Hannah Miller was born and raised in the Deep South by two very deep Southerners who taught her the value of simplicity, the meaning of love, and the advantage of growing up without a television.  She taught herself to play guitar in high school, but did not embark on her life’s musical mission until after graduating from college in 2003 (Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC).

She now makes her home in Columbia, SC, where she has, in only four short years, made some serious inroads in her musical career, starting with her first full length record, produced by Grammy Award winner Mitch Dane.  The record boasts an astounding degree of depth and maturity for a freshman LP; on it Dane and Miller have crafted gorgeous sonic landscapes befitting of Miller’s smoky, velveteen vocals. Of the new record Miller says, “I wanted an album that everyone who hears it can find themselves in, and I think we accomplished that.  The music is authentic, and listeners immediately identify that.”  Released in January, 2008, the record has already found a wide audience, and is receiving airplay on college and independent radio throughout the Southeast.

Continue reading On Stage 7/5- Hannah Miller

Perhaps it was the definitiveness of genre with which she started her musical endeavor which lead Christina Horn, a.k.a. Hudson K, to her current style of genre-dissolving anti-pop piano rock. Listening to her music, you can’t help but guess that the classical masters trained her technical eyes and ears. But when she first heard the early sounds of Tori Amos, it occurred to her that she had options beyond teaching piano lessons and accompanying the church choir. Certainly she has been compared to Amos by music journalists in her native Knoxville, and she won’t deny the strength of Amos’s influence on her ambition. Still, she has poured her own earthiness into her style and created a sound that is uniquely hers. This sound found a home first behind the vocals of fellow Knoxville native Matt Urmy in the short lived but loved local indie outfit Teleskope.

The dissolution of Teleskope in 2005 left Horn wondering if it were possible for her to front a band, rather than just support one. It didn’t hurt that her life, at the time of the Teleskope’s parting, was whirling in the heartache and despair of the increasingly common quarter life crisis: the kind of tragedies of which beautiful music is so often made. She wrote what she knew and brought it where she could, usually to the once smoky bars in downtown Knoxville, or any other corner where she could fit her keyboard. It was during this time that she ran into old friend Laura Bost in a dark garage at a party; the two had become acquainted years earlier, in music school, while both were learning to perfect and perform the classical music they were, years later, eagerly leaving behind. Unlike Horn, Bost was a vocalist by training, and was working as a sound engineer. Like Horn, Bost was feeling the compulsion to write and sing something different than what her classical training as a vocalist had been.

Continue reading On Stage 7/5- Hudson K

Sara Jean Kelley is a Nashville-based songer/songwriter. She has been singing and writing songs as long as she can remember, but she has only been playing the guitar for about 6 years. She was born and raised in the Music City, but decided she need a break from the musical life right out of high school, so she moved to Durango, CO to study Biology. It didn’t take long for her to realize that music was in her heart and in her bones, so she moved back to Nashville after about 2 years and is still there today.

Sara Jean has played in many places all over Southwest Colorado and on stages that Willy Nelson, Johnny Cash and Rodney Crowell have played on: Fly Me to the Moon Saloon and Sheridan Opera House both in Telluride, CO; The Summit, Steamworks Brewing Company and the Durango Concert Hall (opening for Pure Prairie League) in Durango, CO. She played at Sand Hill Berry Farm and Twin Lakes in Pennsylvania and Avila Beach Music Festival in Avila beach, CA opening for Emmy Lou Harris. She has also played in many places all over Nashville.

Continue reading On Stage 6/28- Sara Jean Kelley

Centralia Massacre is a folk group from Knoxville, TN. Members include Laura Bost on ukulele and guitar, James Maples on banjo and guitar, Johnny Walker on upright bass, Steve Corrigan on drums, and Leslie Terry on violin.

James and Laura formed Centralia Massacre in Knoxville in July 2007. They initially met in February of that year following a freak list of band cancellations at the Pilot Light, which left them sharing the stage. After a spur of the moment duet performance at a show a few weeks later, they decided to try writing a few songs together: Capitalist, Family Tree, and Couch soon followed. Their first true show was at the Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City on Oct 22. Around then, they met Johnny at the Corner Lounge.
Continue reading On Stage 6/28- Centralia Massacre

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Sarah Peacock was born into a musical family, so it isn’t surprising that so many of her fans have said she was “born with a song.” She began taking piano lessons at the ripe old age of 4, got her first guitar at 11, and began teaching herself the drums at age 13. She wrote her first song at 14 and hasn’t stopped since. Sarah grew up being heavily involved with music at school and at church. She has an extensive background in classical voice, musical theatre, and music theory. In junior high and high school, Sarah performed in plays, talent shows, won governor’s honors, scholarships, and even performed in a touring broadway production. Having developed a passion for music throughout childhood, Sarah decided to “get serious” about her career as an artist in 2001 when she moved to Nashville, TN. She developed her talent as a vocalist, songwriter, and performer at Belmont University and graduated in 2005 with a bachelors in commercial music. Sarah Peacock was signed to indie launching label, Maze Records in 2006. Since then she has been diligently writing songs, touring, recording, and developing her fan base as a singer/songwriter in cities all over America. With the ability to play every instrument, Sarah is an extremely well rounded musician and performer. Some of her fans have said, “she feels music on a different level, and you can tell on stage.” It is not typical for an artist to produce their own album. However, despite the typical scenario, Sarah solely produced her entire debut album with clear focus and direction. Sarah currently lives in her hometown of Atlanta, GA, but will be moving back to Nashville, TN in May of 2009. She will be bringing a suitcase full of new songs with her and is ready to share them with the Nashville music scene and with her fans all around the world.

