The Taos Solar Music Festival

Michael Franti and Spearhead

Known for mixing rock, rap, reggae, soul and other styles into a musical gumbo all his own, Franti delivers songs that will force the listener to stand up and "Shake It" – Associated Press, September 20

The Sound Of Sunshine – the inspired and inspiring new album by Michael Franti & Spearhead – is a kind of musical sun shower, a bright, beautiful and often buoyant song cycle created to bring all kinds of listeners a sense of hope during rough and rainy times for so many in our world. see more

Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett released his self–titled debut album in 1986 to excellent reviews. Five singles from that album made it onto the country charts, but Lovett wasn't satisfied within the traditional confines of country music. He continued to experiment in jazz, folk and pop within the country framework and he has won several Grammy Awards since his first in 1989 for Lyle Lovett and His Large Band.

Born Lyle Pearce Lovett on November 1, 1957 in Klein, Texas. The only child of Bernell and Bill Lovett, Lyle grew up on his family's horse ranch in Klein, Texas, a small Houston suburb named after his grandfather. see more

Los Lobos

With the exception of U2, no other band has stayed on top of its game as long as Los Lobos......But while U2 constantly reinvent themselves and compete with new generations of bands, these East L.A. vets just keep on making the same golden blend of blues, R&B, cumbia and barrio rock & roll that they first laid down when Jimmy Carter was president. The Town and the City, Los Lobos' best album since 1996's Colossal Head, takes on one big theme: immigration. It's an album about people – the hard life of outsiders in a new place – told without moralizing or sentimentality. see more

Del McCoury Band

The most awarded band in the history of Bluegrass! Vince Gill says it simply, and maybe best: "I'd rather hear Del McCoury sing 'Are You Teasing Me' than just about anything." For fifty years, Del's music has defined authenticity for hard core bluegrass fans–count Gill among them–as well as a growing number of fans among those only vaguely familiar with the genre. And while the box set Celebrating 50 Years of Del McCoury, like its distilled companion, By Request–both in stores on May 12th–provides an opportunity to look back on a unique legacy, it's also one that Del McCoury's rolling past with a wave and a grin and some of the best music he's ever made. see more

Sonny Landreth

"From the Reach," Sonny Landreth's ninth album, is the first to be released on his own Landfall label. On it, the Louisiana–based slide guitar wizard does something unprecedented in his body of work, as he collaborates with five of the greatest guitar players on the planet – Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson and Vince Gill – for some jaw–dropping performances.

Also making a house call is legendary New Orleans pianist and singer Dr. John and iconic Gulf Coast troubadour Jimmy Buffett. see more

Mat Kearney

Mat Kearney didn't set out to write just another collection of songs for Young Love, his third full–length album and first for Universal Republic Records.

Instead, he penned a pastiche of honest, heartfelt, and hypnotic stories that'll make you move your feet and put a smile on your face. Kearney gives a piece of himself on every tune, while building timeless tales for listeners to follow as they dance and sing along. see more