The Lucas Cates Band

The Lucas Cates Band is the brainchild of Madison, Wisconsin, musician Lucas Cates. In three short years, the Lucas Cates Band has grown to become an award-winning, critically-acclaimed, national and international touring band, having recently completed dates in British Columbia, Canada. Lucas is joined in the full band by Kenny Leiser on electric guitar, violin, and backing vocals; Ryan Casey on keys and backing vocals; Jesse Warmka on drums/percussion and backing vocals; and Mark Noxon on bass and backing vocals. All of the members of this band can sing, but Lucas has an incredible vocal tone and quality that begs to be heard. Lucas's solo acoustic number "Ebb And Flow" is included on AAA 105.5 WMMM's Compilation CD Volume 6. Lucas's sophomore CD "All The Pieces" has been independently produced, pressed and released by The Lucas Cates Band.

"All The Pieces" is an entertaining, diverse mix of the magical melodies and amazing vocal tone for which Lucas Cates has become known. Lucas's thought-provoking lyrics and catchy melodies make his music stand apart from the masses. The band continues its push on the national scene. Lucas performed solo in the New Artist Showcase at the Cutting Edge Music Business Conference in New Orleans this year, and the full band performed at the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival as the only invited touring band to participate in this year's festival. This band is on a meteoric rise to the top. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride.

» myspace.com/lucascates

Mike Droho and The Compass Rose

Mike attended the University of Wisconsin, dropping out before earning his degree in communications. Mike instead decided to pursue his first love: Music. Mike was the chief songwriter in The Profits, who played over 400 shows and ruled colleges throughout the Midwest and East coast from 2001-2006, selling out 1,000 person rooms and selling over 7,000 records. The Profits ended as a band in 2006 when Mike and Scott Lamps called it quits to pursue other avenues in music and life.

In only one year Mike has played close to 200 shows and has sold close to 1,000 independent records. Mike has recently formed The Compass Rose, which includes a string ensemble and a beat boxer. Mike is currently working on his second record release and a national tour.

» myspace.com/mikedroho

Riejunio Premium Apparel

Riejunio Premium Apparel is the brainchild of former Blue Chip, All American athlete Harie Robinson. Harie attended Georgia Tech on a full athletic scholarship and graduated from Piedmont College with a degree in business administration. That knowledge and nine years of experience gained from Macy's South both from the store level and corporate level allowed Harie to understand the business, fashion, and trends that drive the market.

Riejunio seeks to buck those trends by providing consumers with classic, upscale denim and tees that are timeless in style and quality. Supporting the company's mantra "The Renaissance of Art and Fashion," Riejunio partners with Lucas Cates and Kenny Leiser of the Lucas Cates Band and Eddy Fontane and The Other Side.

» riejunio.com

Robert J

An anchor to the Madison music scene for 25 years, Robert J., as he is known to his friends, has recently released two new projects. "The Revenge Of The Rowdy Prairie Dogs" is a slice of Americana with a flavor of country-rock guiding the way. Robert J.'s second disc, "A Beautiful Blur," is a collection of beautiful, personal selections that tell the story of Robert J.'s life in song and will appeal to lovers of both Americana and Adult Contemporary music.

In addition to making his own music, Robert J. is a co-founder of PopBomb Records and is credited with discovering a young singer-songwriting cut from a similar mold, Lucas Cates. Robert J. produced Lucas's debut, "Contradictory," which went on to claim three Madison Area Music Awards, including Best Pop Song (for "We May Fall"), Best Pop Artist, and Best Pop Album. No stranger to accolades and awards for music, Robert J. sang two songs for the upcoming indy film "Madison," which is set to hit the film festival circuit this fall and winter. Robert J's "Rewind" from "A Beautiful Blur" is also in the film. This past September, Robert J. won first place in the Berghoff & Blues Talent Search and played an opening slot at the Berghoff & Blues festival with Sonny Landreth, James Cotton, and other great blues bands. He is also a past Billboard Song Contest winner. Robert J.'s career was recently sidetracked by a heart attack, but Robert J. is a survivor. He continues to make his mark on the Madison music community.

» robertj.com

The Sharp and Harkins Band

Drawing from the slide guitar riffs of Ben Harper and John Butler, this four-piece delivers their innovative rock sound with "an insistent up-tempo back-beat, a funk-influenced bassist, and cool, whispered lyrics," as proclaimed by the Badger Herald. As a testament to the quality and creativity of their sound, the band received multiple honors in the 2007 Madison Area Music Awards, including Best Unique Song of the Year. The band has also played premiere festivals and venues across the Midwest, including the Southern Comfort Music Festival, playing before The Flaming Lips and the Cold War Kids.

In front-men and founders Andy Sharp and Ryan Harkins, the SHB has formidable songwriters, guitar players, and vocalists able to deliver elements of rock, folk, and blues into their Indie style; Colin Schaeffer and Justin Barak provide the tight beats and grooves of the heart-pounding rhythm section. Whether they are rocking the Southern Comfort Music Experience at the Alliant Energy Center for a crowd of thousands, the Metro in Chicago for hundreds, or clubs with merely a few dozen patrons, the Sharp & Harkins Band perform their music with energy and vision.

