(lazyeye)
Atlanta, GA

...Chances are if it can be done by a band Atlanta's own (lazyeye) has probably been there and done it. From record deals and national television appearances to platinum album and video shoots, the guys of (lazyeye) have always kept their focus on the main objective: to write TRULY GOOD music. (lazyeye) has been together since 1996 and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The band released their 2nd full length album in the fall of 2008 entitled "Lights in the Attic" and are currently in pre-production for their new electric album tentatively titled "A Royal Way of Life"

Britten
Nashville, TN

Upon first glance, you don't really see Britten coming. On the surface, he's cute; he's soft-spoken, and, he's about as nice as they come. And, being that he's from music city, when he tells you that he's a "singer/songwriter", that doesn't really surprise you either. There are a ton of country and contemporary Christian musicians roaming the streets with a guitar on their backs. But once he takes to the stage, with his smooth vocals and remarkable range, all assumptions are out the door. In one word, Britten is "soulful". He can't help it. Since birth, thanks to his father, his down-home country surroundings have been filled with the sounds of Motown legends like Steve Wonder and the Jackson Five and Memphis icons like Al Green. Although Britten is currently working on a project with the help of Grammy-winning producers and personal mentors, Shannon Sanders and Drew Ramsey ("we're like country cousins"), ironically one of his dreams is to someday share a Rolling Stone cover with men like Mayer and Thicke, showing that a white man with soul ("anytime you write from your heart, it's a soulful experience") is not a gimmick. For many, it's a way of life. "I am tired of people trying to label me and put me in a box," he says. "I am not interested in breaking the mold of being a white guy who does soul music. I just want to do good music. There's no color, timeline or genre to that, and I aim to prove that theory with every song that I write and sing." Britten is proud to represent Nashville in the International Music Festival.

Ever So Klever
Miami, FL

Ever So Klever is a Power Swing band out of South Florida. Playing a mixture of swing, rock, jazz, rockabilly and even a little bit of ska, Ever So Klever is well known for wowing audiences of all ages, genders and music preferences. The band is made up of Michelle Cohn from Chicago on vocals/rhythm guitar, Rich Plaza from New York on guitar, Joel Enriquez from Cuba on drums, Tim Ashe on upright bass, Kris Cardella on saxophone/flute and Paula Hymen on trumpet. Ever So Klever plays a wide variety of venues from restaurants and clubs to festivals and charity events. A few examples include: Jazid in South Beach, Tobacco Road in Downtown Miami, Sunfest in West Palm Beach and the South Florida Walk for Autism.

To Light A Fire
Birmingham, AL

We are not playing music to be rockstars. We are not writing songs to highlight our lives and enhance our egos. We are playing music to help you feel. We are putting our triumphs and failures into a form that you can understand, that you can relate to. We are writing songs to connect with you and help you through life's many ups and downs; to help you with your own triumphs and failures. You are not alone. What we do, we do for you. We are proud to use the International Music Festival to get our message out.

Picture Me Free
Greenville, SC

PictureMeFree is a South Carolina based Rock band comprised of 5 life-long musicians between the ages of 21-23. In December 2007, they recorded their first EP, "Wake Up Alive" at Pig Pen Studios in Athens, GA. In April 2008, PictureMeFree held a release party/ performance at historic Tiger Town Tavern in the college town of Clemson that was attended by over 1,000 fans. After developing a great relationship with the band in the studio and witnessing the madness of their CD release party (responsible for the first crowd surfing ever in Clemson), the owner of Pig Pen Studios, Daniel Maldonado Collins, decided to sign them to his independent record label, Pig Pen Records. As of August 1, 2008, after little more than 3 months of availability, they have self-sold over 600 copies of the EP. The EP?s success is due in large part to their relentless gigging. PictureMeFree has played over 30 venues spanning from Columbia, SC to Atlanta, GA. In their first year (August 2007- August 2008), PictureMeFree has played OVER 100 SHOWS and has been re-booked by every single venue they've played! PictureMeFree has also secured endorsements from Yamaha guitars, DW drums, and Line 6 amplifiers. In April 2008, PictureMeFree opened for pop princess Colbie Caillat at the Solid Orange Live Festival that also featured Wyclef Jean, Bob Marley's band The Wailers, The Whigs, and 80's sensation Eddie Money.

A Palace in Persia
Orlando, FL

From the sweltering nether regions of Orlando, Florida, psychedelic rock band A Palace In Persia is solely about expanding your mind. Bassist and vocalist Nasrulah Paul Rahbari II says, "Don't just sit and listen to a melody but to the parts that comprise the melody, to pick apart the rhythms that make a section sound the way it does and make you feel the way you do. Do not just listen to my voice but to what I am voicing about." The band's debut album Metaphenomena, which was released on 04/20/2007 through The Apparatus, is the mere tip of the very large future for listeners and is something that could be enjoyed on many levels by many ears. The band wants to give the listener something to fully dive into and tear apart. A Palace In Persia is a part of the exciting new wave of progressive rock acts like The Mars Volta, Coheed And Cambria and smaller acts like Mare. The band's influences come from a variety of musical sources. Essences of Jeff Buckley and Bjork as well as early Pink Floyd and Islands-era King Crimson can be heard. Each record is to be totally different in sound and complexity, with the first release to slowly lure people in before they are plunged headfirst into a wild other universe.

Altered Asking
Savannah, GA

In December 2006 Guitarist/Vocalist Josh Polley of Paducah, Ky. had recently left the band Element Unseen where he was the drummer because he was facing a 15 month deployment to Afghanistan. Polley decided to work exclusively on his side project. A solo singer/songwriter project he had dubbed "Altered Asking". Upon his return he linked up with bassist Matt Rosbury and drummer Alan Bradley. They went into the studio in July of '08 and recorded the three song "Awakening" EP due for release in March of 2009.

Dubbco Collabo
Greenville, SC

Dubbco Collabo is the culmination of 3 different bands; R-DUBB, ResCo, & McGuso. In the past year Dubbco Collabo has performed at over 40 events and more than a dozen venues capturing a stellar following crowd in the Upstate of South Carolina. The band has also been featured in several media publications. Starting in April of 2009, Dubbco Collabo will be playing in Georgia, North Carolina, and other states along the Eastern Seaboard. Currently Dubbco has a record "Kakalacki" that has gained radio play and rotation at Greenville Drive baseball games as well as Clemson University Sporting events.