Iam Tongi
You can hear it in the gentle rasp of his wave-washed vocal soul. You can see it in his smile. For Iam Tongi, music is about transformation – and it always has been. A Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter and the Season 21 champion of American Idol, the 20-year-old Tongi first picked up a ukulele in the fifth grade, immersed in a deeply musical world filled with the traditional singing and dance of Pacific Island cultures. Living in the small town of Kahuku on the northern tip of Ohau, Tongi learned to sing from his father, who in turned had learned from his father before him. Clearly blessed with an expressive, charismatic voice, Tongi was pushed hard and developed a multi-faceted sound blending island reggae with the influence of his family record collection – which included country (Kenny Rogers), classic rock (Dr. Hook), and R&B (Luther Vandross). By 13 Tongi had played his first show, but after moving to Seattle a few years later – and losing his father in 2021 – the young talent nearly gave music up completely. His mother secretly signed him up for American Idol, and after Tongi’s viral audition performance of James Blunt’s “Monsters” became one of Idol’s all time emotional highlights, he went on to win Season 21, making history as the first Pacific Islander to ever win the show. With a thriving fanbase which supports millions of global on-demand streams and social media followers and nationwide concert tours, Tongi now begins a new chapter of life and music. Teaming up with acclaimed songwriter/producer Johnny Reid, his 2024 single “Road to Hana” marks a creative transition leaning into his cultural heritage and musical roots – but also the man he’s become. Fusing breezy beach balladry and sunshine country with laid-back soul, gospel, and more, new music is in the works, as Tongi looks to spread a feel-good message of positivity to the horizon, and beyond.
Skerryvore
What are Skerryvore? They’re like no one else. Epic of melody, intimate of feeling and plugged into the roots of Scotland but blasting out to the world. Three time winners of Scotland’s ‘Live Act of the Year’ award, Skerryvore have evolved from their humble beginnings to become one of the country’s leading forces in a thriving live music scene. At the forefront of a movement that has reinvented and reignited a traditional Scottish scene for a modern, multicultural audience, the band have brought their high energy performances to audiences across the globe. From their early days in Scottish West Coast halls and bars, to festival crowds in the USA, Canada, Australia and throughout the UK and Europe, Skerryvore’s wide range of influences and talent produce a musically expansive, immersive yet intimate set that excites and captivates audiences. With a mix of bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, and whistles, alongside guitar and vocals, underpinned by driving bass, drums and keys, Skerryvore represent the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music. Their now 7 studio albums demonstrate the wide range of influences the individual musicians bring to the mix – a unique fusion of folk, trad, pop and rock. Three singles from the latest album ‘Tempus’, released in April 2023, all featured on the BBC Radio 2 new music playlist, and the album went to number 1 in both the Official Scottish Album and UK Folk Albums charts, and entered the top 40 in the Official UK Charts. Skerryvore took their Tempus Tour to audiences across the UK, Europe and USA, with their unique fusion appealing to a wider mix of age groups and tastes.
Kathleen Edwards
Acclaimed singer, songwriter and performer Kathleen Edwards returns with her highly anticipated new album, Billionaire, August 22 on Dualtone Records. Evoking her debut, Failer, the new 10-song album is full of Edwards’ trademark lyrical sharpness and unflinching observations and was produced by Jason Isbell and Gena Johnson. Celebrated as one of the forebears of modern alt-country and Americana music, Edwards is beloved by fans and fellow musicians, and praised by The New York Times for her, “droll, observant and unsparing tone that is all her own. In her best lines, Edwards has the conversational vernacular and emotional eloquence of a great short-story writer.” Since debuting in 2003, Edwards has released five albums, including 2020’s Total Freedom — her first after stepping away from music for almost a decade. Released to overwhelming acclaim with pieces at The New Yorker, The New York Times, Rolling Stone and more, Pitchfork called it, “a creative breakthrough, written solely for the thrill of discovery,” while Rolling Stone declared it as, “devastatingly great.” Most recently, Edwards released a covers EP featuring special guests Isbell, Bahamas and Daniel Tashian and including renditions of Isbell’s “Traveling Alone,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Human Touch,” The Flaming Lips’ “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate,” Tom Petty’s “Crawling Back To You” and more. She has been nominated for multiple JUNO and Americana Awards and, in 2012, was awarded the SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
Atlanta Rhythm Section
The Atlanta Rhythm Section… ARS… In the annals of rock and roll, where do they fit? They put out 15 albums of excellent original material, and consistently put on entertaining live shows-both of which helped establish a broad if not huge fan base. They had some big hits and have been a major player in the Southern Rock scene. But is that the whole story? In some circles, maybe. But for those who’ve really gotten to know their music over the years, there’s a lot more to the story. ARS was paired with contemporaries Lynyrd Skynyrd as the successors to the Allman Brothers – carrying the mantle of “Southern Rock” in the late 70s. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it may have made sense at the time. But performing songs that were more musically diverse and having hits that had a softer, pop sound, the “Southern Rock” label was a mixed blessing and many of their unique musical accomplishments became lost in a genre that has lived on to this day-but never really fit ARS.
