Carsie Blanton Band
Winner 2025 Artist of the Year, International Folk Alliance
Carsie Blanton is a songwriter with hooks, humor, chutzpah, and revolutionary optimism. Inspired by artist-activist including Nina Simone and Woody Guthrie, her catalog is a jaunt through American popular song,from sultry jazz to pop-punk protest anthems. Her unique mix of hook-driven pop sensibility, political satire, and heartfelt authenticity has brought her a small menagerie of viral hits including Rich People, Shit List, and 2020’s tear-jerking tribute to John Prine, Fishin’ with You. A dynamic performer, her live shows seek to delight and galvanize, whether solo or with her Handsome Band. She isn’t afraid to explore the political and the burlesque, but never fails to bring her audience together in love, rage, hope, and camaraderie.
Carsie’s newest album, Body of Work (April, 2023), is an intimately-recorded collection of songs from throughout her catalog, delicately captured by Grammy-winning producer Tyler Chester(Madison Cunningham, Andrew Bird).
“Fighting fascism with big hooks and an even bigger heart.” – American Songwriter
“Carsie Blanton is one of those hard-headed open-hearted protestors who can make revolution sound desirable to your body, even if your mind wants to resist it.” – NPR’s Fresh Air
Crys Matthews
Winner 2024 Artist of the Year, International Folk Alliance
A troubadour of truth, Nashville resident Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. An award-winning, prolific lyricist and composer, Matthews blends Americana, folk, blues, and bluegrass into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. She is made for these times. Of Matthews, ASCAP VP & Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.” Justin Hiltner of Bluegrass Situation adds, her gift is a “reminder of what beauty can occur when we bridge those divides.” Her hope-fueled, love-filled, social-justice album called Changemakers was released March 26, 2021, and the title track was named the International Folk Music Association’s “Song of the Year” in May of 2022.
Seffarine
The sounds that stir the dry winds of Southern Spain and Morocco, two countries separated by only a whisper of the Mediterranean, are the musical DNA of a beautifully complex extended family linking North Africa and Europe.
The musicians of Seffarine, soulful Moroccan singer Lamiae Naki and flamenco guitarist Nat Hulskamp, supported by master musicians of diverse cultures, embrace and extend this rich legacy. Their exciting performances masterfully combine explosive flamenco footwork, exotic instrumentation and grooving basslines. These diverse backgrounds meld, creating what SoundRoots describes as “an ear-caressing blend of sounds from Spain and North Africa, spiced with a bit of fiery instrumentation and percussion.”
“Seffarine’s music can melt the coldest hearts ” — Chicago Reader
“Gorgeous intersection of Spanish flamenco, Arabic and Andalusian music, Persian classical, and jazz” — Bass Player Magazine
“an ear-caressing blend of sounds from Spain and north Africa, spiced with a bit of fiery instrumentation and percussion.” — Scott Stevens, SoundRoots
Alice Di Micele and Andy Casad
Alice Di Micele is an Americana/Folk artist, rooted in the natural world, using the earth as her primary source of inspiration, threading its essence into her music. Alice’s connection to nature has created a deep bond with her listeners over the decades, gifting people a safe space to express their emotions and heal in the process. Throughout her career, she has released a staggering 18 albums, including her latest works ‘Reverse the Flow’ (2025), ‘Every Seed We Plant’ (2022) and ‘Interpretations: Vol 1’ (2024) building a dedicated fanbase along the way.
Alice Di Micele weaves a rich tapestry of sounds, from the early days of her folk-inspired songs, through to the sensual influences of jazz and soul, and the energetic pulse of funk and rock. Her kaleidoscopic soundscape is grounded by her warm, magnetic vocals. From rich deep tones to impressive high notes, and gorgeous Joni Mitchell-esque vibrato inflexions, Alice’s vocals stretch over five octaves, giving her voice both power and intimacy.
Andy Casad’s music transcends boundaries and speaks to the heart, weaving stories through enchanting compositions. With a musical journey that spans a diverse range of genres and emotions, Andy brings a unique blend of creativity and artistry to every performance. His dedication to his craft shines through in every note, creating an experience that resonates with audiences around the world.
Llorona
The soul of this music is found in Llorona’s original compositions: allegories and folktales, songs of devotion and grief, bittersweet reflections of life and love – a vivid array of lyrical storytelling set to guitar, bass and trumpet. Trace Llorona’s bloodlines back to the canción ranchera. You will find melodic and thematic elements of this traditional Mexican style, as well as thoughtful renderings of vintage ballads.
Over the last decade, Llorona has developed a strikingly original sound, drawing on folk and cabaret as translated through a deep love of alternative rock of the 80s. The vocals are dramatic. The guitars are fierce. The trumpet, emphatic. This is music to experience and contemplate; it is an invitation and you must go. On a festival stage, Llorona brings a center of stillness to the swirl of color and sensation. In a darkened venue, a sublime portal is unlocked.
Llorona is based in Eugene, Oregon and has played extensively in local venues and events, including the Hult Center and the Oregon Country Fair. Farther afield, the band has been featured multiple times at the Seattle Folklife festival and the White Eagle in Portland. Currently recording a third album, previous releases can be found here on the website and streaming on Bandcamp. Influences and those to whom the band owes a great debt: Chavela Vargas, Nina Simone, Los Lobos, Nick Cave…
Larry Pattis
Named one of the “Top 10 Best Acoustic Music Artists of the Decade” by the International Acoustic Music Awards, Larry Pattis has been a featured headline performer at such illustrious venues as the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage in Washington DC. Larry was also honored as a Main Stage Showcase Artist for the Fall 2025 FAR-West Folk Alliance Conference!
Pattis, a Chicago native, experienced music in his early years listening to his father sing (and singing along) during family car rides (and at every other family gathering). However, it wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he chanced upon solo steel-string and classical acoustic guitar music.
Karly Loveling of Singing Heart
Karly Loveling is a seasoned songleader, songwriter, and permissionary of heartfelt expression. For over two decades, she has been guiding voices and hearts through community singing, classes, and workshops in Eugene, Oregon and beyond.
Karly’s love for community singing deepened through her many years at Singing Alive, where she led song circles and found inspiration among fellow songleaders from the gathering’s inception through 2023. In 2013, she founded the Hummingbirds Girls Choir, whose joyful harmonies became a beloved feature at the Eugene Saturday Market, Holiday Market, and the Oregon Country Fair, affirming the principle that everyone can sing and that singing builds connection.
Karly’s often playful, layered, and meaningful original songs are sung by songleaders from Appalachia to Ireland. She currently offers in-person and online classes, leads retreats, and shares her work at community singing gatherings across the country.