Cellist, Vocalist, Lyricist, Wellness Advocate, and Sound Healer are a few titles used to describe Monica McIntyre. She weaves a beautiful tapestry of colors and sounds so unique that one genre simply does not cover it. Monica uses her cello as a conduit to seamlessly blend: Blues, Soul, Folk, Classical, Reggae and Middle Eastern sounds into an unforgettable musical landscape.

Witnessing Monica perform is an enthralling experience and before you know it you will be swaying or stomping your feet. Meticulous storytelling, metaphor and word play dominate her lyrics, allowing her songs to be seen and heard as succinct novellas. The smoky texture and emotional quality of her voice has left audiences crying, dancing, laughing and testifying.

Living in Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love, immersed her in a serous education of: Funk, Soul, R & B, Jazz, and World Music. In October 2003 she self-released her debut album ‘Blusolaz’ — a collection of original songs which fused: Blues, Soul and Jazz. ‘Bars of Gold’, her first single, was self-released in August 2005.

In November 2010 Monica relocated to New Orleans, LA and became immediately involved in its thriving local music scene. She joined forces with singer-songwriters Lynn Drury and Margie Perez to form, The Honeypots, an acoustic genre blending group. Their debut album ‘Something Sweet’ was released in April 2012 on the ThreadHead Record label and was nominated for The 2013 New Orleans Best Of The Beat Awards. They have been featured performers at the French Quarter Fest (LA) 2013, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (LA) 2013, and The Creole Tomato Festival (LA) 2014.

Additionally, Monica has featured at numerous events and venues throughout the world most notably: Soul Sista’s Jukejoint (GA) 2005, The 215 Festival (PA) 2005, Sistahood Celebration (Vancouver) 2008, The Philadelphia Fringe Festival (PA) 2008 & 2009, The Black Women’s Art Festival (PA) 2009, Sisterspace (MD) 2009, Ladyfest New Orleans (LA) 2010 & 2011, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (LA) 2013, and The French Quarter Fest (LA) 2013. Most recently Monica was a featured artist on the online International music show “Balcony TV”.

In September 2013 Monica self-released her sophmore album ‘It Soon Come’, produced by John Chelew, featuring: Marcia McIntyre (violin/vocals), Thea Bashful (vocals), Reggina Thompson (oboe), and Mike Jacobsen (percussion). In December 2014 she self-released her third full-length album ‘Mourning To The Moonlight’.

“I gave away my sorrow to the sunshine, I’m free again” — ‘Mourning To The Moonlight’, Monica McIntyre

