ve left the bar and are being put into protective custody. This powerful trio of string bendin’, skin poundin’ musicians have spent years polishing their chops playing six sets a night at the Tufted Nighthatch Tavern and Bird Sanctuary. And now, finally, they are ready to share their secret with the world. That’s right, folks, the pride of Cochtotan is ready to spread its high test hillybilly gospel from coast to coast. Get ready, America. Get ready for Jackshit.

After nearly two decades as a singer in various Seattle-area pop and roots rock bands, Christy McWilson finally released her solo debut, The Lucky One, in 2000. McWilson first recorded in the early '80s as one-third of the girl group pastiche the Dynette Set, who released a few singles and compilation tracks in the first half of the decade, including "Seed of Love," a standout on the 1984 Rhino female-focused new wave compilation The Girls Can't Help It. That song was co-written and produced by Scott McCaughey of the Young Fresh Fellows, who later became McWilson's husband.

After the demise of the Dynette Set, McWilson played around Seattle in various short-lived groups while adding backing vocals to various Young Fresh Fellows albums (the Fellows' college radio hit "Amy Grant" particularly benefited from McWilson's sassy vocals). In 1990, McWilson helped form the Picketts, who released three albums -- Paper Doll, The Wicked Picketts, and Euphonium -- over the course of the '90s. As the Picketts disbanded, more out of sloth than acrimony, longtime fan Dave Alvin approached McWilson with an offer to produce her first solo album, made up of her originals (many concerning her lifelong struggle with a bipolar disorder) and a heartfelt, lovely cover of Brian Wilson's "Til I Die." The album, The Lucky One, was recorded with a core band that included Alvin, Peter Buck, and Rick Shea on guitars; Bob Glaub and Walter Singleman on bass; and Don Heffington on drums. It also features guest appearances by Syd Straw, the Old 97s' Rhett Miller, and R.E.M.'s Mike Mills. Two years later, she called on many of the same musicians to help her put together her second solo album, Bed of Roses.