Jess Klein

Jess Klein came to this world to pull firebrand power and childlike joy from our darkest shadows. Her acoustic-driven, hook-laden story songs revel in the polychrome of human experience - joy, rage, sensuality and resilience. The New York Times calls her “A songwriter with a voice of unblinking tenacity.”

Jess has toured the globe performing in pin-drop listening rooms, cozy theaters and at raucous festivals in front of tens of thousands of fans. She has toured nationally and internationally supporting Arlo Guthrie, Josh Ritter, Damien Dempsey, John Fullbright and Jonathan Byrd and has opened for such legends as Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle and Alejandro Escovedo. Jess has appeared on Good Morning America and NPR’s All Things Considered and has performed at the Newport, Winnipeg, Falcon Ridge and Philadelphia Folk Festivals as well as Fuji Rock Festival in Japan.

Jess's live shows are known for their intimate and soulful atmosphere. Whether solo with just her guitar or backed by a band, Jess performs with a raw, emotional intensity. Her emotive vocals, and poignant storytelling invite her fans on a journey through themes of love, loss, and resilience.

The Bluegrass Situation hails Jess's work as “one part grassroots social activism, two parts alt-country guitar rock — a combo we can certainly get behind.” Klein's newest album, 2023's When We Rise, harnesses this potent combination with themes of empowerment and the joy of overcoming set to a dynamic and deeply introspective roots-inflected soundtrack.

Learn more at https://jessklein.com

Maritzaida

In the quiet town of Isabela, Puerto Rico, no one, least of all Maritzaida, imagined she would become the torchbearer for one of Puerto Rico’s most iconic composers, Sylvia Rexach. But in 2024, that's exactly where she stands—alongside her husband and guitarist, AJ Weibe—bringing back to life the unpublished and unreleased works of Rexach, guided by none other than Rexach’s daughter, 78-year-old actress and singer Sharon Riley.

Based in North Carolina, the couple’s mission is clear: to faithfully recreate the music of Sylvia Rexach and Tutti Umpierre as it was originally intended. With Sharon Riley’s memories of these songs, acting as the living bridge to her mother's forgotten masterpieces, and armed with a rare songbook, Maritzaida and AJ are reinterpreting the compositions with painstaking accuracy. It’s a journey full of trial and triumph, like when Riley, after hearing an early take, texted: “No, that’s not it.” Undeterred, the couple went back to the drawing board, eventually emerging with a version that earned Riley’s glowing response: “Perfecto.”

But to understand how this labor of love began, we must go back to Maritzaida's roots as a humble jíbara in Isabela, through her years studying theatre at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, and her first encounter with AJ in 2012 when he was a guitarist for the US Air Force Bands. The two bonded over their shared passion for music, performing as military musicians across the globe including living in Tokyo for three years before embarking on new careers: AJ, a communications director with a Ph.D., and Maritzaida, a Cooperative Extension agent and Ph.D. candidate.

In 2022, a five-year musical hiatus came to an end when AJ suggested, “Why not play some of the music you grew up on?” A casual demo led to wowing legendary guitarist Charlie Hunter and his wife, Tahi. Impressed by Maritzaida’s extraordinary voice, they signed her to SideHustle Records, and soon after, the couple began working on their first two albums, Boleros Clásicos Volumen Uno y Dos, released in 2023 under Hunter’s production.

Afterward, a deep dive into Sylvia Rexach’s 1958 album with Tutti Umpierre sparked an obsession. AJ studied the music note-for-note, while Maritzaida’s voice resurrected the passion of the original recordings. In 2024, they released Alma Adentro: La Música de Sylvia Rexach y Tutti Umpierre, a faithful recreation that quickly caught the attention of Sharon Riley.

A weekly radio show appearance in Puerto Rico led them to Riley, who invited them to Orlando, Florida. During their visit, they recorded over 20 tracks of Riley singing her mother's unreleased songs acapella. During the initial visit, AJ played the role of Umpierre, accompanying Riley as she sang her mother’s recorded catalog. On the final day, Riley expressed her desire for retirement, passing the torch to Maritzaida, asking her to carry forward the legacy she had protected for nearly 65 years.

Now, through long-distance collaborations with Riley, infrequent visits to Orlando, home studio sessions, and careful consideration of each note, Maritzaida and AJ are on a mission to ensure Sylvia Rexach’s music is heard by the world once more—restored to its original beauty and brought to life for a new generation.

The album, Alma Adentro: La Música de Sylvia Rexach y Tutti Umpierre, was recognized as one of the Top 20 Most Outstanding Productions of 2024 by La Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular. A follow-up EP was released in February 2025 with the help of Sharon Riley Rexach titled El Otro Camino: La Música de Sylvia Rexach y Tutti Umpierre.

Learn more at https://www.maritzaida.com/

Leo Hooker

Dubbed by his peers as the King of Outback Lonesome, Leo Hooker has been offering his unique brand of smooth, vintage, heart-driven poetry in Brisbane, Australia and her surrounds for half a decade now. He draws inspiration from a well carved by the human experiences of love, loneliness, and heartache with a sensitive heart, keen intellect, and precious musicality.

In short, witnessing a performance from Leo leaves your heart feeling tender, your mind swept away, and your inner child cradled by a thousand angels all at once. His talent as a songwriter, the careful touch of his playing, and profound tenderness in his voice leave Leo as one of the finest Australian storytellers this country is yet to truly discover.

Leo is currently an international exchange student from Australia, studying within Appalachian State University's Hayes School of Music, for both the spring and fall semesters in 2025. In his own words:

"Life has been kind to me, so I must be kind to others" is a phrase I have coined to cultivate gratitude and compassion into my being. The hand I've been dealt is unquestionably favourable and I believe I have responsibility to live my life fully and to constantly improve myself for the benefit of everyone.

"You will sing love into the world" is a motto I remind myself of every day. What a pleasure it is to sing and play and share experiences with people. I'm looking to cultivate joy and harmony for us all through music. People are my bread and butter - my curiosity in them is endless."

Learn more at https://bit.ly/Leo-Hooker-Music