28-year-old musician Nicole Atkins was born and raised in Neptune City, located a stones throw from fabled Asbury Park. By the age of 13, she found an old beat up guitar in the attic of her house and taught herself to play a Grateful Dead song.

Ann Reed stops by the studio to update Dale and Jim Ed on the Song for Minnesota project.

Local jazz singer Connie Evingson has a new CD out, "Little Did I Dream" - a tribute to the witty local songwriter Dave Frishberg. This is not the first time Evingson has paid tribute to an artist with local roots, but she said she's always been a fan of Frishberg's and the project was long overdue.

Over the past several years singing and touring with his wife Leandra, Neal Hagberg has collected ideas for songs that don't necessarily fit the "Neal and Leandra mold." In fact, the songs are a definite departure from the duo's act and are meant to make the listener feel a tad bit uncomfortable, and challenge fears and beliefs.

Mike Doughty began his music career as frontman for the band Soul Coughing in 1992. In 2008 Mike Doughty is back with a brand new album entitled, "Golden Delicious" and sounding better than ever.

In her eleventh album, Carrie Newcomer continues on a constant journey through human relationships - relationships we have with each other and spiritual relationships within our own hearts. She admits to being a "theology nerd" and that her songs often ask really good questions, but leaving the answer lines open to the listener.

Super Furry Animals formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1993. The band signed with the Rough Trade label in 2006 and released "Hey Venus!" in 2007.

He's a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band The Jayhawks and a member of the Midwest musical collective/side-project Golden Smog. His latest solo project is entitled "Vagabonds," with a scheduled release date of February 19, 2008.

Former members of Luna Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips released "L'Avventura," an album of covers and duets produced by Tony Visconti. This was followed by Back Numbers, again with Visconti producing, in February 2007.

Keren Ann released her full-length debut, "La Biographie de Luka Philipsen," in 2000. La Biographie was received well in Europe and earned several nominations for the Victoires - the French equivalent of the Grammy - for Best New Discovery (Artist and Album) and Best Song of the Year.