Indie-rockers Ra Ra Riot formed in early 2006, when they were friends at Syracuse University. After playing several house shows and venues around Syracuse as well as a handful of national festivals, the band released their debut record, "The Rhumb Line," in 2008.

Beginning as a solo act under the name "E" in 1992, Mark Everett formed Eels shortly thereafter, in 1996, with the relase of the band's debut album, "Beautiful Freak." Their songs "Novocaine for the Soul" and "Susan's House" quickly became popular and launched a career that has spanned fourteen years and nine records.

In preparation for his seventh album, due out on October 19th, local folky singer-songwriter Ben Weaver took some time off from being a full-time musician in order to experience life in a different way.

It's no surprise that Portland, Ore. sextet Blitzen Trapper's sound falls immediately in the realm of Pacific Northwest folk, evoking the likes of Fleet Foxes and Horse Feathers.

It's apparent with the album artwork, the band name and the lyrics that Bethany Cosentino belts out that she has a particular affinity for the West Coast.

Mark Olson has been a staple of the Twin Cities for over 25 years, first as the founder of local legends The Jayhawks, and secondly as a solo musician, releasing only two albums to date under his own name.

Lazerbeak has been in the local music scene for years, first playing with the band The Plastic Consetllations, who went on to get signed by French Kiss Records. P.O.S, an old high school friend, heard his work and encouraged him to start making beats. From there he started creating beats for the popular Minneapolis group Doomtree.

Mixing every genre imaginable, from soul to full-fledged hip-hop and dream-pop to funk, Janelle Monae has become a modern day musical prodigy.

of Montreal has been around for nearly 15 years, first creating material within the influential Elephant Six collective, which produced some of the brightest indie bands of the 90s, including The Apples in Stereo, Olivia Tremor Control and Neutral Milk Hotel.

Villagers' debut album "Becoming A Jackal" has been named the greatest Irish album since U2's debut "Boy" back in 1980. That's a hefty title to live up to, but frontman Conor J. O'Brien does it admirably.