Gerald Dowd and Richard Knight, Jr.

GERALD DOWDBoston-raised, Chicago-braised drummer/singer/ songwriter GERALD DOWD has been described as the hardest working drummer in Chicago (Richard Milne, WXRT), playing on over 100 albums, and averaging 150 live dates a year around the world. He has spent the last 30+ years playing drums for Grammy-nominated artists Robbie Fulks and Justin Roberts, Nora OConnor, Chris Mills, and has also played and/or recorded with Eddie Vedder, Mavis Staples, David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas (of Los Lobos), and A Prairie Home Companion. In recent years, Mr. Dowd has been releasing his own solo records, consisting of original Americana/roots-based music described as hook-heavy, cleverly crafted (No Depression) with songs that reflect(s) the warmer, earlier period of The Band. (Chicago Sun-Times)With a 4th solo release in August 2023 of sturdy, original Americana under his belt, he continues to share stages with Jeff Tweedy, Ian Hunter, Nellie McKay, Delbert McClinton, Kasey Chambers and more. His new album FATHERS DAY, featuring performances from Nora OConnor (Decemberists, Iron And Wine, Andrew Bird), Robbie Gjersoe (The Flatlanders, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, The Greencards) and pedal steel legend Lloyd Maines, is currently climbing the Americana Radio Albums Charts Top 100. www.geralddowd.comRICHARD KNIGHT, JR.When Laura Nyro, my songwriting mentor said, I feel very free to express whatever I want in a song, I took that as my mantra, too. Piano-based singer/songwriter RICHARD KNIGHT, JR. has been doing just that in the 40 years hes been performing and recording his original music in Chicago. Whether as a solo artist or heading a variety of bands exploring different musical genres, Knight has pushed the boundaries of the traditional pop song infusing his melodies with rock, goth, jazz, soul, bossa, Broadway, and, yes, a scintilla of country. Lyrically, hes just as diverse with a decided preference for the offbeat; his subject matter ranging from the darkly humorous to the heart-wrenching. Knight has recorded over a dozen albums. Folks, this is amazing: feast your ears on well-crafted and adeptly arranged, singer-songwriter brilliance, the Ark of Music declared of his 2023 album, LOVE IS POSSIBLE. Wherever you are, a little Knight music is all you need, comedic writing legend Bruce Vilanch has proclaimed about Mr. Knight. www.rkjmusic.xyz