Violinist Randy Sabien and his String Jazz Quartet consisting of Mike Dowling, Jeff Eckels, Matt Turner and hosts, Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines joining on violin and cello. The Brink Lounge was packed for one of the greatest Mad Toast Live shows to date.
Daylight in the Swamp is a contemporary bluegrass band based out of Madison,Wisconsin. The band members are a collection of some of the top musicians in the area. The various influences they bring to the group show the diversity of their backgrounds.
Intemperance Collective is a Balkan band "playing the folk dance music of Eastern Europe and beyond with intemperate zest" and caters to folk dancers.
"The band features folk-dance and Balkan music cognoscenti, along with smoking vocals, an exciting and varied repertoire, and . . . [gasp!] . . . an instrumentalist who jumped ship to play the tuppan."
Artist, author, radio host and performer Gregg Williard reads his original cyber-punk fiction. Check out his radio show on 89.9 WORT in Madison every 3rd and 4th Friday of the month from 11:00 to 12:00 midnight (just before Mad Toast Live!).
Evan Murdock, previously of the Lonesome Rogues and the Kentucky Waterfalls presents his newest band: Evan Murdock and the Imperfect Strangers, which includes members of the Cork n’Bottle String band, Count this Penny and North Country Drifters and Big Mouth Collective.
3 wayward Kentucky Colonels (really!) forming a Madison, WI based super group of pickin', grinnin', and general insanity. Featuring Col. Kirsten Earley, Col. Matt Earley and Col. Andy Moore from WI Public TV's "30-Minute Music Hour"
Her music combines the haunting sounds of traditional folk and gospel with contemporary alt-country and Americana hooks. Poetic and rich, her songs are sad, sweet and full of the stories that inhabit the wide open prairies of the Midwest.
Drawing on influences from Stevie Wonder to Bonnie Raitt, Gwen Stefani to Van Morrison, Ani Di Franco to James Brown, Whiskey Doll's brand of contemporary blues-rock features bold ensemble vocals and driving improvisational instrumentals
Joined by Kirk Tatnall on guitar and drummer Dane Richeson , this free-wheeling romp through some interesting and thought-provoking material will challenge the listener from start to finish. The two guitarists will be performing on the Superax, an instrument that was invented by Grassel. It enables the players to play bass and guitar strings on the same neck. This allows a trade off between bass lines and guitar parts, eliminating the need for a separate bass instrument.
Joined by Kirk Tatnall on guitar and drummer Dane Richeson , this free-wheeling romp through some interesting and thought-provoking material will challenge the listener from start to finish. The two guitarists will be performing on the Superax, an instrument that was invented by Grassel. It enables the players to play bass and guitar strings on the same neck. This allows a trade off between bass lines and guitar parts, eliminating the need for a separate bass instrument.
Jessi Lynn (Nashville, TN) has been nominated for 13 Grammy's since 2002. She has independently released six Cd's and has been compared to artists such as Jennifer Nettles, Melissa Etheridge & Sheryl Crow. She has won many awards in her career including "Song of The Year", "Artist of the Year", "Album of the Year," and "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the MAMA's in 2005-2008. Jessi Lynn has shared the stage with The Wreckers, Bomshel, Emerson Drive and The Bodeans and has graced the stage of the highly coveted music festival, Summerfest (over one million in attendance every year, Milwaukee, WI). In 2005, Jessi agreed to be filmed by Emmy award winning producer, Marv Turner (Yellow Dog Productions) for a full length documentary meant to capture the struggles of an artist climbing to the top of the "impossible" music industry mountain (yet to be released). Lynn's music has been on national radio stations, as well as FOX TV, WGN & many local television programs. Most recently, Lynn had her song "A Little Bit Of You" featured in the popular online Soap Opera "Venice, The Series" (a spin off of Guiding Light) and she was also featured on the cover of the magazine, "The Isthmus". Lynn has co-written songs for the NFL, NASCAR, NHRA & MLB (with Jake Johnson) that you will soon be hearing at select games/races (Banshee Music Publishing).
Frank claims 3 Grammy winning recordings and 11 Grammy nomination recordings with such artists as Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child and John Legend. He is also "the only known saxman to have performed with Miles Davis, Randy Brecker, Charles Earland, Elvin Jones, Stan Getz, Betty Carter, Von Freeman, Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Les Claypool and Louis Bellson while still in high school!"
A natural storyteller with a deep compassion for the lost and forgotten voices of our culture, Barb Ryman expects music to be more than entertaining. With a crystalline voice and skillfully played guitar, Barb delivers a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, drawing from country blues, Celtic balladry, and old-time gospel/bluegrass. Her latest CD, EARTHBOUND, is a fine collection of songs displaying the breadth & depth of her musical musings. EARTHBOUND is receiving airplay on folk programs across the nation including the nationally syndicated, Midnight Special and Nevada City’s KVMR. Her career launched in 1996 when the Minneapolis Star Tribune ranked her CD, LAY ME OPEN, a top ten release across all genres, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press proclaimed “You can’t help being amazed at the power of her presence and the sound of her voice. . . you can’t help but listen.”
A natural storyteller with a deep compassion for the lost and forgotten voices of our culture, Barb Ryman expects music to be more than entertaining. With a crystalline voice and skillfully played guitar, Barb delivers a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, drawing from country blues, Celtic balladry, and old-time gospel/bluegrass. Her latest CD, EARTHBOUND, is a fine collection of songs displaying the breadth & depth of her musical musings. EARTHBOUND is receiving airplay on folk programs across the nation including the nationally syndicated, Midnight Special and Nevada City’s KVMR. Her career launched in 1996 when the Minneapolis Star Tribune ranked her CD, LAY ME OPEN, a top ten release across all genres, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press proclaimed “You can’t help being amazed at the power of her presence and the sound of her voice. . . you can’t help but listen.