When Levi Foster flew to Los Angeles carrying a 1966 Martin guitar and a stack of restless songs that didn’t quite fit Nashville’s modern mold, he wasn’t chasing polish, he was chasing freedom. The result is Foster’s second full-length album Appalachian Funk Tree (out October 9, 2026), produced by Shooter Jennings at the legendary Snake Mountain (Sunset Sound Studio 3) in Hollywood. At a moment when mainstream country continues to lean sleek and radio-ready, Foster’s music digs into something stranger and more unpredictable. The 13 tracks on Appalachian Funk Tree blend mountain gospel spirit, Red Dirt attitude, new and traditional Country, and Americana storytelling that feels lived-in rather than manufactured. Jennings, known for championing artists who exist outside traditional boundaries, approached the project less as a producer chasing perfection and more as a collaborator helping Foster build a sonic world where humor, chaos, and hard-won truths could coexist. Levi Foster writes songs that feel like tall tales told at the end of a long night - part humor, part hard truth, and always rooted in the storytelling traditions of American music. “Fat Elvis,” the first song released off the album, is a rowdy, cinematic introduction to Foster’s evolved sound. What began as a late-night joke among friends sparked by the line in the song “sweatin’ like fat Elvis on a postcard down in Memphis, Tennessee” quickly evolved into something larger. Set against the chaos of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, “Fat Elvis” unfolds like a hazy fever dream of American excess and hard-earned lessons, blending humor with a darker reflection on fading icons, bad decisions, and the strange mythology we build around ourselves.   The track signals a new chapter for an artist determined to push beyond genre lines without abandoning his roots.  Foster’s songs wander through strange characters, human flaws, and the kind of moments that feel too real to be made up. As the Country and Americana landscape continues to evolve, Appalachian Funk Tree positions Foster among a new wave of artists willing to challenge genre expectations while staying rooted in the storytelling spirit that defines country music at its core.

Hiroya is a one-of-a-kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up the guitar shortly after. In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. He formed his own group in Boston “INTEROCEANICO (inter-oceanic)” which consists of unique musicians from different continents including Latin Grammy Colombian singer Marta Gomez. The group released three acclaimed records (“The Other Side of the World”, “Confluencia” and “Where the River Shines”). Hiroya has released five solo albums. Hiroya has been leading concerts internationally including several appearances at Blue Note(NYC), United Nations and Japanese National Television(NHK). Hiroya is a two time 2nd place winner of International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022. “…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” -Jazz Review.com “HiroyaTsukamoto takes us to an impressionistic journey ” -Boston Herald

Brother (David Bingaman) and The Hayes (Jennie Hayes Kurtz) are siblings hailing from Dallas, Texas. Growing up, Jennie Hayes sang in the choir while David taught himself to play guitar by listening to blues musicians like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ligntin’ Hopkins. They both became interested in folk music and songwriting in college and began to collaborate while attending the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. David and Jennie Hayes found that their love for the blues, traditional country music, and bluegrass was the perfect vehicle for their playful, honest, and story-driven songwriting. They decided to move to Nashville after college where they would dabble with careers in the music industry and settle into day jobs, gigging at night. Jennie Hayes began working for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where she received an extensive education on the history of country music and helped with exhibits doing things like dress mannequins with Alan Jackson's blue jeans. She eventually joined the museum's education team where she wrote and taught songwriting curriculum and organized tours and songwriting programs for students. Inspired by Nashville's best, David and Jennie Hayes could not kick their desire to write and play their own music. In 2017 the siblings made some career changes, officially formed Brother and The Hayes, and released 'The Dead End EP'. In 2019 they produced and released their first full-length album, 'Tennessee Nights', and in 2021 released another EP produced by Ken Coomer titled ‘The Art of Letting Go’. Their latest release, Another Strange Time, is turning heads. "Over a steady, lightly rocking arrangement, enhanced by a soulful guitar solo and sprinkling keys, 'Something to Find' recalls the Drive-By Truckers at their most thoughtful." - The Indy Review Brother and The Hayes is now touring all over the country playing premier listening rooms, clubs, honky tonks, and festivals. You would be hard pressed to find a band that writes more authentically and has more fun playing together. The rapport between brother and sister on stage is something to behold as they draw you in and make you feel like part of the family.