Born in Central New York and raised on coffee shops and noisy bars, Matt Cross has grown into a beat-boxing folk-rap rock and roll fingerstyle guitarist; armed to the teeth with a slew of original progressive acoustic songs, three-part guitar solos, and fresh takes on the classics.

"My appreciation for music has always been for the honesty of the sound. The words form the foundation and create the connection, while the sound enhances that connection by putting you 'in the room.'"

One could almost say that Loren Barrigar was born with a guitar in his hands. At just four years old he stunned his parents by picking up his father's guitar and announcing he wanted to play "In the Mood" with his dad. They humored him until Loren explained that his dad could take the rhythm or lead part, whichever he preferred. Guitar lessons were quickly arranged and two years later Loren played the Chet Atkins hit, "Yackety Axe" in front of thousands of country fans at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the youngest guitarist to appear on that famous stage. During his childhood in Nashville, Loren studied with Jimmy Atkins, (Chet's brother) and a long time member of the Les Paul Trio. A touring career followed with Loren, his brother and father playing clubs and showrooms from Nashville to Las Vegas and traveling with George Morgan and other established country stars.

Artist's Website: myspace.com/thebarrigarbrothers

“I used to tell people I wanted to be a journalist. There is a lonely egotism and self-composure to journalists. Not unlike artists, they're always traveling, always writing, loving their loneliness, feeling somehow that they have their finger on the pulse – worshipping the truth and trying to render it legible.”

Artful, intense, and often transcendentimaginative, and extremely engaging... If you love a moving song and magical madness, Joe delivers it all....the music, the lyrics, the energy, and the passion for exceptionaly well written songs -- He loves his audience, and it shows.

Joe was chosen as a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Most-Wanted Artist, and was featured on the Annual Falcon Ridge Preview Tour with Lindsay Mac, Anthony da Costa and Randall Williams.

He was selected as a finalist in the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, and in 2007 received a year-long songwriting grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to travel throughout New York State, interview local residents, and write songs based on his experiences.. It's been a good couple years, and there is no stopping him.