Old Pup is a warmly haunted folk outfit led by Milwaukee-based pedal steel player/songwriter, Will Hansen, who writes lyrically vivid (at-times experimental) country-tinged songs. Sophomore album, Spider Towns, released independently in February & features intimate, ethereal recordings captured in living rooms, warehouse hallways, & wide-open fields spanning Milwaukee, New Orleans, & New Mexico. Hansen’s lyrical dexterity is at the forefront of this latest collection, seamlessly weaving the everyday with the interstellar. In the words of songwriter Chris Acker, “Old Pup is Rosetta-stoned.” As The Binoculars, Kaethe Hostetter and Chloë Swanttner welcome you to their proverbial picnic blanket in the shade of a black walnut tree, where they’ve brought a pair of binoculars to peer into melodies new and old using 5 string violin, guitar, lap steel, and laser vocal harmonies.

Dinty Child and Mark Erelli’s initial collaborated happened at a songwriting retreat on Lake Winnipesaukee just over a decade ago. “Look Up,” their first co-write, is a magical song that follows a winding narrative through the eyes of the janitor at the Sistine Chapel, the Renaissance painter Michaelangelo, and God. Child and Erelli were so taken with this initial composition that they kept on writing together each year, and now have over a dozen co-writes, released both on each other’s solo albums and as standalone collaborative singles. Dinty Child is a founding member of the beloved regional supergroup Session Americana, and has deep roots in the Boston music scene, playing with everyone from The Chandler Travis Philharmonic to the twenty piece Funky White Honkies. Mark Erelli is as likely to be found fronting a string quintet, a bluegrass band, or a rock n’ roll trio, as he is serving as a sideman for noted artists like Lori McKenna and Josh Ritter. For the first time, multi-instrumentalists Child and Erelli will combine forces for an intimate evening of storytelling and joint renditions of their expanding shared catalog.

Canadian Julie Doiron is back with I Thought Of You, her first solo record since 2012’s So Many Days. Every bit an instant classic as only she can masterfully create, Julie Doiron emanates a radiative force with nothing more than her guitar and her unmistakably indomitable voice. Julie Doiron is a maker of songs and a teller of stories, wielding her instruments like a craftsperson would their tools. In her time away from the solo spotlight she has remained entwined with music, albeit in consortiums with others; releasing a critically acclaimed record with members of Cancer Bats and Eamon McGrath under the name Julie and The Wrong Guys, reworking some of her previous work in Spanish for Spanish label Acuarela and returning to her otherworldly collaboration with Mount Eerie for Lost Wisdom pt 2, to name but a few. These are additions to Julie’s long and storied history of collaboration, working with luminaries like Gord Downie, Herman Dune, a split record with Okkervil River, and the unforgettable and iconic Eric’s Trip, the first Canadian band ever signed to legendary American record label Sub Pop. Ever the bountiful songwriter, Julie had been writing songs in the 9 years since her last solo record, keeping them close and waiting for it to feel right to head back into a studio. When the time came, she enlisted close and trusted friends to collaborate in the process: the uber-prolific and multi-talented Daniel Romano, superstar drummer Ian Romano, and Quebecois songwriter Dany Placard on bass. Together the quartet retreated to a cabin in the woods to record Julie’s first solo offering in 9 years. The resulting album, I Thought Of You, is every bit a return, as Julie Doiron finds her way back with new songs to enthrall our hearts, while simultaneously finding her way back to herself. We live for these moments, when our dearest friends find their way back to the places they love, and we once again hear their voices rise back into our lives. It’s Julie’s voice that rises to meet us from the get-go. Album opener “You Gave Me The Key” welcomes us in, a quintessential Julie Doiron song where she announces with a joyful resignation “here I am, starting over again”. Title track “I Thought Of You” is a rolling twang-tinged Doiron jam, an instant classic. As we move towards the tail end of the record we share in “Darkness To Light” a soulful ballad ruminating on moving our way out of dark days and into lighter shades. On “Back To The Water” Julie sings over gently plucked strings “I’ve been here before” as she has, and so have we, and we are once again here together. I Thought Of You is a return of the breath and fire of Julie Doiron and we are lucky to find ourselves back in the embrace of her tender and powerful forces.

Mesmerizing folk duo Ordinary Elephant has spent the better part of the last decade on a never-ending tour that’s earned married couple Crystal and Pete Damore widespread critical acclaim and made fans of luminaries like Tom Paxton and Mary Gauthier. In 2017, the pair took home the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year on the strength of their breakout album, Before I Go, and two years later, they returned with the similarly lauded Honest, which the Associated Press hailed as “one of the best Americana albums of the year.” The band’s new stripped-down, self-titled collection is the purest distillation of their sound yet, showcasing the arresting power of the couple’s gorgeous harmonies and intricate fretwork. The songs are timeless, rooted in rich, character-driven storytelling, and the performances are similarly transportive, fueled by delicately intertwined banjo, guitar, and octave mandolin. Though the songs were born out of a period of deep uncertainty, the record itself is a work of profound self-assurance, one delivered by a duo whose personal and professional lives embody the limitless possibility of honest, organic collaboration. Press play on Ordinary Elephant and you’ll hear more than just a husband and wife; you’ll hear the sound of sincerity and commitment, of patience and gratitude, of learning to let go of expectation and revel in the simple beauty of the moment.

