DL Rossi is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, TN. After spending most of his career as a drummer (13 years) and working in the corporate church (5 years) in his hometown of Sterling Heights, MI, life sent him a curve ball… in the form of cancer. Thankfully, surgery left DL cancer free, but at the risk of sounding cliché, the experience left him with a new perspective on life. This new perspective brought with it a newfound courage. He decided to release music he had kept very personal and closed off from people. Songs that spanned the past 12 years of his life that, up until then, he had never felt comfortable or safe sharing with others. Between the winter of 2011 and spring of 2012, DL recorded his upcoming self-titled project. The album tells the story of his deeply personal struggles with anxiety and depression as a constant backdrop in the midst of stumbling through love and romance, the evangelical church, anger, self-worth, and fear. “These songs mean a lot to me, I’ve never released a set of songs I’m so proud of and enjoy so much. They deal with some pretty deep wounds I’ve had for a long time that I’ve never allowed my artistic self to fully engage with. I’m excited to share these songs with people and see what happens. “Coming from a background rooted in the evangelical church, some people may be offended or taken aback by the subject matter on the album, but my heart in this project is one of simply wanting to be honest–honest to the point of ugliness–which is something that the church talks about but rarely allows without there being some sort of fallout. There is a lot of concern surrounding this type of honesty in art in the evangelical world. But as I’ve pursued my faith, I’ve realized that if I can’t be honest about who I am and what I struggle with, then I’m nothing more than a half-truth, which is fake. It’s a lie. It’s how I was living and I couldn’t do it anymore. It sounds a bit overly-dramatic, but this album has actually cost me a lot already. It’s amazing how much trouble being honest will get you, but I’m enjoying the ride and all the new relationships that have formed since putting these songs out there. I am really excited to see how people respond to it. Thanks for your time, and please enjoy this album.” – DL Rossi

At the heart of the Danberrys is the Tennessee-born couple of Dorothy Daniel and Ben DeBerry, a truly unique pair of artists hailing from East Nashville, TN. Drawing deep from the folk, bluegrass, old-time country, blues, and funk/soul traditions, the Danberrys offer inspired songwriting delivered with raw emotion, distinct vocal harmonies, and dynamic, top-notch musicianship. Rather than responding to a dictated sound, their music further defines the near-limitless nature of the Americana genre.   The couple’s musical magic springs from a four-year relationship that started when they were teen-agers and ended in the midst of curiosity common to young souls. Five years of exploring the world separately ended in 2006 when life delivered a what-was-I-thinking moment and they decided to do the inevitable and get hitched. Dorothy and Ben bring to their artistry a humble sense of place and a delightful sense of humor, rooted in a relationship that has always been strong even when they've been apart.   Their first recording effort, “Company Store”, was released in April of 2011. Touted by Larry Vanderpool of The Examiner as a record steeped in Appalachian music tradition and oozing rich soulful harmonies, Company Store won the Danberrys a 2011 Independent Music Awards "People's Choice" accolade and the honor of appearing on stage with Robert Earl Keen at the legendary Ryman Auditorium as the selected artist for WSM 650’s Tootsies to the Ryman international competition.   Stoked by the success of Company Store, Dorothy and Ben returned to the studio during 2012 with multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Ethan Ballinger (Missy Raines and the New Hip, Alison Brown, Jill Andrews, Megan McCormick), fiddle player Christian Sedelmyer (10 String Symphony, The Farewell Drifters, The Greencards), and stand-up bassist Jon Cavendish. Their first full length album was released in March 2013 and was nominated for a 2013 Independent Music Award in the category of Best Americana Album. This self-titled collection of original songs offers a ride through the terrain of life, unapologetically confronting and celebrating emotions that are universally felt. The fearless musicianship of the five-piece band coupled with the soulful and sincere voices of the couple at its heart serves up perfectly the intention of the expertly-crafted lyrics.   The Danberrys are currently touring in support of their album while eagerly writing and preparing for the next one. They have appeared on numerous festivals throughout the southeast and are quickly becoming favorites on the Nashville music scene. The Danberrys have a full summer of performances planned in 2014, including festival appearances at The Americana Festival, IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, CMA Fest, ROMP, Jammin' at Hippie Jack's, Blue Ridge BBQ Festival, and the Saluda Arts Festival.

