Ryan Adcock has a full pop/rock band, but recently has been making solo appearances, writing and performing songs more in the folk/acoustic genre. He was recently part of the Four Corners of Folk tour with Ashley Peacock, Chris Collier and Greg Mahan.

Anna and Milovan Beljin , is a father-daughter duet who performs in the Cincinnati area. They play a variety of folk/pop/blues tunes, featuring Anna's powerful voice and Milovan's skilled guitar work. The duo is one of many local artists who debuted at the Leo Coffeehouse.

Lisa Biales If Rory Block and Allison Krauss had a little sister it would be Lisa Biales. You hear the Folky side of Blues, Jazz Standards and Country music in Lisa's songs and her voice will stop you in your tracks. Lisa has been referred to as the Norman Rockwell of songwriters with a crystal pure voice. "Just the sweet voice and a guitar, who could ask for more?" Ken Lawrence.

Bill Church has been writing and playing folk songs for many years. He is an accomplished singer and guitarist, and also accompanies himself on harmonica in the best Dylan tradition.

Chris Collier plays frequently at York St. Cafe along with her "full band," which includes stellar guitarist Steve Sigsbee. Chris's songs, like Galaxie 500, are familiar to most Tri-State folk fans.

The Cincinnati Dancing Pigs have been playing Jug Band Music in town for 35 years, with a long running stand at Arnold's Bar and Grill every first Saturday of the month. Most of The Pigs have been Balladeers at one point in time or the other, and some of them can even remember when John Denver and Michael Johnson played at Leo's, and partied with the Balladeers.

Mark Cormican's songs celebrate the joys and sorrows of everyday life, but with extraordinary voice and lyrics. Mark is a busy performer, playing venues all over southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

Dave Hawkins an eclectic songwriter who's been compared to Peter Yarrow, Leo Kottke, Buddy Holly, Steve Goodman, Phil Ochs and Lyle Lovett. He is a crowd-pleasing entertainer and a cross-over artist with a broad base of folk and Celtic fans in the Midwest, New England, Western United States and Europe. He has has led bands for over 25 years, released 13 recordings, and appeared as a special guest on seven more. He often appears with his backup band, Celtic Core.

Diamond Blue Diamond Blue is an original music, acoustic quartet, featuring guitars, fiddle, mandolin and sweet vocal harmonies. The group's repertiore reflects their diverse backgrounds and individual members' styles resulting in a contemporary blend of rock, country, folk and blues.

Dividing the Plunder (Justin and Tasha Golden) has been engaging audiences in what some may refer to as "acoustic conversation" for nearly four years. With a live sound ranging from driving folk-pop tunes to intimate, soul-stirring melodies, and with this husband and wife duo's voices "ascending and bowing in flawless harmony", listeners will find themselves drawn in from the opening song.

Raison d'Etre a trio of ladies from Northern Kentucky, are a sheer delight to hear and watch, whether they are doing one of their own songs, such as the enchanting Queen Anne's Lace, or an a cappella rendition of Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B!

Dave Gilligan is a member of The Flock and M.C. Blue, and also a talented and expressive singer/songwriter on his own. He was nominated for Best Instrumentalist at the 1999 Cammys for his harmonica work. Some of Dave's original songs can be found on CD's from Ma Crow and The Flock and now The Flock. He is often joined by Susan Cross on violin.

Lenny Hall sings and plays his Martin guitar in the style of Norman Blake, Mississippi John Hurt and other folk legends. His is an act not to be missed by anyone who appreciates folk and blues guitar.

Chris Haubner's distinctive guitar and banjo style, as well as his memorable original songs, quickly caught the attention of audiences at Leo Coffeehouse. Chris also hosts house concerts and publishes a small magazine.

Greg Hansen is a local fingerstyle guitarist, playing and singing an assortment of familiar and not-so-familiar songs, traditional folk tunes, and original songs and instrumentals. His solo CD, "The Detour And The Open Road" is now available. He also performs with his brothers, Joe and Steve, and sister-in-law Liz, with the Doug Perry Ensemble, and with the New Europa Troubadors.

