Mike Gentry
April 19, 2025
“Singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Mike Gentry is among the very best Michigan-based musicians playing today. He’s brilliant at coffeehouse-approved acoustic music, blistering hard rock, and most styles in between. Mike is a superlative player, compelling singer, and brilliant songwriter. Best of all, audiences love the guy and his songs!” – Jas Obrecht, Guitar Player magazine
Ryan Racine and The Little Victories
May 17, 2025
Ryan Racine, a singer-songwriter and guitarist from southeast Michigan, has been making music for nearly 30 years. After gaining recognition as the frontman of the rockabilly band Lucky Haskins, he has explored various musical styles, including Irish-punk with Mogue Doyle and Bakersfield-sound with Gas For Less. In 2018, he released his solo debut album, "Outsider's Heart," which delves into themes of love, loss, and personal growth. Currently, he is working on a new record slated for release in early 2025.
The Carpenter Ants, a West Virginia rhythm & blues band known for their "chicken-fried gospel soul," features Michael Lipton (guitar), Jupiter Little (drums), Ted Harrison (bass), and Mark Bates (keyboard/vocals). Special guest John Ellison, who formed The Soul Brothers Six and was signed by Jerry Wexler to Atlantic Records, will join them. Their first release was "Some Kind of Wonderful," famously covered by Grand Funk Railroad and many others. As a solo artist, Ellison released "Welcome Back" and "Missing You," and his song "Back" received R&B/Soul Recording of the Year nominations. A recipient of five Lifetime Achievement Awards, Ellison has worked with artists like Patti LaBelle and Diana Ross. He regularly performs at international jazz festivals and was inducted into The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2015.