About the Guest Artists

Amy Martin – A talented musician and teacher, Amy wrote the lyrics and composed the music for Ask the Planet. She leads The Missoula Coyote Choir, a program of the Missoula, Montana Family YMCA.

Ani DiFranco – Ani DiFranco has written hundreds of songs, played thousands of shows, captured the imaginations of legions of followers, and jammed with folkies, orchestras, rappers, rock and roll hall-of-famers, jazz musicians, poets, pop superstars, storytellers and a martial arts legend.

Bruce Cockburn – The whole point of writing songs is to share experiences with people, says Bruce Cockburn, looking back on a career that includes 26 albums, numerous international awards, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Tenco Award for Lifetime Achievement in Italy, 20 gold and platinum records in Canada, and countless concert performances since he released his first solo work in 1970.

Dar Williams – "With every album, I’m trying to figure out what I don’t have to say, while still giving each song its due," Dar Williams says. Of her new album, Promised Land, Williams commented, "On this one, I was paring the stories down to their core. I wanted the songs to sound simple and down to what they were meant to be, which is hard to do. It takes a lot of knowledge to get to the point where you can say what you need to say — no more, no less."

Bill Harley – A Grammy award winning artist, Bill uses song and story to paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up, schooling and family life. His work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill is also a regular commentator for NPR's "All Things Considered" and featured on PBS. He joined the National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence in 2001 and tours nationwide as an author and performing artist. Find out about his new book Night of the Spadefoot Toads at www.billharley.com or myspace page

Brandi Carlile – Brandi Carlile appears courtesy of Columbia Records. On her new album, The Story, Brandi Carlile opens up her heart, soul, and psyche in a series of memorable songs that invite you into her world. The intensity and authenticity of her music brought her to the attention of the Grammy Award-winning producer T Bone Burnett (Counting Crows, Roy Orbison) who came on-board to produce The Story. http://www.brandicarlile.com

Laura Love – Laura is a rare recording artist - authentic and deeply rooted, with an extremely diverse appeal. Her management, publicists, record labels and the media all struggle to define Laura’s style. She is an African-American funk bassist with an astonishing voice, who is equally influenced by blues and bluegrass, jazz, folk, gospel, reggae and country. Laura sometimes refers to her style as “folk-funk”, “Afro-Celtic” or “hip-Alachian”. Regardless of how she is described, Laura has an uncanny ability to get her audience to listen beyond their own musical boundaries.

Erin McKeown – From elegant pop to balls-out rock,sweet electronics to witty swing, Erin McKeown has packed a ton of music into her young career. With 5 albums, 2 EPs, and numerous soundtracks and compilations to her credit, the 29-year-old songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hasn't stopped for a breather in the last 10 years. Along the way she has averaged 200 shows a year and garnered the praise of fans and critics alike. McKeown's newest release is Lafayette, a rollicking evening with her six-piece Little Big Band.

Bill Sims, Jr. – The Blues has many distinct origins and sounds. Delta Blues, Chicago Blues, West Coast Blues, East Coast Blues, Rhythm and Blues and on and on, each with its own unique flavor. If you ask Bill Sims what type of Blues he plays, his answer is simply, "I play the Blues."