Penelope Road
Emerging from Atlanta’s thriving music scene, Penelope Road crafts a sound that’s as bold as it is soulful. With lush, layered vocals at the core of their music, this five-piece powerhouse seamlessly weaves ‘70s rock, funk, soul, and pop into a rich, rhythmic fusion that’s unmistakably their own. Rooted in the timeless influence of legends like Stevie Wonder and Hall & Oates while channeling the modern energy of artists like Mk.gee, their music bridges eras with effortless groove and vibrant originality. Their tight harmonies, masterful instrumentation, and infectious grooves come together in electrifying, feel-good performances—creating an experience that stays with you long after the final note. Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | TikTok
Vincent Lima – To Love A Thing That Fades 2025 Tour
Currently based out of a small town in California called Los Angeles, Vincent Lima is a zero-time Grammy winning musician who has been heralded by the associated press as “probably not the next big thing” and “who? how’d you get this number?” So what does the future hold for this complete and utter anomaly of a man? Perhaps he’ll buy a ring light on Amazon prime and skyrocket to overnight internet superstardom, resulting in a massive world tour with Olivia Rodrigo or Taylor Swift or Nickelback. In any case, will he ever stop releasing incredibly vulnerable emotional music? Will he ever get a small blue check next to his name, thus cementing him as a person of societal importance? And will he ever (as sources close to him claim) stop crying alone while writing all his songs? Most likely not. Regardless, his music is definitely worth listening to in the opinion of this humble website biography writer who definitely is a person other than Vincent Lima. (Note that Vincent Lima is not legally responsible for any false information contained within this website bio) Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
The Steel Wheels
Partially Seated Show The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound. In 2005, Jay Lapp (vocals, guitars, mandolin) and Eric Brubaker (vocals, fiddle) joined lead singer Trent Wagler (guitar, banjo) in forming the band as a vehicle for Wagler’s songwriting. They released several albums under Wagler’s moniker, before officially adopting the The Steel Wheels name with the 2010 release of Red Wing. Quickly staking their claim as independent upstarts in the burgeoning Americana scene, The Steel Wheels followed up this release with three more self-produced albums in the next five years, before joining forces with producer Sam Kassirer for Wild As We Came Here (2017) and Over The Trees (2019). Kevin Garcia (drums, percussion, keys) joined in 2017, bringing a new level of sonic depth and polish to the outfit. Newest member Jeremy Darrow rounds out the rhythm section and grounds the band as they continue to explore deeply rooted yet fresh folk rock sounds. Having gained the experience of thousands of shows, festivals and many miles on the road, the stubbornly independent band has formed deep bonds with each other and the audience that sustains them. The Steel Wheels have responded to this time of isolation and loss by seeking to connect with their audience in new ways. In 2020, unable to perform their rootsy brand of Americana for crowds in live settings, the musicians turned their creative powers to crafting songs for individuals. Produced in isolation in the band’s home studios, the Everyone a Song albums are part of an ongoing project to collect the personal experiences of fans and forge them into that most enduring, yet ephemeral, format we call “song.” An accompanying podcast, We Made You a Song, explores the stories behind these songs, and the songwriting process itself. While each song was commissioned to honor a specific relationship or event—a birth, a wedding, a memory of home—the emotions evoked are universal. Nowhere is this shared humanity more evident than at the band’s own Red Wing Roots Music Festival, a weekend-long celebration of music, community, and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Hosted by The Steel Wheels every summer, the festival provides a space for the band to shine, from their high energy Saturday night main stage set to their afternoon showcase with young Red Wing Academy students. At Sunday’s gospel hour you are as likely to hear Steel Wheels originals or Warren Zevon covers as you are traditional gospel fare. The weekend is rounded out by the beloved tribute set in which the band collaborates with a cadre of fellow artists to honor an influential figure in American music, with past tributes ranging from Dolly Parton to John Prine. Whether at a joyous summer festival, in their many shows across the country and beyond, or in the studio, The Steel Wheels continue their mission set out over a decade ago; shaking up traditions to see what sticks, telling stories, and joining communities through song. Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Eilen Jewell, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters
Hailed by American Songwriter as one of Americas most intriguing, creative, and idiosyncratic voices, Eilen Jewell rises from the ashes on her captivating new album, Get Behind The Wheel, picking up the pieces of her shattered world and finding new purpose and meaning after watching her marriage, her band, and what felt like her entire career fall apart in a series of spectacular, heartbreaking implosions. Co produced by multi instrumental wizard Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Hayes Carll), the collection pushes the acclaimed singer and songwriters trademark blend of vintage roots noir into more psychedelic territory, with spacious, cinematic arrangements complementing her revelatory explorations of grief, loss, resilience, and redemption. An Idaho native, Jewell built her career the old fashioned way, touring relentlessly with the kind of undeniable live show that converts the uninitiated into instant acolytes. Over the course of nine albums, she has crisscrossed the globe countless times and shared bills with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Loretta Lynn, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson, George Jones, and Emmylou Harris, Rolling Stone lauded Jewells clever writing, while, NPR declared that she has a sweet and clear voice with a killer instinct lurking beneath the shiny surface, and The Washington Post mused that if Neko Case, Madeleine Peyroux and Billie Holiday had a baby girl who grew up to front a rockabilly band, she would probably sound a lot like Eilen Jewell. Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The music of Asheville, North Carolina based outfit Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters is nuanced, bringing insight and wit to the stories Platt tells through songwriting. Lyrically driven, the bands country roots music often inspires introspection, whether it be about life on the road, heartache or hope. There is an empathetic and charming wit ingrained in Platts songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her story telling, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself into the melody of emotions in another person’s life. Performing along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Kevin Williams (keys/vocals), Rick Cooper (bass/vocals), and Evan Martin (drums/vocals). Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
They Are Gutting a Body of Water
from the pits of heaven. Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube
Real Estate: A Celebration of ATLAS – the 11 Year and 7 Month Anniversary Tour
Atlas was a pretty big record for us, and chances are if you’re reading this, it’s a pretty big record for you too. Nobody ever said, “I love Real Estate, but I hate their third LP, Atlas.” And if they did say that, they never said it anywhere around us – and we read everything you guys write on the internet; some of it can get pretty weird. And so, on this momentous occasion, we will be bringing A CELEBRATION OF ATLAS to a city near you, to honor its 11 year and 7 month anniversary. We’ll be playing almost the entire album in its entirety (basically) and other lesser known tunes from the Atlas era. We’ll also be playing a selection of our greatest hits, because we know you love those too. Please come and celebrate with us – we can’t wait to see you. Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
GrrrlBands Showcase
The Kletz Brothers
Last Date
Dugout Entertainment presents a night with Last Date, Fort Knox, and Jackson Slater. Veterans of the Chapel Hill music scene, pop-rock band Last Date seeks to bring another night of their infectious energy to the Cat’s Cradle Backroom. They’ll be joined by standout Knoxville jam-band, Fort Knox, whose members come from diverse backgrounds of funk, rock, folk, country, and many more. With support from Chapel Hill’s up-and-coming southern-rock talent in Jackson Slater, this will be an unforgettable night rooted in a rich history of two prominent college towns’ music scenes. Be sure to follow the artists, Cat’s Cradle, and Dugout Entertainment for more information on this event and many more to come! Last Date Instagram: @lastdate_band Fort Knox Instagram: @fortknoxband Jackson Slater Instagram: @jackson.k.slater Dugout Entertainment Instagram: @dugoutentertainment
The Hails
Regardless of whichever omnipresent puller-of-strings you subscribe to, it’s undeniable that some force was always working to ensure the inevitability of The Hails. From two of the band members both calling the same third floor apartment home at different parts of their then separate childhoods — the very building they’d later meet their bassist in — to a fateful University of Florida dining hall encounter years later that set things in motion. There has always been a strange air about the sequence of events meant to unite Robbie Kingsley, Franco Solari, Dylan McCue, Andre Escobar and Zach Levy, that begs the question, is anything ever truly up to chance? Despite first playing in an insular Miami high school music scene, the band officially formed at UF, finding their moniker in the college’s alma mater — “All hail, Florida, hail.” The Hails banded together through a slew of long nights and wild house shows in their living room — the only option in the basement-less state of Florida. Ironically, from the tattered carpeting and the beer bottle lined shelves of their shitty college house arose a distinct, refined sound that is now synonymous with the band’s name. With shimmering early singles like “Younger” and “Stay,” and their EPs He Seems Upset (2020) and Alive in Strange Ways (2021), The Hails came to represent an edgy sort of sleekness that can only be attributed to the cities they cut their teeth in — Gainesville and Miami. Mirrored in the band’s sound, there’s an underlying grit that comes from Gainesville’s affinity toward DIY; where the band played countless shows at the infamous High Dive over the years and hijacked the community spirit of an entire college town. But within everything the band does, you can hear Miami’s quality of perfectly riding the line between the cutting edge and the neon-laced nostalgia of yesteryears. Fusing their varying cultures, upbringings and influences, comes a sound that’s unmistakably singular. Firing the starting pistol of their current chapter, The Hails began rolling out singles from their debut album in October 2022. Recent highlights of the road include holding court at festivals like III Points, WonderStruck and Okeechobee, interspersed between sold-out shows across the state of Florida, and tour support for WILLIS, The Happy Fits, The Beaches and the moss. Now with their debut album What’s Your Motive out in the world, The Hails will bring their new music to the road on their first ever headline tour. The keys to that third-floor apartment have traded hands to another family, and a new wave of orange-and-blue-clad underclassmen shuffle into the dining hall to grab their heat-lamp-warmed meals. But even in the same settings, no string of occurrences will ever happen again to create a band quite like The Hails. Website | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