Once a Seattle resident, Treva Blomquist is now a Nashville local and has quickly risen to the top of an endless pool of talent that inundates Music City. Treva’s ability to seamlessly weave a tapestry of folk and soul, dye it indigo blue, and adorn it with the occasional sparkling sequin of pop has earned her considerable recognition among artists and critics alike. Her songwriting is rock solid and mature, often earning favorable comparisons to Patty Griffin and Mindy Smith. Treva is comfortable and compelling performing as a solo act, in front of a small string section, or shaking the walls of any rock venue in town with her band, The Suits.

Although Treva’s brilliant songwriting and impressive guitar chops distinguish her from other artists in her genre, it is her voice that places her in a league of her own. Treva’s range is wide and her timbre is as focused and as pure as a trumpet, and just as powerful. But it is the integrity and authenticity embedded within her lyrics and the passion and soul conveyed through her voice that are truly the most inspiring. Treva possesses a rare talent that is often sought after but rarely obtained.
Continue reading On Stage 6/21- Treva Blomquist

Eric Nassau is everybody’s friend.  His music grew out of the Connecticut Coffeehouses and into the Midwestern Cornfields.

Now, using the talented and supportive community of Columbus, Ohio as his springboard, Eric has played at bars, benefits, bookstores, coffeehouses, house concerts, festivals and Universities all over the United States and Canada since 1996.

His evocative lyrics, gentle vocals and finger-style guitar combine with a warm stage presence and good humor.  In the tradition of folk troubadours, his original songs reflect lived-in soles and handed-down stories, personal anecdotes mixed with imagination and charm.  His stage show backs this up; his engaging personality reaches out to audiences like a friend you haven’t seen in years. Continue reading On Stage 6/14- Eric Nassau

Tia McGraff was born Tia Lynne Hofgraff in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.  She grew up in a small town on Lake Erie called Port Dover and remembers her first trip to the “city”! She was only 7 years old and her parents were taking her to see the musical Camelot in Hamilton, Ont. Although the “big city lights” were impressive, Tia’s eyes and ears were opened when she heard the orchestra play the first bar of the overture. She turned to her mother and said, “I want to be on stage”!

Since that life calling experience, Tia’s musical career has led her on a journey that includes 4 albums ( Small Town Life, Jewels Café, Outside Of The Circle, Day In My Shoes ); videos on CMT Canada; exposure on CBS Nightly News with Katie Couric; and radio play on Americana, Triple A, and Country radio stations around the world; and has had songs placed in film and TV.
Continue reading On Stage 6/14- Tia McGraff

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Press >Play> to Listen!

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Geoff Achison has a reputation as a guitarist’s guitarist.

Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, he has developed a blues/funk style all his own that can be delicate one moment and explosive the next. Unaware of how the sounds he was hearing on his limited record collection were produced, he invented some of his own techniques – without the aid of pedals or gadgets. As a result, watching this guy wrench sounds from his simple set-up can be something of a spectacle.  Geoff also possesses a soulful voice that has evoked favorable comparisons to Joe Cocker or Warren Haynes. An award winning songwriter to boot, Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of catchy original tunes, improvised jamming and inspired versions of blues & soul classics.
Continue reading On Stage 6/7- Geoff Achison

“I’m going to be someone someday” Veronica Ballestrini sings in “Destiny” a self written song about being determined and not letting anyone or anything get in the way of what she wants. With a sassy but yet still sweet melodic voice, Veronica’s high energy music captivates audiences of all ages.

Sixteen- year-old Veronica Ballestrini was born and raised in Waterford, Connecticut. She comes from a family of four brothers and one sister. “My first direct musical influences were my older brothers, who formed a rock band and played drums and guitar. I used to hang out with them and their friends and listen to their music.” Veronica explains. Veronica began playing piano and singing at the tender age of 6. A short time later she began performing around her town at local shows, fairs and talent contests. Veronica has always had a strong love for country music but it wasn’t until she started writing songs at age 11 and playing the guitar at age 13 that she realized she wanted to fulfill a career in the country music industry. “I’m always writing. My friends will tell me stories about their boyfriends or relationship problems, and I listen to what they have to say, but in the back of my mind I’m really thinking ‘what a great song idea’.”

Ballestrini’s major credits include: the best over-all country artist at the USA World Showcase competition at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV in 2006, singing the National Anthem at various sports events including the WNBA All-star Game in 2007, the celebrity host at the Rising Superstar concert at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville along with Brian White, and countless other performances around the country. Her star power potential is evidenced by her #1 music video on Musiqtone.com in November of 2007 as determined by music fans voting, eclipsing videos by Hilary Duff, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. The video, “What’s Up With That” was directed by Glenn Sweitzer with the music recorded by Nashville producer Dennis Money.