Acclaimed for consistently capturing audiences’ hearts, Elijah Ocean is widely known for his distinct vocals, catchy melodies, and razor-sharp storytelling. He’s opened for legends like Dale Watson and emerging stars such as Charlie Crockett, and backed up like-minded talents Zephaniah OHora and Michaela Anne. He’s played to packed houses from the Mercury Lounge to the Troubadour and is a regular at festivals like Stagecoach, Americanafest, and SXSW. He’s been praised as an artist to watch in Rolling Stone, Saving Country Music, LA Weekly, Uproxx, Wide Open Country, and beyond. Since his first live show, Ocean has worked his way up from total unknown to respected journeyman through his fertile songwriting and irresistible onstage swagger. With a recent move to Nashville under his belt, Ocean and his new album Born Blue (Aug 13th) are primed to take the country music scene by storm. After over a decade of relentless touring and five previous albums of Americana-tinged singer-songwriter albums, Born Blue is Ocean’s most existential work to date. Self-reflection has been a consistent theme in his writing, but with age comes lived experiences, and his commentaries on timeless themes of devotion, divorce, and drinking have become more tangible and heartfelt. His gift lies in faithfully constructing melodies and lyrics that are rooted in the traditions of the genre, but are undeniably modern and fresh at the same time. Taking cues from artists like Clint Black, Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Dwight Yoakam, Ocean’s aim is to take the baton from the forbearers of the straightforward American storyteller model and extend its reach to old and new fans alike. Ocean paid his dues on the country music circuit starting in 2009 when he left his home state of Maine for Brooklyn in 2009, and then switched coasts in 2014 when he moved to Los Angeles. He began working as a bass player in dance halls, honky tonks, and casinos, playing country standards and learning all of the ’80s/’90s line dances. These influences can be heard throughout the new album, with the music sounding both contemporary and nostalgic. Born Blue took shape over the course of two years, whittled down from a batch of 30 songs Ocean had crafted. He reached out to Dwight Yoakam sideman and Los Angeles Americana staple Brian Whelan to produce the album. It seemed the perfect match — but creative differences led Ocean to take full control of the project early in the process in order to maintain his vision for the final product. Ocean also took a slight detour along the way, connecting with Peter Donovan of All the Real Girls to record an album for their side project, The Rose Petals, who released the jangle-pop, post-Americana album American Grenadine in early 2020. While not the neo-traditional country Ocean is known for, that album also received heaps of praise, with the Bluegrass Situation pointing out comparisons to the “acoustic 12-string from The Byrds, synthesizer from the ’80s records of Bruce Springsteen, and Beach Boys harmonies.” The journey to Born Blue has now culminated with twelve songs that are the perfect blend of honky tonk swagger and deeply honest self-reflection. From the upbeat fiddle-filled opening track “Living to Love You” to the regretful pining of “The Ice Machine” to the Peter-Pan-syndrome-testimony of “Thirty Five,” Ocean is a perceptive storyteller of the highest caliber. Add to that the perfect blend of electric guitar, pedal steel, piano and drums, and you get a thoroughly cohesive neo-traditional country album — sure to satisfy listeners old and new. “Petty would be proud.” – Rolling Stone “Elijah Ocean makes warm, homespun Americana” – Uproxx “L.A.-based singer songwriter Elijah Ocean knows a thing or two about finding inspiration on the road.” – Wide Open Country “There’s a nice Laurel Canyon/Tom Petty vibe to the new single from LA singer-songwriter Elijah Ocean” – Americana UK “Los Angeles-based artist Elijah Ocean is a songwriter’s songwriter.” – The Daily Country