Inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength and vibrancy of today's Scottish cultural scene, which indeed they have done much to create and fuel, they have led, and been at the forefront, of a great revival in Scottish music. Refusing to be limited musically by suffocating antiquarianism, or the music business' fashions, they have mixed the old songs and music with a new self-penned repertoire, all played on a fusion of ancient and modern instruments - bagpipes, fiddle, synthesiser, guitar, flutes, bodhran and accordion. Named after the Glasgow suburb of Battlefield, where the group was formed by four student friends, Battlefield Band have been on the world''s roads for just on 30 years now, distilling their own unique form of the Scottish spirit
 

Their latest, the fourth from the Bastard Sons, Bend in the Road, finds the band firmly in a country vein, but with a definite rock underpinning. And while the album opens with a cover of a Billy Joe Shaver song, the best song is Stuart's own "Power of a Woman" ---- a high-energy electric country-rocker. Or maybe it's the lovely acoustic "Lonestar, Lovestruck, Blues" (with Dennis Caplinger's gorgeous mandolin fills giving it a real nice old-timey feel). Or maybe it's the barrelhouse country boogie of "Seven Miles to Memphis."

Point is, Stuart can write, and the 11 tracks he wrote for this release are not only solid, but catchy, the kind you'll have a hard time getting out of your head. The band is tight, he's got a nice singing voice ---- they sure seem to be a lucky break or two from hitting it big.

"Bastard Sons ..." captures the lonesomeness of Cash, the stripped-down melodies of Nebraska-era Bruce Springsteen, the rowdiness of Steve Earle and morphs them into a captivating collection that blends twang and sophistication."-Billboard Magagzinge----- Country Standard Time --  "Walks a deliberately fine line between rootsy contemporary Americana and twangy traditional country."

Honky tonker Dave Gleason plays first. "Tough,Telecaster Driven Honky Tonk Music'. "California Country-Rock With A Big Dose Of Bakersfield Twang". "Keeper Of The Flame Of California Country Music-From All Things Gram Parsons Soul To Buck Owens Bakersfield Sound". These Are Just A Few Things That Have Been Said About Dave Gleason's Brand Of Country Music. A Former Bay Area Resident (Now Living In The Los Angeles Area) with 4 Acclaimed CD's To His Credit, Gleason Has Shared The Stage With Everyone From Albert Lee/Bill Kirchen/Dave Alvin to Jim Lauderdale/Billy Joe Shaver and The Derailers.

Since his 2007 relocation from San Francisco to Southern California, Gleason has assumed Most Valuable Player status on the Los Angeles country music scene. Dave has proven himself in every category, as a strong singer, a solid, tradition-savvy songwriter, and a guitarist of nearly unsurpassable gifts. --Chris Morris, host, "Watusi Rodeo," Indie 103.1/Los Angeles
 

Hardwater, from Davis, mixes original songs with a copious helping of covers spanning the decades from the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead to Counting Crows, Barenaked Ladies and the Dave Matthews Band. It’s a mellifluous mélange of rock, blues, folk and roots, reflecting the eclectic tastes of band members John Swann on guitar & vocals, Bob Lindley on violin, baritone violin & electric mandolin, Johnny Flores on drums & hand percussion, Eve West Bessier on vocals & percussion and Rob Gonzales on bass. The band has performed over 90 shows in the last 8 years throughout the Yolo, Sacramento, Placer and Solano County areas. Their new CD "Osmosis" was released in late 2009
 

WAKE THE DEAD bands together eight of the best-known and most respected players in the west. Harper Maureen Brennan has performed widely for over 20 years. Her recorded works include three solo CDs and the acclaimed “Harpistry” collection. Bassist Cindy Browne, enlisted from the eclectic world  ensemble Next Village, is equally at home in folk and jazz, touring from Jordan to Japan. Singer, fiddler, and fretman Danny Carnahan is a two-time NAIRD“Indie” award winner whose original Irish-tinged songs (including a collaboration with Robert Hunter) are popular worldwide. Kevin Carr is a musical triplethreat, renowned in the U.S. and Canada as a dance fiddler, a pennywhistler, and Irish piper par excellence. Irrepressible percussionist and multi-instrumental dynamo Joe Craven performed and recorded with Jerry Garcia and has toured for the past decade with David Grisman. Sylvia Herold’s delicious vocal phrasing can be heard on her two solo CDs and in her concerts with  several popular swing bands. Paul Kotapish is known far and wide for his concerts and recordings with Kevin Burke’s Open House, and for his blazing guitar and mandolin with The Hillbillies From Mars. And percussionist Brian Rice, with his expertise in Latin rhythm, rounds out the band’s groove engine.