Ever since their humble beginnings at Tufts University, Guster have always sought to outdo themselves. They sell out New York’s fabled Radio City Music Hall one year and perform with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall the next. They sell out a 33-date college tour, and this past spring founded the eco-friendly Campus Consciousness Tour, with buses powered by biodiesel and performances powered by wind power. It’s in this overachieving band’s nature to one-up itself.

So don’t expect it to be any different with the release of Guster’s new album, Ganging Up on the Sun. The Boston-bred band’s fifth studio release may be a melody-minded, breezy, free-spirited, literate pop record like its predecessors—2003’s Keep it Together, 1999’s Lost and Gone Forever, 1996’s Goldfly, and 1994’s Parachute—but this time around, Guster are “more fearless than ever before,” says singer-guitarist Ryan Miller. They’ve pushed themselves both stylistically and emotionally, resulting in their most confident and superlative work to date. eone else’s frustration and anger.”

Ganging Up on the Sun’s sunny, driving-with-the-top-down melodies, vintage harmonies, and warm guitar jangle do recall artists you’d associate with the ’60s and ’70s—bands who also wrote during a time of war and societal mistrust of government—such as CSNY, Mamas and the Papas, Fleetwood Mac, the Band, the Rolling Stones, and Tom Petty. Are Guster wearing their influences a bit more on their sleeve this time around?

“I just love that our band feels unpredictable right now,” Rosenworcel says happily. “I love that no one knows what to expect from us.”

FOR MORE INFO: WWW.GUSTER.COM

In December of 2007, Dan Connor sat lonely on the doorstep of a solo album he’d been working on for several years when he was introduced to Anna Lombard. After spending countless winter evenings working together, Connor and Lombard laid the groundwork for the critically acclaimed, "The Halo Sessions," as their harmonious musical connection was born. Under the guidance of producer Jonathan Wyman, the duo embarked on a journey for what would soon become Gypsy Tailwind.

Touching on an array of genres, Gypsy Tailwind's style remains rooted firmly within Americana and Roots traditions, flickering between folk, rock, and alt-country, gracefully capturing the unclaimed sound that is now completely their own.

FOR MORE INFO: WWW.GYPSYTAILWIND.NET

Two time Grammy nominee Cindy Bullens began her music career singing backup for Elton John. In 1979 she released her debut solo album Desire Wire (United Artists) and scored a breakthrough hit with her song "Survivor." Largely setting aside her musical pursuits to raise her children, Cindy returned to the scene in the late 90's with "Somewhere Between Heaven And Earth" (Artemis, 1999), a heartfelt work dedicated to her daughter Jessie, who died of Hodgkin's disease in 1996. This album includes guest performances by Cindy's friends Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Rodney Crowell, Bryan Adams, and Beth Neilsen Chapman.

"Neverland" (Artemis, 2001), her next album, is a strong roots-rock album features guest appearances by John Hiatt, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris, among others. in late 2005 Cindy released "Dream #29," a brand new album of up-tempo rockers and introspective ballads, on LetsPLAY Records. Featuring a duet with Delbert McClinton, and appearances by Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (!), and her old pal Elton, "Dream #29" may be Cindy's best work.

In 2007, Cindy formed the super-trio The Refugees with Wendy Waldman and Deborah Holland. Touted as "Crosby, Stills and Nash with humor", The Refugees are tearing it up live across the US and Canada. Their debut album "Unbound" was released in January of 2009 to rave reviews. Cindy is now preparing songs for her next solo album due to be released in late 2009.

FOR MORE INFO: WWW.CINDYBULLENS.COM

The ingredients behind northern New England’s Jason Spooner Trio read like a bizarre musical science experiment. Start with a prolific,
singer/songwriter (Jason Spooner) with heavy roots, folk & blues influences. Then mix in a classicly-trained bassist (Adam Frederick) with foundations in jazz and a knack for serious pocket grooves. Lastly, shake things up with a rock-solid drummer (Reed Chambers) with deep-
seeded roots in funk, soul & reggae and you’ve begun to scratch the surface of this unique, energetic band.

Fresh off of a win as "Best Folk Act" for the second year in a row at the 2009 Portland Phoenix Best Music Poll Awards, the band has a busy summer schedule planned sharing stages with Blues Traveler, The Waybacks, Amos Lee and Dar Williams. 


FOR MORE INFO: WWW.JASONSPOONER.COM