Friends. Family. Freedom. Those are Nicki Bluhm’s guideposts. She’s still the same sharp-eyed songwriter who blurred the lines between the jam-band world, the country-rock scene, and the folk community with career-launching singles like “Little Too Late.” But the woman who’s spent nearly 20 years on the road living life at 80 miles per hour has learned to slow down and actually enjoy the journey, too. “I’m growing, I’m reflecting, and I’m recalibrating,” she says. “I’m forging ahead in a new way, but doing it on my own terms this time.” It’s a mentality that’s changed not only her life, but her art, as well. A song like “Simple Side of Me” — one of Rancho Deluxe’s brightest moments, shot through with Thin Lizzy-inspired guitarmonies and a poppy, propulsive pulse — might have seemed out of place on her past records, but here, it’s another sign of Nicki’s decision to follow the muse wherever it leads.

Full of independent spirit, Rancho Deluxe is a homemade gem of a record. These are Nicki’s strongest songs to date, rooted in resilience, relaxation, and the relationships she’s built with like-minded musicians. She couldn’t be any less interested in the rat race of the music industry these days. Instead, she’s doubling down on what — and who — she really loves.

We hope our audiences get a chance to escape the confines of time and the pressures of modern life” explains Jesse Iaquinto of Fireside Collective, “We prioritize groove so our listeners can dance and let loose.  The pinnacle is when we all transcend our individual selves, both onstage and in the audience, and become one entity experiencing the precious nature of life. We are all one, and music allows us to experience that.” 
Inspired by the burgeoning art scene, close knit community, and natural beauty of Asheville, North Carolina, newgrass turned eclectic jam band Fireside Collective has been spent a decade working towards this very pinnacle.  Original band members Joe Cicero, guitar, Jesse Iaquinto, mandolin, Tommy Maher, resonator guitar, and Carson White, bass, began playing together in 2014 when Iaquinto gathered the group of bluegrass enthusiasts to back up some of his original songwriting.  At the time, Iaquinto was waiting tables at the Biltmore Estate and studying early folk and country music,  Cicero, Maher and White were similarly balancing odd jobs and college classes while diving deep into roots music. 

Michael Mizwinski, known better as Mike Miz, is a songwriter and guitarist from the Wyoming Valley of Northeast Pennsylvania. Raised in a family steeped in music and art, Mike was immersed in creative influence from a young age. His father, a guitarist and music major, taught him his first chords at the age of 7, while his mother introduced him to a wide range of artists—from Doc Watson to Bonnie Raitt.

Rooted in Americana and infused with rock ‘n’ roll grit, Mike Miz is a storyteller at heart. His songs carry the road dust of years spent touring, weaving personal tales with soulful guitar work and a voice that balances warmth and edge.

A recent nominee for BEST OF C-VILLE 2022 & 2024 in the “Music Artist” category, local singer-songwriter Michael Clem has managed to continue his life as a full-time musician for several decades. For 31 years, Clem had been playing bass, singing and writing songs for the national touring act he co-founded, Eddie from Ohio. Over that time, EFO has amassed a sizable grassroots following, released nine CDs (all independently) & collected numerous Washington Area Music Association Awards. Since 2008, with the band slowing down, Clem has relocated from Northern Virginia to Charlottesville where he’s established quite a foothold in its musical scene, with a variety of solo, duo, trio & ensemble configurations.

Our story began on an actual porch in 2015. The porch has become an important touchstone for us: a place where people gather to visit, relax, tell stories, and share music. It symbolizes community in its most organic sense. We’ve come a long way since our beginnings in that house in Belmont…but we’re still keeping that mission at the forefront: connecting everyone through music.