Amy Rigby has established herself as one of America’s enduring underground/cult/indie artists, combining the insight and humor of country and folk songwriting with classic rock craftsmanship and punk DIY spirit. Raised in Pittsburgh, schooled in late 70s lower Manhattan, she formed pre-Americana country band Last Roundup and Richard Hell’s favorite girl group the Shams in NYC's East Village before launching a solo career with 90s classic album Diary Of A Mod Housewife. Amy’s honest, kinetic songwriting has earned her praise from critics (“pithy wisdom, acerbic pen and sterling American guitar classicism” MOJO) and other artists: “Think Randy Newman and Loudon Wainwright, at their best,” says Steve Earle. Her songs have been covered by Laura Cantrell, Ronnie Spector and John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants. Her 2019 memoir GIRL TO CITY was called “an instant classic” by The Big Takeover. “You can smell the damp, see the clothes, hear the guitars!” says Goldmine. The follow up, GIRL TO COUNTRY, comes out later this year. New album Hang In There With Me (2024), eleven up to the minute songs written by Amy and recorded by husband Wreckless Eric, is a bracing look at mortality, aging and youthful missteps, refracted through Amy’s insightful lyricism. Some people turn to the moon and stars for inspiration while Amy Rigby looks to creative heroes like Bob Dylan and Mike Leigh. She finds poetry in haircuts, live chat boxes, bartending, and bookselling. Her music is the sound of everyday people getting by, just like the classic country artists she loved and learned to write songs from.

Folk collective, Floyds Row, explores the connections among early, classical, folk, newgrass, and world genres. The ensemble has performed throughout the UK and the US. Recent venues have included Club Passim (Cambridge, MA), King’s Chapel (Boston, MA), Winchendon Music Festival (Winchendon, MA), American Folk Art Museum (New York, NY), Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers (Washington, DC). “No two shows are alike, but the performances guarantee an eclectic mix of traditional pieces from composers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, covers from modern folk singers such as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and the Grateful Dead, as well as original compositions that pull from the meld of the traditional and the classical.” – North Potomac Times The collective evolved from a series of concerts at the University of Oxford. These first collaborations––organized by Chris Ferebee, along with Alistair Anderson, Andrew Arceci, and several guest musicians––led to the ensemble producing their début recording, The Oxford Sessions (Centaur Records, 2018). The 2025 tour will feature works arranged and/or composed by Hailey Fuqua, Asako Takeuchi, Jacques Lee Wood, Andrew Arceci, George Lykogiannis, and Mike Williams. ____________________________ “Roots-thick and shadowy…guided by velvety vocals. A delicate ebb and flow from uplifting to more penetrating.” – American Songwriter Winner of the 2017 Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition, Chris Moyse is a folk artist out of Nashville, TN. His debut album Bitter Ballads & Cynical Prayers shares an attention to lyricism with artists like Jason Isbell and Hayes Carll, with melodies that are reminiscent of Gregory Alan Isakov and John Moreland. He has recently shared the stage with Joe Ely, Mary Gauthier, Ben Kweller, and members of Old Crow Medicine Show and has appeared at music festivals across the country.

At the core of Scott Hirsch's work is a collaborative spirit. He believes that every collaboration is a partnership, a co-creation with the artists he works alongside. Whether helping a solo artist bring their sonic vision to life or collaborating with a band, Hirsch approaches each project with an open mind and a wealth of expertise. Although he takes pride in the analog aesthetic, Hirsch has embraced the future of sound. He offers an array of services designed to meet the evolving needs of musicians. From pre-production planning to final mixing, Scott's extensive toolkit allows him to cater to each artist’s individual needs, ensuring that their unique voice is realized. In addition to his five solo LPs, Hirsch was a founding member of the band Hiss Golden Messenger. He produced recorded and mixed records with the band going back to 2011. In 2014, Scott recorded and mixed folk legend Alice Gerrard’s “Follow the Music,” which was nominated for a Grammy for best folk record. In 2025, Mia Dyson’s “Tender Heart,” which Scott produced, recorded, and mixed, won the Australian ARIA for best Soul and R&B record. Scott actively produces music from his “Cottage Studio” in Ojai, CA.

Jason Narducy is a Chicago musician. When he isn’t touring with Bob Mould or Superchunk, he writes and sings in Split Single. Greg Kot (Chicago Tribune, Sound Opinions) calls Jason “a first rate songwriter and band leader”. Jason has performed with Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices), Sunny Day Real Estate, The Pretenders, Liz Phair, Eddie Vedder, and many more. Jason and his first band, Verböten, were featured in the Foo Fighter’s HBO series Sonic Highways and in Dave Grohl’s NYT best seller, Storyteller. Playwright Brett Neveu wrote a musical about Verböten (featuring music by Jason) that opened in Chicago in January 2020. Verböten the musical garnered rave reviews and sold out performances and is currently being re-worked for a film adaptation. Jason has written and performed in comedy shorts such as The Sexiest Elbows in Rock (3 episodes all found on YouTube). The episodes feature Fred Armisen, Michael Shannon, Frank Black, Sharon Van Etten, Todd Barry, Dave Hill, Rick Nielsen, and Michael Cerveris among others.

TOURISTS is honored to be hosting electronic music legend DON SLEPIAN as he tours the US celebrating the 45th anniversary of his seminal record Sea of Bliss. A composer, performer, and music technologist, Slepian is revered as a pioneer in the ambient and new age music movement, blending classical influences with cutting-edge electronic techniques. From serving as artist-in-residence at Bell Laboratories and Synthesizer Soloist with the Honolulu Symphony to performing at esteemed venues like Lincoln Center, WNYC’s New Sounds, and the Centre Pompidou, his career spans decades of innovation and acclaim. Recently, he has sold out shows at the Philosophical Research Society, accompanied therapeutic psychedelic ceremonies, lectured at Stanford University, and appeared on Dublab radio. Now based in the Pocono Mountains, Slepian continues to compose, perform, and build innovative instruments, cementing his legacy as a visionary in the field.