» sharpandharkins.com

Ethan and the Ewox

Since forming in 1995, rock band Ethan and the Ewox has played from Colorado to New York City and just about every state in between, finding fans in the crooks of small-town America and on the stages of many major cities. Their new self-released album came out in the spring of 2007 and within two weeks of being on the shelves, the hit song "Stone Cold" was playing on Chattanooga radio station 96.5 FM The Mountain and Project 96.1 FM in Atlanta.

Ethan and the Ewox's style of music is a hybrid of southern rock, folk, and fusion. It was no surprise to the multitude of loyal fans who've religiously followed the band's career over the last twelve years that they were chosen by listeners of New Orleans' WWOZ as the number one Jazz Fest Artist when they debuted at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2003 on the main stage, opening for Los Lobos, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, and Ben Harper.

Ethan and the Ewox is fronted by the passionate vocals of Ethan Baker. Add to that the distinctive lead and slide techniques of guitarist Rob Bruce. Bassist Lafrandin Minchew's evocative tenor voice keeps the background vocals dripping with soul. Renaissance-man Gary Chumney fills it out with his incredible drumming and talent for being able to play any instrument he picks up. Deeply influenced by their southern roots, the band has refined an intelligent sound that is quite different from anything out there, yet strangely familiar at the same time. They have opened for such artists as The Dave Matthews Band, Chris Whitley, Days of the New, Shawn Mullins, and Drivin 'n Cryin.

» ethannoise.com

Afterglow Radio

Described as an intense fusion of modern rock, reggae, Latin and classic rock, Afterglow Radio is reminiscent of the current mainstream music that dominates the airwaves and Billboard music charts today. As long standing members of the Orlando, FL music scene, the four members of Afterglow Radio set out to write songs, rehearse and play a few shows to see how receptive the Orlando market would be to their original brand of music. Afterglow Radio is comprised of Jeremy Hagen (lead vocals/electric guitar), Jorge Alvarez (backing vocals/drums), Preston Wulff (lead guitar) and Eric Palkovic (backing vocals/bass guitar).

Afterglow Radio has headlined shows at Hard Rock Live and has shared the bill with Sevendust, Chevelle and Buckcherry at 101.1 WJRR's annual Earthday Birthday. One of Afterglow Radio's recent hits, "I'm Running," received critical acclaim and was awarded as one of Garageband.com's top tracks of 2007. Orlando's Radio stations Real Rock 101.1 and O-Rock 105.9 have, in addition to playing their album tracks, invited the band to play acoustic performances on air.

Afterglow Radio's debut LP, "Find Yourself Again" is produced by Ted Comerford (Virginia Coalition, Zox, Army of Me), and Justin Thomas. Mixed by Jeff Juliano (John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band) and mastered by Tom Baker (Precision Mastering), these new recordings truly exemplify the band's broad range of songwriting and musical talent. "Afterglow Radio is without a doubt one of Central Florida's premier bands, perhaps the most likely to succeed on a national and international level." -Mike Nunez, FLORIDA TODAY.

» afterglowradio.com

Hot Lava Monster

In the biblical story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet had to spend some time inside a whale in order to direct his full attention to warning the people of Nineveh of their impending doom lest they change their sinful ways. Columbia band Hot Lava Monster, likewise, have spent several years between albums rethinking the way they present themselves, both on stage and on their new disc, appropriately titled The Belly of a Whale. The message they're delivering might not have the life-or-death consequences of Jonah's, but lead singer Patrick Baxley says they are definitely a more focused band than they were last time out. In addition to Patrick Baxley on lead vocals, Hot Lava Monster includes Mike Schaming on lead guitar, Wes Pellerin on bass guitar, and Andy Dumiak on drums.

Hot Lava Monster draws rave reviews from fans and music critics alike. Tug Baker of the Free Times has some strong feelings about this band: "I've seen lots of bands play St. Patrick's Day, but none of them rock as hard as Hot Lava Monster. The Monster is one of the few bands that can draw an energetic reaction from a bleary-eyed crowd at noon on a Saturday. " Kevin Langston of the same periodical shares, "It's almost petrifying to think that Hot Lava Monster could improve upon its incendiary rock 'n' roll recipe, but The Belly of a Whale finds this group at its thunderous best. Frontman Patrick Baxley is proving he can be just as charismatic in the studio as he is on stage, and guitarist Mike Schaming is pulling away as Columbia's best rock guitarist." Finally, Five Points After Five states: "Hot Lava Monster's enjoyable live shows and professional stage presence have earned this band an intense following around the southeast. Hot Lava Monster has paid their dues and this is why they have been asked to play with such national acts as Shinedown, Three Days Grace, and Cracker." Hot Lava Monster is an amazingly entertaining and talented band that is well on its way to the top.

» hotlavarock.com