The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
The Dollop w/Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds History buff and comedian Dave Anthony was considering starting a new podcast in 2014. His idea was to write up an unknown story from American history and read it to a different comedian each week. Having not heard of the story before, Dave hoped the comedian’s reaction would be hilarious. He gave it a go and his first guest was comedian Gareth Reynolds. They immediately clicked and fans flooded social media telling Dave to never change the co-host. And he didn’t. Sticking to the formula of Dave reading Gareth a story he has never heard, The Dollop quickly shot up the charts. Fans of both comedy and history were drawn to the wild stories and quick improv skills of Gareth. With millions of downloads, The Dollop has become a regular presence on top of the podcast charts, as well as selling out shows in both the US and Australia. **The Dollop Q&A Ticket includes a post-show Q&A with Dave Anthony & Gareth Reynolds**
Asleep At The Wheel – Happy Trails Tour – With The Shootouts
For over fifty years, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has been traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music and introducing its irresistible sound to generation after generation. More than 100 musicians have passed through the Wheel, but Benson remains the front man and the keeper of the vision, in the process racking up more than 30 albums, ten Grammy awards and literally millions of miles on the road. “I’m the reason it’s still together, but the reason it’s popular is because we’ve had the greatest singers and players,” Benson explains. “When someone joins the band, I say, ‘Learn everything that’s ever been done, then put your own stamp on it.’ I love to hear how they interpret what we do. I’m just a singer and a songwriter, and a pretty good guitar player, but my best talent is convincing people to jump on board and play this music.” Asleep at the Wheel has collaborated on records with genre-spanning friends, including Willie Nelson on 2009’s Grammy Nominated Willie and the Wheel and other critically acclaimed artists, including Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Merle Haggard, George Strait, the Avett Brothers, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show and Lyle Lovett on Still the King, their 2015 critically acclaimed and Grammy winning tribute to Bob Wills. On their latest release, Half A Hundred Years, Asleep At The Wheel continued their contributions to the American music landscape when three original members of Asleep at the Wheel—Chris O’Connell, Leroy Preston, and Lucky Oceans—returned after 40 years to lend their voices and musicianship to a number of tracks on the album along with Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack, George Strait, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson. Asleep at the Wheel represents an important cornerstone of American roots music, even though some of its members and audiences represent a new generation. That far-reaching appeal remains a testament to Benson’s initial vision. “It took me 60 years, but I’m doing what I’m meant to do—singing and playing and writing better than I ever have. A bandleader is just someone who gathers people around them to play the best music they can play. I just try and make the best decisions
GREGORIAN PURE CHANTS featuring SONGS OF ENIGMA
For 25 years, GREGORIAN have thrilled millions of people worldwide with their choreographed shows and their ability to switch seamlessly from classical chorales to pop and rock songs. Their concerts have set new standards. With over 2,000 shows in 36 countries and more than 11 million albums sold, GREGORIAN are the most successful choir in the world. In Spring 2026, GREGORIAN will continue with their PURE CHANTS World Tour in the USA. Frank Peterson, the creator and producer of GREGORIAN says: “Our Pure Chants concerts bring the most popular GREGORIAN classics in an atmospheric and tranquil sound environment. Pure Chants concerts are extremely peaceful, yet spectacular and unite the audience with the most beautiful melodies in the world.” The idea for GREGORIAN was born when Frank Peterson visited the royal monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Spain in 1989. Wandering through the medieval monastery and castle complex and listening to contemporary music on his Walkman, he found the inspiration for the sound experiment of mixing ancient Gregorian music with modern music. Peterson first realized his idea with Michael Cretu and the worldwide sound phenomenon “Enigma”. Their first album “MCMXC a.D.” was released in 1990 and quickly became a worldwide success. “MCMXC a.D.” was number 1 in 41 different countries and went 57 times platinum and 45 times gold. It is considered as the most successful German album of all time worldwide. This gigantic success paved the way for GREGORIAN to take the