Matthew Perryman Jones, Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter

Born in 1973, Matthew Perryman Jones is an American singer-songwriter who currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Jones began his career as a singer-songwriter in 1997, playing his first public performances at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA. Jones issued his first solo release, Nowhere Else But Here in 2000 after moving to Nashville, TN to pursue music full-time. In 2006 he released the album Throwing Punches in the Dark. This album, produced by Neilson Hubbard, also a Sierra Guitars Endorser, is a departure from his previous Folk/Americana sound to something more Pop Rock. Throwing Punches in the Dark has been well received by critics and fans alike and material from Throwing Punches in the Dark has also found success on television with selected songs airing in episodes of both "The Hills" and "Eli Stone". In February 2007, Jones performed at the 10th anniversary celebration for Regs Coffee House at the Alabama Theatre opening for both Patty Griffin and My Morning Jackets Jim James. Additionally, Jones recently completed a series of shows supporting acclaimed singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.

The new album Swallow the Sea will be released via Thirty Tigers/Red Distribution. Recorded in Nashville, the new album continues Jones collaborative efforts with renowned producer and songwriter Neilson Hubbard (Garrison Starr, Glen Phillips). Highlights on the new record include the track "Save You", which has been featured on the ABC shows "Private Practice" and "Kyle XY". Beginning July 19, Jones will be featured as part of the "10 Out Of Tenn" tour. This series of shows will feature a rotating lineup of up-and coming Tennessee-based artists, including Katie Herzig, Jeremy Lister, Erin McCarley and Griffin House.

Of the emerging artist, Performing Songwriter writes, "Matthew Perryman Jones has such soul. Following in the footsteps of Leonard Cohen and John Lennon, Jones brings his poetry to life with a rock sensibility and gritty vocals."

Ashleigh Flynn, Guitarist and Singer-songwriter

Ashleigh Flynn hails from Kentucky where she also grew up. A songwriter of exceptional depth and poetry, Flynn is also an electrifying performer blessed with unbridled charisma and the voice of an angel. Flynn has released 3 full-length records: Sneakin Out with Ashleigh Flynn Live from Mississippi Studios (2006), Chokecherry (2002) and Ashleigh Flynn self-titled (1999). All three records have received national acclaim and strong independent sales. About Chokecherry The Village Voice said, "Darling of the NW Americana scene & Flynn adds a smoky soulful voice & marrying styles from bluegrass to pop and dobro to drums." Flynn has traveled near and far, touting her tunes amassing new fans in markets all over the US - including month long - up and comers residencies at The Living Room and Pianos in Manhattan, and Toad in Cambridge, MA in 2007. She also released her fourth studio effort in 2007 entitled American Dream. Ashleigh has performed at many music festivals including The High Sierra Music Festival, Boston Pops Edgefest, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Music Fest NW, Bite of Portland, Oregon Country Fair, NxNE Festival and Conference, SW Folk Alliance, NW Pickathon, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, NW Music Festival. Nashville New Music Festival, SxSW, NEMO, Vancouver New Music Festival, Folklife Festival and Bumbershoot Festival. She has toured with McMenamins Great MW Music Tour (2006, NW), Sarah Bettens of K's Choice (2005, Northwest), Ellis Paul (2005, Northwest), Erin McKeown (2003, West Coast), David Wilcox (2003, Northwest), Willy Porter (2002, West Coast), Great Big Sea (2002, West Coast) and Nancy Griffith (2000, Northwest).

For more information on Ashleigh Flynn visit her websites at: www.ashleighflynn.net and
www.myspace.com/ashleighflynn

Neilson Hubbard, Guitarist, Singer-songwriter and Producer

Neilson Hubbard is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer based in Nashville, TN. He grew up in Mississippi and started his own band called This Living Hand with Clay Jones, now known as a producer/engineer. The Living Hand signed to Adam Duritz's label, E Pluribus Unum in 1990. In 1996 the band split up and Neilson soon after recorded and released 3 solo albums: The Slide Project, Why Men Fail, and Sing Into Me. Neilson started producing records out of his apartment and then moved to Nashville to open Mr. Lemons' Studio (named after his deceased cat) to continue producing records for and/or with Garrison Starr, Glen Phillips, Matthew Ryan, Emily Deloach, Amelia White, Michelle Malone, Kate York, Jeremy Lister, Matthew Perryman Jones, and others. He also started a band with Matthew Ryan called Strays Don't Sleep and released a record on Hybrid/PT2 and One Little Indian in the UK in 2005. Strays Don't Sleep was released to great reviews and the success helped secure a US release, which was helped further by a placement of a song from the album on the CW hit One Tree Hill, which also made it onto the official soundtrack. Neilson has toured in the UK, US, and appeared on Conan O'Brien. His new solo record: I Love Your Muscles will be released in May 2008.

For more information on Neilson Hubbard, visit his website at:
www.neilsonhubbard.com

