GIVEWAY is a band based in Scotland, four very talented sisters performing traditional Celtic and cross-over music. They have been performing from a very early age and feature vocals, fiddle, guitar, accordion, piano, whistle, drums, and bass. Award winners at the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, the band is, like the title of their current CD on Greentrax Records...Inspired., DANNY SCHMIDT is a writer's writer based out of Austin, Texas, with a lyrical depth drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, and Dave Carter. Upon winning the prestigious Kerrville New Folk award in 2007, Sing Out Magazine tagged Schmidt "the best new songwriter we've heard in 15 years."

BEAUSOLEIL bring their Grammy winning Cajun music to WoodSongs for a Special Event Broadcast. Since forming in 1975, BeauSoleil claimed their undisputed role as the most esteemed Cajun group in music. The band takes the rich Cajun traditions of Louisiana and artfully blend elements of zydeco, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex, country, blues and more into a satisfying musical recipe. From The Grand Ole Opry to Newport Folk, from concert hall to dance floor, the music of BeauSoleil continues to captivate audiences the world over. Yet, it all begins with the preservation of a sacred culture, the lifelong calling of fiddling frontman Michael Doucet. Their latest release and Yep Roc label debut Alligator Purse is not only a vibrant testament to BeauSoleil's healthy spirit but is easily their most adventuresome record yet.,

THE FLATLANDERS are Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. That their first go-round as The Flatlanders in 1972 was completely rejected by the country music establishment is surprising in retrospect but, ultimately, poetic. That each went on to have formidable solo careers is a testament to their talent and determination. Add to this their diverse yet complimentary styles -Joe the street-wise rocker, Jimmie Dale the mystic with the classic country voice and Butch the cerebral folk singer - and you�ve got a story of one of the most extraordinary kinships in American musical history. It took these Flatlanders a mere three decades to release the sequel to their legendary debut. Their latest CD on New West Records is titled Hills & Vallies.,

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY song "Wildfire" was one of the biggest pop hits of the 70's. He returns to the WoodSongs stage with a brand new bluegrass CD called Buckaroo BlueGrass. TOM RUSH impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s. He recently released his first studio CD in 35 years. Recorded in Nashville, What I Know was produced by Tom's long-time friend Jim Rooney and includes original Tom Rush material, as well as harmonies by Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Bramlett and Nanci Griffith.

SUSAN WERNER has cultivated a reputation as a daring and innovative songwriter. Her new release Classics, delivers entirely new string arrangements of mainstream popular songs by top songwriters from the classic pop era - the sixties and seventies. VANCE GILBERT burst onto the music scene in the early 90's when the buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-jazz singer who was knocking 'em dead at open mics. The word spread of this Philadelphia-area born and raised performer to New York; Shawn Colvin invited Vance Gilbert to be special guest on her Fat City tour.

ALMIRA FAWN is just eleven years old. She was brought on stage by Michael during the encore of show #515 and serenaded her hero, JJ Grey, with one his songs that she rewrote and received a standing ovation. Almira is from Lexington, Kentucky and has been busking at the Farmer�s Market and playing at restaurants and cafes around her hometown. She recently finished her first CD which includes several originals and will be appearing on NBC�s America�s Got Talent over the summer. THE DIXIE BEE-LINERS are creating quite a buzz in the world of bluegrass. The band�s ground-breaking sophomore album Ripe released on Pinecastle Records last year has achieved four #1's songs to date. The band was recently named The Roots Music Association Bluegrass Artist of the Year for 2008. They are hard at work in studio working on next album titled Susanville. The band�s lead vocalist Brandi Hart grew up in Lexington, Kentucky.

SAMUEL JAMES is a young master of fingerstyle, slide, banjo, harmonica, and piano and is not yet out of his twenties. With musical influences ranging from Skip James and Sonny Terry to Gus Cannon and Charley Patton, such understanding of pre-war blues is rarely embodied in the music of one person. SHOUT SISTER SHOUT is an old-time jazz unit, formed by Boston Music Award Winner Rachel Davis and roots band Steppin� In It through a common love of 30s & 40s jazz standards. The summer of 2006 found the two acts working at the same festivals, which led to joining each other for a classic tune by Nat King Cole or Billie Holiday during their respective sets.

DAN CRARY is a musical legend, a pioneer and a master of the guitar. With more than 50 years as a performer, he�s a flatpicking stylist with an international reputation for innovation, taste and brilliance with a long and distinguished recording career, featuring solo projects and group efforts. SHEMEKIA COPELAND has already received numerous blues awards worldwide, a Grammy nomination, and has a resume that includes work with musical titans like Dr. John and film giants like Martin Scorsese.

KELLEIGH McKENZIE just received three Independent Music Award nominations, with her song "Gin" winning Best Americana Song, and she was named a winner in last fall�s Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. She delivers a captivating blend of folk, blues, old-time and rock with a uniquely urbane edge. She plucks and thumps out twist-filled tales on banjo and acoustic guitar, all while pounding along on her amplified stomp-box. SLIDE is an impressive, powerful Irish traditional music band from Dublin, Ireland. The high energy band is named after the liveliest and most exciting of the tune rhythms from the South of Ireland. Formed with an all-star line up of award winners, this rollicking band is living proof of how innovation need not compromise tradition. The Irish Times calls Slide "traditional musicians with attitude."

PUNCH BROTHERS featuring Chris Thile return to the WoodSongs Stage for a one hour Special Event Broadcast. The focus of this broadcast will be the band�s four-movement suite that is the heart of Punch Brothers� debut CD Punch released on Nonesuch Records last year. .