Prudence Hunt writes and performs songs that reflect her life experiences, including a song which has a verse for each of her grandchildren. Prudence's introduction to folk music back in the 60's was the inspiration for Wild Carrot's award-winning "These Songs". (See Wild Carrot's listing.)

Patrick Ewing is a Cincinnati born Singer-Songwriter,
acoustic guitar player with 20+ years experience
playing in Cincinnati beer joints, bookstores, art
galleries, coffee houses, gin mills, ribs shacks, open
mics, after-hours, front porches and back alleys.
Original American Music and a slew of covers ranging
from blues, to honky tonk, to folk and back.
Postmodern musings on real life experiences straddling
two centuries.

Tim Kelly writes and performs songs with outstanding lyrics that reflect the varied experiences of his life, accompanied by his driving guitar style. Tim's songs range from odes to his Irish ancestors to ballads about subjects as varied as TV programs, life in small-town America, and ranting pirates.

Bob Lotz is a certifed harmonica virtuoso, who can make the little free-reed instruments sound like a whimsome siren or a runaway railroad train. Bob is much in demand, not only for his studio work, but also his educational and entertaining solo appearances.

Kyle Meadows is a frequent performer with the Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund and Kentucky Arts Council, Kyle is a distinguished instrumentalist playing an eclectic variety of traditional Appalachian, Celtic, Old-time and popular music. His hammered dulcimer has a beautiful, uplifting and soothing sound.

Ma Crow is a well-known Cincinnati musician. She has recorded with various artists including Harold Kennedy, Roger Yeardley, The Flock and Plow On Boy. Featured guest with the Cincinnati Women's Choir, the Irish Ramblers, Mid-Life Crisis Ramblers, M.C. Blue, Chicken Deluxe, Friends of the Family and Katie Laur's All Girl Bluegrass Band. She has opened for British icon Richard Thompson, and been featured at live performances at the Ohio State Fair, Tall Stacks, Appalachian Festival, Edensong Concerts and did live performances on numerous radio shows in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.

Greg Mahan is a performing songwriter who works in a wide range of styles. Debut CD (Released in August, 2000) was produced by Brian Lovely and features some of the best musicians from the area.

Mark Messerly and Brian Ewing offer a panorama of 90s alt. country styles highlighted by soaring close harmonies and subtle but effective use of an array of instruments. Declared best singer/songwriters for 1999 by the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards.

Papa Joe is best known for writing silly songs like Crying on My Pizza, but also writes children's songs and the occasional serious ballad. He performs at local coffeehouses, but you can mostly find him at various open mikes, playing both guitar and banjo.

Ashely Peacock is a rare find in music these days. His sound is at once sparse and full. The mood is totally dynamic: from songs resembling eulogies to anthems of bright celebration... One man with an acoustic guitar, singing with a passion that has almost disappeared from modern music.

Janet Pressley the founding force behind Cincinnati's Blue Jordan Records, has reached almost legend status with her prolific songwriting efforts, familiar to anyone who has even the slightest acquaintance with the local folk/acoustic scene.

Renee Alper and Ray Phoenix, both accomplished musicians for decades, come together to bring you "A Little R&R"! Their original folk songs include "Criminal Rag", about Renee's dream career as a disabled law-breaker, "Time of the Phoenix", an inspirational song about turning misfortune into opportunity, "Wake the People", about the exploitation and destruction of the Redwood and Rain Forests, and "MacSpouse", about modern day relationships and computers. Their blend of voices and unusual perspective on the world make them a truly unique experience!

The Retread Bluegrass Band has been playing the local scene since 2003 with appearances at The Southwest Ohio Bluegrass Festival, The Silverton Cafe, The Midwest Bluegrass Association, The Famous Old Time Music Company, multiple "Harpin' & Pickin'" Festivals in Oxford and the Indian Hill Church Fest's, guest artists with The Blue Ash-Montgomery Symphony, and a benefit concert at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Montgomery where they raised over $1,200 for Habitat For Humanity.

