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Truckstop Honeymoon
What's good? "Just got home from a two-month tour in Europe and a two-week tour in Colorado. We've got six CDs out on Squirrel Records, the latest being Homemade Haircut."
What do you think you sound like? "Katie Euliss on upright bass, vocals, piano and banjo, and Mike West on guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals. Tough, funny, high-octane songs about interstates, pinball arcades and true love."
Outlaw Jim and the Whiskey Benders
What's good? "We play four or five nights a week around town. We're probably one of the more active bands in the city. We're working on our third album. It'll be spring before I get the damn thing mastered and finished. I'm writing the last couple songs, but about half the album's recorded."
What do you think you sound like? "It depends on the venue. Probably like Waylon Jennings and Gregg Allman eating jambalaya."
BLUES
Mary Bridget Davies
What's good? "We've been hitting the blues-festival circuit pretty hard this summer and been able to main-stage with national acts at the Blues From the Top Festival in Winter Park, Colorado, and the Kalamazoo Blues Festival. Currently recording our debut album at West End Studio with engineer Brendan McReynolds and with the expert help of the Good Foot's Tim Braun. Expecting a release in early fall."
What do you think you sound like? "One hell of a good soulful time."
Samantha Fish
What's good? "Just released my solo debut record, Runaway, on Germany's Ruf Records. I've been touring with a group called Girls and Guitars, which consists of myself; Cassie Taylor from Boulder, Colorado; and Dani Wilde from the U.K. Touring Europe, North America and Australia later this year."
What do you think you sound like? "Bluesy but with a swampier, rockin' edge."
Excited about any particular acts at the Showcase? "All the nominated blues bands. And I'm excited about all the young bands coming up in Kansas City. We have a lot of young kids right now who are starting to play the blues. I think it's important for that to be recognized and supported."
Grand Marquis
What's good? "We've been playing together 13 years this September. Our fifth and latest CD, Hold on to Me, has been out for about 10 months. It was recently No. 1 in Missouri and No. 6 in the United States on roots-radio charts. Look for our next release this fall, recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis."
What do you think you sound like? "Timeless — swinging jump blues in the Kansas City tradition, mixing in some New Orleans, Memphis and early jazz influences. Our original material keeps the music moving forward and relevant while also honoring our musical heritage. It sounds like a party you want to be right in the middle of."
Also nominated: Levee Town
DJ
Brent Tactic
What's good? "Just had a tune drop on Jon Kwest's Moombahton vs UK Hardcore compilation. Forthcoming track on Heartbreak's second Moombahsoul compilation. Always cranking out edits and remixes. The biggest thing I've been investing time and effort into is a big-time moombahton monthly at Luna on the last Friday of every month. It kicks off August 26 with Dave Nada, the Moombah don, as our special guest."
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