Artists

Philville Willy featured the core duo of Brian “Looper” Lucas on harp and vocals and long time friend, Sven Gonstead on lap steel and Telecaster. Backing up these blues junkies were: Matt Sayles on rhythm guitar, Bob Guidebeck on Up-right bass, and Paul Neumann on drums. The band played their take on blues numbers in back-woods bars and smoky dives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 2003/2004, and continues on today minus Matt Sayles .

Click on the Logo above for a clip of the band live In Marquette, MI in March of 2004

Frostbitten Grass formed in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1999 as a duet with Matt Sayles and Ryan Olthouse, and expanded to a quartet in 2000 with Brian Hartman, and Bob Guidebeck. The band changed shape in membership and styles over its five year run, and went on hiatus after two years of heavy touring throughout the Midwest. The 2003/2004 FBG line-up included former “carp” member Ken Thiemann, and Sven Gonstead, a talented luthier (Gonstead Guitars) as well as a multi-instrumentalist.

Click here or on the Frostbitten Grass Logo above for a

full Bio on FBG And a photo gallery

Click here for Matt Sayles’ Bio

Francisco Mirabent

Northeastern Texas has long been considered a melting pot of musical influence--Cajun, blues, ragtime, jazz, Texas swing, and zydeco are all examples of this regions ability to blend culture & music. Francisco Mirabent of Linden Texas (Linden hailing itself as "Music City USA" and proud hometown of Scott Joplin, T-Bone Walker, and the Eagle's Don Henley) was raised in the heart of this musical landscape--playing his guitar at jam sessions with musicians that directly reflected the best of this region's style.

He has played venues throughout the south--Memphis, Texarkana, Dallas, and Shreveport--and is currently working on several projects, including the Rodney Whatley Band with Jena Walker.

His playing has been compared to Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughn--but his technique is much more diverse. Utilizing slide and varied effects, Francisco bridges the gap of many different world styles and influences in his unique approach to guitar playing.

Philville Records signed the Deacon in 2009 after hearing rumors of an available lapsteel player recently excommunicated from the Catholic Church for several offenses:

· Threatening the Local Bishop with a broken Bushmills bottle

· Blessing PBR and offering it as a sacrament at local pubs

· Substituting moonshine for Holy Water

· brawling with parishioners at fish fry’s over failed pull-tab bets

· Founding his own branch of Catholicism that sanctified the Greek Pantheon of Gods, Buddha, Barry Sanders, and Speedy West

The Deacon appears courtesy of Philville Records with the Santa Barbara CA, based “Big Jugs”

Running on Wires is a narrative recollection of moments, good and bad, live wires and dead wires, that celebrate the dynamics of a residual dreamer. Vocalist, Justin Curth, presents his account like a seasoned storyteller, urging his listeners to lose or find themselves in layers of magnetic harmonies and octaves. Matt Sayles accompanies Justin Curth on dobro, banjo, mandolin, and guitar. The duo is currently working on an EP slated for release in 2010.