Chris Roberts, Guitarist, Singer-songwriter

One Flew South plays an organic, groove laced, brand of gritty country rock, scattered with tight harmonies-- rekindling the fires of great vocal groups such as Alabama, The Eagles and Crosby,Stills and Nash. Formed in August 2005, the trio consists of Chris Roberts, Royal Reed and Eddie Bush. With the intention to form an entertaining vocal experience, One Flew South have uniquely taken three voices and seamlessly created one sound causing an infectious vocal combustion. They have successfully captured songs covering a musical landscape of roots, country, rock and soul. Chris Roberts moved to New York by way of Montana (he met Reed Royal in New York where both had gravitated in pursuit of a music career), ended up in Nashville, where he was encouraged by legendary country music singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin--who had his own stellar career singing lead in a trio with his brothers. Chris then hooked up with Marcus Hummon, a Nashville-based songwriter whose catalog contained six No. 1 hits from the likes of The Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts' Grammy-winning "Bless the Broken Road." In 2006 One Flew South was offered and accepted a record deal from Decca/Universal Records and a song publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The trio then proceeded to record their debut, Last of the Good Guys (to be released April 29, 2008), with the help of top songwriters--most notably J.D. Souther, who co-wrote such Eagles' classics as "Best of My Love" and "Heartache Tonight." "With beautiful echoes of the great harmony groups like Poco, Eagles, even The Beach Boys; One Flew South are the new kids in town," noted the legendary songwriter. Also enlisted were session musicians to provide an instrumental sound as classic as the three-part vocal blend. The key players were drummer John Gardner, bassist Mark Prentice, banjo player Wanda Vick, and of course Eddie on guitars--with added coloring from Bruce Hornsby & The Range guitarist George Marinelli and Marcus Hummon on acoustic guitar and mandolin and piano.

For more information on One Flew South visit their website at:
www.oneflewsouth.com or www.myspace.com/oneflewsouth

Pauline Reese, Guitarist, Singer-songwriter

Pauline Reese has done a lot in just a short period of time. Aside from working practically every honky-tonk and dancehall in the state, her vocal skills have become enormously in demand to kick off rodeos and sporting events across Texas with her crowd-pleasing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. Paulines family history is steeped in rodeo and music, with country, bluegrass, Spanish and big band thriving at their small East Texas ranch. In addition, her mother, a musical director for the local church, brought that influence into the home. At age 14, Pauline and her family moved to the Austin, Texas area. At that point, she was introduced to many other styles of music, but country remained her passion. By the age of 15 she was singing backup in a local band, and by 18 she was fronting her own.

Now, at 29 years of age, Pauline has evolved as an artist and a songwriter. She has garnered a nomination for the Western Swing Female Vocalist of the Year award by the Academy of Western Artists, and has completed her first tour of Europe in the summer of 2003. Pauline received a lot of attention on her second CD release Trail to Monterrey and her third CD project The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is now out getting rave reviews and quickly climbing the Texas & Oklahoma charts. On this project she has written or co-written eight of the fourteen tracks, including a duet with Willie Nelson. Her first single One Less Honky Tonk went to number 15 on the Texas / Oklahoma chart and is now working the song Cowboy Way, which is currently in the top 30 on the Texas Chart. With her full six-piece band, powerful vocal style, and an undying appreciation of true-to-the-roots country music, Pauline Reese is a natural fit for audiences across the state and beyond- anywhere good country music is treasured.

For more info on Pauline, visit her websites at:
www.myspace.com/paulinereese and www.paulinereese.com

Brad Skistimas, Guitarist, Singer-songwriter

Brad Skistimas is a Dallas native that fronts the music project FIVE TIMES AUGUST, an idea he started in 2001 at 18 years old. Skistimas has turned Five Times August into a widely popular independent music act for today’s college market, selling over 13,000 CD’s across the United States. The first album, Fry Street, features five tunes used on MTV’s reality phenomenon Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. Skistimas’ talents have placed Five Times August as a well-respected independent act in today’s music industry. As the #1 consignment artist at Virgin Megastore Dallas, #1 chart topper at online music store Awarestore.com, #1 downloaded artist at iSound.com, and with five songs featured on one of MTV’s most popular shows, word has quickly spread about the music of Five Times August.

For more info on Five Times August, visit:
www.myspace.com/fivetimesaugust and www.fivetimesaugust.com

Chris Holly, Co-owner and renowned Guitar Instructor of Music Unlimited

Sierra Guitars is proud to be the new preferred educator line of guitars for Music Unlimited, the popular school-of-rock founded in Mount Pleasant, SC. MU's founder, co-owner and renowned guitar instructor Chris Holly will endorse Sierra as the recommended guitar brand for MU's guitar instruction division. Chris Holly is a much sought after instructor and singer/songwriter/performer with a history of touring with top bands and musicians. Holly's wide experience in the music industry includes graduating with honors from Musicians Institute in LA, touring the US and Canada with eighties metal band Omen, and touring the southeast in the nineties working with such bands as Hootie and The Blowfish, Edwin McCain, and the Toadies. In 2000, Chris began teaching guitar full time and founded Music Unlimited in 2005, which in just a few short years has grown to over seven hundred weekly students and sixteen instructors teaching Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, Voice, and Saxophone. With two locations in the Charleston SC area, Music Unlimited is planning new schools throughout the South in 2008.

For more info on Chris Holly, visit his websites at:
www.myspace.com/chrishollythrashfolk
and www.myspace.com/musicunlimitedrocks

Jonny Diaz, Guitarist

Jonny Diaz is a guitarist singer-songwriter with tremendous song-writing talent that has kicked off a grassroots buzz, taking his music nationwide. Jonny’s debut CD, “Shades of White,” was released in August 2003. Its’ unique, uplifting rhythms; significant, life-touching lyrics; and great harmonies have made it popular with all age groups. Jonny released his second CD in September 2005, which maintains the acoustic vibe and melodic style that made his first record so popular, but it has a fuller, richer sound enhanced by additional instrumentation and electronic elements. The lyrics, the music, and the production represent Jonny’s growth as a musician. They have caught the attention of radio DJs nationwide that dare to play indie music. Jonny’s third CD, “They Need Love” was just recorded at Sputnik Studio in Nashville with Mitch Dane (producer for Jars of Clay, Bebo Norman, etc.) using back up musicians who consistently play with Caedmon’s Call, Jars of Clay, Dave Barnes, and Matt Wertz. Its’ recent release on March 22, 2007, has already received nationwide attention. Although Jonny primarily travels as an acoustic act, he has an amazing group of musicians who join him for full band shows, tour with him every summer and perform at major events throughout the year.