ALO, short for Animal Liberation Orchestra, is a band consisting of Zach Gill, Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz, Steve Adams, and Ezra Lipp. The three original members met in Saratoga, California when they were pre-teens and bonded over their shared love for music. They formed a band in junior high, and after years of hard work, dedication, and shared experiences, they have created their best work to date.

The best part of Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers is not just the colorful sounds and uplifting energy but the lyrics, "Maybe love is also knowing when to let go." The new extended EP, The Painted World has fresh sounds with ancient roots and more of the lovely lyrics they are known for.

The Lil Smokies formed under the big sky of Missoula, Montana in 2009 and have created an original assortment of music that can quench the most diverse musical pallets. At first glance the band looks like a traditional bluegrass band with all of the usual stringed suspects including banjo, dobro, fiddle, standup bass and acoustic guitars. They say you can't judge a book by the cover and The Lil Smokies are the perfect example of why you can’t define a band by their instruments.

Jesse Lynn Madera has added her unique touch to the iconic track "Unchained," famously performed by Johnny Cash and produced by Rick Rubin in the late '90s. The song marks the production debut of renowned singer-songwriter Dan Navarro (Lowen & Navarro), and was engineered by multi-GRAMMY award-winner Jim Scott, who has worked with iconic artists such as Tom Petty, Sting, and The Bangles.

Chicago Farmer has, for twenty years, sung songs of the Midwest, songs celebrating his small-town heritage of hard-working people, making it through life’s good and hard times and proudly wearing their dirty uniforms, whether they live in the country or in a city.

Arlo Guthrie, whose enduring legacy as a folk artist, activist, and humorist spans seven decades, retired from the stage in 2020 for reasons of health and wellness. Wonderfully, Arlo recently withdrew his retirement announcement for a short “Arlo Guthrie - What’s Left Of Me - A Conversation With Bob Santelli” tour, set for April in the Northeast.

The 2023 Gem and Jam is one to be remembered! This year’s festival had workshops on topics from mycology to movement to mindfulness, musical performers & guests that blew our socks off, and spaces that cultivated groundedness and inspiration.

The Get Right Band is a dynamic indie rock power trio hailing from Asheville, NC. With over a decade of musical exploration, the band is dedicated to creating authentic, self-expressive music that pushes the boundaries of genre and speaks to the human experience. The band's sound melds elements of 60s/70s psychedelia, 90s alternative rock, and modern pop/rock into a unique style that is at once nostalgic and fresh.

Jake Smith, also known as The White Buffalo, is a talented singer-songwriter known for his storytelling through music. He has gained recognition for his inclusion in popular TV shows and films, such as Sons of Anarchy, This Is Us, and Californication, among others. His unique style of dark blues and light Americana-roots-tinged folk has earned him critical acclaim, with NPR calling him an "amazing storyteller" and the Los Angeles Times praising his baritone voice.

Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with our good friend Mike Smith from The Mike Smith Group. This jam rock power trio from Northern New Jersey recently released an EP and is in the process of recording an LP. The band also has a few winter dates on the calendar in New Jersey and Connecticut.

Jamie: Thanks for making some time to chat with me. Let's start with how you got into being a musician?