The everyday experience of America’s working poor was once a cornerstone of country music. As recently as the economic downturn of the early nineties, their voices were being heard on country radio, with Travis Tritt singing “Lord Have Mercy on the Working Man” and Sawyer Brown documenting the plight of the farmer with “Café on the Corner.”

The Waybacks new album Loaded is remarkable. Releasing on Compass Records, it was produced by Byron House and features guest appearances by Sam Bush among others. The album represents a new direction for the band that is largely the influence of touring with Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) and Ratdog.

Adam Brand is Australia's hottest young country artist proven by his three wins from five nominations in 1999's CMAA awards. Adam was born in Perth and moved to Victoria where he was educated.

Canadian born, of Dutch decent, Melanie Dekker's live shows are complete with wonder, giggling, teasing and sweating. She’s performed for President William J. Clinton, shared the stage with Diana Krall, Faith Hill & Bryan Adams, and she’s up for humanitarian artist of the year and video of the year at the LA Music Awards 2008.

Leona Williams is known as one of Merle Haggard's ex-wives, as well as the mother of country singer Ron Williams, but she's also a highly talented singer/songwriter in her own right, with a beautiful voice and tremendous range.

John Williamson is, without a doubt, True Blue. In fact, when talking about him it's hard not to put the words True (always with a capital T) and Blue (again a capital B) next to his name. True Blue is, of course, Williamson's most popular single from the early '80s. But it's also a pair of words that celebrate Australianess, just as Williamson does.

'Fallen Apart’ is the eagerly and long awaited solo debut by Vancouver singer-songwriter Cameron Latimer. Featuring producer Johnny Ellis (Barney Bentall, Dustin Bentall, Ridley Bent), drummer Pat Steward (Bryan Adams, Matthew Good) bassist Rob Becker (Colin James), and lead guitarist Adam Dobres (Daniel Lapp, Outlaw Social), 'Fallen Apart' melds a vast wealth of experience, skill and emotional depth.

Tailgate South is comprised of three dudes: one, Mickey Kelley, is a talented one of those songwriters, and the other two, Tony Lopacinski and Mike Meadows, are a talented two of those guitar pickers (who also happen to be seasoned songwriters).

In 2007, Steve Forde teamed up with leading US producer Richard Landis and recorded his self-titled album - his first with ABC Music. The success of the album, which was one of the highest selling country albums in 2007, firmly established Forde one of Australia's leading Country artists. Forde went on to win three Golden Guitars in January 2008 for his 'Spirit Of The Bush' collaboration with Lee Kernaghan and Adam Brand.

With beer-soaked guitars, pounding bass and rock solid drums, Matt Begley’s songs of honky- tonks, booze, drugs and love gone wrong, will give you a good dose of the new Texas Outlaw and will remind you why you first fell in love with Outlaw Country.

Daniel Ronald Cox is an American actor, singer/songwriter, and guitarist. Cox tours regularly with a band, performing at theaters and folk music festivals.

‘Sew Your Heart With Wires’ is a beautiful duo album from Rod Picott and Amanda Shires; on paper it looks like a simple stripped down disc of Rod's acoustic guitar and Shires' excellent fiddle playing, but the approach they take and the atmosphere they create makes this feel like a timeless classic album of American ballads.

Wilderness is the third release from Randy Riviere, also known as Mad Buffalo. Randy creates music that reflects his meaningful, spirited efforts as a wildlife biologist who has acquired multiple awards for work in conservation and environmental issues.

Laughter is the best medicine, or so the ubiquitous ‘they’ say. And, judging by how loudly John Callahan’s cartoons laugh at all sorts of often-taboo sociopolitical topics, it’s easy to imagine that the 55-year-old quadriplegic subscribes to a similar philosophy. But, despite the knowing, breathy laugh that starts out Callahan’s musical debut, Purple Winos in the Rain—on which he sings and plays harmonica and ukulele—most of the album’s songs are both painfully honest and heartbreakingly sad.