Lynn Drury’s compositions are as rich and full of visual imagery as life itself. Often autobiographical, each song is carefully crafted around its initial inspiration, ranging from love and loss to beauty and butterflies. Her sound combines the twang and grit of her native Mississippi and the funky grooves of her adopted home of New Orleans. Drury has performed live on radio and television, and receives frequent local and national radio airplay. Offbeat Magazine dubbed “Spun” the Best New Release of 2003 and presented Drury with an award for Best Emerging Singer/Songwriter in 2004. She was also nominated for Best Roots-Rock Album (“All You need”) at the Big Easy Awards in 2006. Upon moving to New Orleans in 1995, Drury took guitar lessons with local musician Chris Wood. Almost right away, the budding singer-songwriter began performing originals and covers at small venues around town. She also frequented open mic nights at bigger clubs like the Howlin’ Wolf and Tipitinas, eventually landing a weekly spot at Margaritaville, where she played opposite legends like Eddie Bo and Chris Thomas King for 5 years. After honing her musical skills on the bandstand, Drury released her first CD of original compositions, “Crossing Frequencies,” in 2001. Over the next two years, she released a pair of discs — “Blackberry Winter” and “Spun” — backed up by local group Bad Mayo (Dave Stover, Chris Mulé, Trevor Brooks and Chris Pylant). She also played at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival every year from 2000-2005. With the help of Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers), Drury began working on her fourth album, “All You Need”. Progress was interrupted by Hurricane Katrina and the epic failure of the federal levee system in New Orleans that put much of the city under water, so she finished the recording at Delta Recording Studios in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The disc was mixed at the famous Piety Street Studios in New Orleans and released in 2006, scoring Drury her first national distribution deal with indie label 219 Records . After Katrina hit, Drury relocated to Memphis, where she performed at museums and galleries. She also participated in the Diaspora house concerts series in Brooklyn (appearing on the resulting recording), produced by composer Nick Balaban. She was also featured in No Depression magazine Drury returned to New Orleans 2007, gigging around town at major venues like dba, the Maple Leaf, and the House of Blues (opening for Joan Armatrading). She began performing with Italian guitarist Roberto Luti, with whom she moved to Livorno, Italy, in 2008. The duo toured and performed extensively in Europe, including opening for blues-rock legend Robben Ford at the Lake Trasimano Festival. The resulting live CD, “Dal Vivo,” released in January 2009, features their performances at festivals all over Italy. In 2009, while splitting time between Italy and New Orleans, Drury teamed up with Louisiana songstress Kim Carson to form the Tipsy Chicks, playing their unique blend of honky tonk and rockabilly all over the American south and Europe. By August of that year, Drury moved back to New Orleans for good and reunited with her former drummer Chris Pylant and rebuilt her band, which still performs regularly at local and regional venues as well as at Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest. New Orleans-based nonprofit Threadhead Records Foundation awarded Drury a grant in February 2010 to help produce her latest album, “Sugar On the Floor,” which represents a mixture of her Mississippi grit / New Orleans groove and grander styles with horns and strings arranged by Matt Perrine. The stellar lineup includes Alex McMurray (Tin Men, Royal Fingerbowl), Tommy Malone (Subdudes), Ivan Neville, Helen Gillet, Bill Malchow, and Eric Traub. Produced by Carlo Nuccio (who also plays drums on the album), much of the disc was recorded and engineered by Jacques DeLatour at Fudge Recording Studios in New Orleans. “Sugar On the Floor” was released in the spring of 2011, and is racking up impressive reviews. Hear Lynn Drury for yourself! Download song samples or see her live show schedule.

See more at: http://lynndrury.com

When thinking of New Orleans music, country is not at the top of the list. However, 19 year-old New Orleans native, Alexes Aiken, has created a style all her own – blending the blues that New Orleans is famous for with her gutsy country vibe. She has won many accolades nationally in songwriting contests and singing competitions for her original lyrics and melodies and her unique bluesy voice and performance style.

In fact, Alexes’ Nashville based producer for her self-titled debut CD, Jonell Polansky, said, “Alexes could rival any Nashville newcomer especially since she is born and raised in New Orleans but sings like she was born on The Opry stage.” A local country radio personality said, “Alexes is the little girl with the big voice from New Orleans.”

Alexes is a singer, songwriter, and musician. She and her New Orleans based band provide high energy music that has that country “arena rock” sound. “Entertaining and connecting with the audience at every show is my main goal,” she says. “It’s important for the audience to feel like they are a part of my shows, whether that is bonding through a heartbreaking song or dancing with me on stage. I crave that one-on-one, real connection with my fans and making a long-lasting impression.”

Alexes’ originals on her debut CD include “Country Boy”, “Best in Me”, “Note on the Mirror”, and “Wake Up and See Reality”. “My music is my diary. When fans listen to my music, they are listening to the raw version of who I am as an artist,” she explains. Alexes’ re-mixed version of “I Want It All” by Queen could well become a new youth anthem. Her re-mix of “These Boots are Made for Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra celebrates the original song’s 45th anniversary.

“New Orleans shaped me into the artist that I want to be. Rock and blues have always inspired me musically, and I fuse those genres with country to create my gutsy vocal sound and songwriting style,” she says.

Alexes is a member of the Country Music Association (CMA) and Nashville Songwriters Association International. She is working on her second EP that will be released in 2015.