musical idea one step further and to establish it as an independent music act. In 1999, with the start of production on the first album “Masters Of Chant”, Frank Peterson seamlessly built on the success of “Enigma”. In the following years, GREGORIAN has sold over 11 million CDs and 7 DVDs worldwide and achieved gold and platinum status in 24 different countries. At the end of 2024 and thus in time for their Anniversary World Tour in 2025, Frank Peterson released a new GREGORIAN album. The „25 / 2025“ album includes new songs as well as re-recordings of some well known GREGORIAN classics. Frank Peterson has been involved in various musical projects and international productions for over 30 years. He has worked as a producer with Sarah Brightman, Enigma, Justin Timberlake, Andrea Bocelli, Paul Stanley (Kiss), Backstreet Boys, Alannah Myles, José Carreras, Tom Jones, Plácido Domingo, Errol Brown, Ofra Haza, Sandra, Josh Groban, Marky Mark, I Muvrini, Florent Pagny and Ricardo Cocciante, among others. In addition to GREGORIAN, Peterson has also been working as a show producer for Sarah Brightman and other top stars since 2005. Together with the world star, he produced the album and cinema production “Sarah Brightman – Hymn”, which was acclaimed by critics worldwide.
Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter
In 1972, Jeff became a founding member of Steely Dan on their first three albums, “Can’t Buy A Thrill”, “Countdown To Ecstacy” and “Pretzel Logic”, on guitar on the classic “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”. in 1974 and was i asked to join The Doobie Brothers on “Takin’ It To The Streets”, “Living’ On The Fault Line” and “Minute By Minute” which brought the Doobies a Grammy for Best Vocal Performance, and received a nomination for Album of the Year. “What A Fool Believes” earned three Grammys including Song and Record of the Year. Jeff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Doobie Brothers in 2020 Studio work including the guitar work on “9 to 5”, Donna Summer’s’ “Hot Stuff” He toured or recorded with Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt. Skunk released his first solo album “Speed of Heat” in 2020 and formed his own band. That band plays all the hits laced with great stories from his career. PBS is presently broadcasting “Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter Live at the Aragon”. A promo from this show gives an idea of what the live show is like… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stDzY-AjC9g
Socks In the Frying Pan
Socks In The Frying Pan hails from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, but has toured extensively, covering 46 US states, all 7 continents and over a dozen countries. Formed in 2014, the young Irish trio has released 3 studio albums and amassed an impressive list of accolades in their short careers. Those accolades include ‘Best New Band‘, ‘Best Live Band‘, ‘Album of the Year‘, and ‘Best Live Performance of the Year‘. Even immediately earning Best Live Album upon release of their latest Raw & Ríl.
Jefferson Starship – 50th Anniversary Tour
About Jefferson Starship Jefferson Starship is one of the most successful arena rock bands of the ’70s and ’80s, earning 3 platinum and 8 gold records, as well as numerous Top 40 Billboard singles. As they celebrate their 50th anniversary, the band reaches a rare milestone that only a few bands ever achieve. Founded by Paul Kantner in the ’70s, Jefferson Starship was conceived as a collective of musical adventurers contributing to his epic concept albums and eventual catalog of rock classics. When the current lineup came together in 2012, with many members having joined years earlier, Kantner couldn’t have predicted the band would become the road-conquering force they are today. The five members of Jefferson Starship often describe themselves as both a “family” and a “gang,” and this sense of camaraderie shines through in their performances. Over the years, they’ve played in all 50 U.S. states, five continents, and countless countries. A recent tour of New Zealand was noted as one of the band’s favorites, and their live shows continue to offer a non-stop mix of rock hits. The band’s current lineup includes original member David Freiberg, drummer Donny Baldwin (who first joined in 1982), keyboardist Chris Smith (who joined in 1998), guitarist Jude Gold (who joined in 2012), and singer/guitarist Cathy Richardson (who joined in 2008 after Kantner saw her perform with Big Brother and the Holding Company). As Jefferson Starship celebrates its 50th anniversary, the band reflects on the legacy of Paul Kantner, who passed away in 2016. The spirit of exploration and adventure he instilled in the band lives on in their music and performances. As Gold puts it, “To me, that ‘Paul Kantner thing’—getting on a rocket ship and blasting off into the unknown—is the very essence of Jefferson Starship. And that spirit is very much alive in the band today.”