The Roanoke Ramblers are a family band consisting of Jim Pross, Chris Haubner, Emily Schabell and any other kinfolk that step up from time to time to sing original songs or their favorite, old timey tunes that get yer boots stompin'!

Silver Arm is a Celtic band whose repertoire includes Irish, Scottish, Renaissance, European and American music. They combine subtle harmonies and dynamic rhythms in a unique blend of contemporary and traditional styles.

Gwendolyn Speaks a husband-wife duo, have a sound described as "radio-friendly", "rootsy-pop", and "dreamlike". Their influences, which range from Crowded House to Natalie Merchant, combine to result in a unique mixture of great pop hooks and haunting melodies.

Jake Speed is possessed of incredible energy, a one-man reincarnation of Woody Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack Elliot. Jake's songs have a strong regional bent, with ballads like Railroad Penny and Ludlow Street Rag.

Mike Sylvester and the River City String Band have roots back to the beginnings of the Queen City Balladeers. Their leader, Mike Sylvester, is a founding member of the Balladeers. The band plays genuine folk and old-time favorites, enhanced by Mike on guitar, Mark Alexander on dobro and banjo, Mitch Maloney on violin, and Bob Kranz on bass.

Strained Relations is a father/son duo: Greg and Jon Buening. From the viewpoints of 2 different generations, these singer/songwriters weave ballads of love, humor, and humanity in delightful harmony. The duo may be contacted at strainedrelations@juno.com.

Sweet Funk is an instrumental duo featuring Dana Gruber on mountain dulcimer and Hank Gruber on acoustic guitar. They perform unique arrangements of contemporary music as well as some traditional and original tunes. Their music is perfect for intimate receptions, parties and house concerts.

Fred Steffen, a Fairfax native, has been playing for the Balladeers for over 30 years. Fred's beautiful songs and masterful fingerstyle playing have made him a folk legend in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.

Emily Strand is a performing songwriter whose often uses symbols and imagery - especially from classical and biblical mythology - to musically communicate thoughts about life and love. Her performance style is influenced by Patti Griffin, Ani DiFranco, and Sheryl Crow; her writing has been shaped by Indigo Girls and James Taylor.

Tanner Hill is a rockin' bluegrass group whose repertoire encompasses everything from Mountain to Motown. They easily move from classic bluegrass covers and the own originals to folk/country/rock numbers by groups as varied as The Beatles, Pure Prairie League and Pink Floyd.

Tracy Ann has a sweet but powerful delivery that completely captures your imagination as she sings original songs on subjects that range from true love to drive-in movies.

Living in College Hill, Tom and Missy Strothers feature mountain dulcimers of several styles and accent those with Bodhran, penny whistle, and recorder. They both teach dulcimer and perform at various festivals and workshops throughout the East and Midwest.

The Vic Daniels Quartet accomplishes its own signature sound with just three members... Jeff Bentle, Jeff Goins and Joyce Bentle. Blending Vocal Harmonies with an array of acoustic instruments and tempos, these skilled musicians write and perform original songs of Irish flavor mixed with folk/rock, blues and jazz that are both contemporary and contemplative.

Wild Carrot is known throughout the Greater Cincinnati area from their many regular performances at a large number of local venues. They also conduct workshops on topics including music theory, fingerpicking, flatpicking, as well as classical and jazz guitar. Spencer also gives private guitar lessons, and there is great demand for his services in that regard.

Dave Wolfenberger has been writing, recording, and performing music for over a decade now. He has been the singer songwriter for such groups as The Marshwiggles and Thom Scarecrow. He has a sound that is an interesting mix of pop, light jazz, and a touch of country with a traditional folk sound, with a strong melodic leaning and folksy charm.