The heavy-touring Hip Hop group Heiruspecs formed in 1997 while in a high school recording arts program at St. Paul Central High School. The band is mostly known for their raw, live sound.

Ryan Adams may have left behind the confines of the "alt-country" genre long ago, but the moniker still tends to cling to him - despite having spent a fair chunk of the past decade-plus making music that has drawn from a broad and deep well of influences.

Minneapolis' Dan Wilson has been known as many things: frontman in Semisonic and guitarist in Trip Shakespeare, Grammy Award winner for writing The Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready To Make Nice," and producer for two of Mike Doughty's albums. He's also worked with musicians like Rachael Yamagata, Mandy Moore, Jeremy Messersmith, and Jason Mraz. In 2007, Dan Wilson released a solo album, "Free Life" on Rick Rubin's American Recordings. With all of that on his musical resume, he still calls the Twin Cities home.

Singer-songwriter Krista Detor has roots all over the U.S., including California, North Dakota, and her current home in Bloomington, Indiana. She's moved around a lot in her career and her touring schedule echoes that long road. She'll be doing her third European tour in 12 months in March of 2009.

One would think that folksingers in Boston are lining up to get gigs and trying to out-do each other in a fiercely competitive scene. But Meg Hutchinson says it's more of a family atmosphere. She's one of Red House Records' newest singer-songwriters and says the Boston scene, where she lives now, is supportive and thriving.

Oasis formed in Manchester, England, in 1993. The groups just released their eighth studio album, "Dig Out Your Soul." Steve Seel talked with Noel Gallagher about a recent fan attack and the Gallagher's fascination with guns.

Former Giant Sand members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, collaborated in 1996 and started the electic acoustic folk-world-rock band Calexico, named for the border town in California.

The name Sebastien Grainger may not be familiar, but his voice might ring a bell. As the former singer and drummer in Death from Above 1979, Grainger jump-started his solo career after the band parted ways in 2006.

Gorka recorded his very first album, "I Know", on the Red House label back in 1987. He then signed with Windham Hill and recorded five more albums before returning to Red House for four more. John is currently recording new material for yet another Red House recording.

Ben Sollee takes the cello way out of it's roots as a classical stringed instrument. While his music teacher gave him permission to study his "other" music, he made sure Sollee kept his nose firmly planted in the traditional cello repertoire.