Matt Berry was always convinced that, should he be lucky enough to avoid getting a ‘normal’ job, he would be a musician. His life would follow a certain path which, whilst not obviously attractive to most, would have seen him be ‘in a number of bands that would get dropped by the record company.’. So far it hasn’t quite turned out like that at all. 

‘Witchazel’ announced Berry as a writer of some distinction, MOJO praising an album ‘coming from a place of real eccentricity and imagination’, The Guardian finding the whole thing ‘genuinely impressive’,The Times declaring Matt a ‘multi-instrumental pysch-folk genius’  and Q summing it up neatly for the newcomers as ‘the sound of the Fleet Foxes had they grown up within earshot of the M25’.

Sheryl Diane first performed as a songwriter and keyboardist in Seattle and the vicinity starting in the 90's. She independently produced a 4 song disc in 2004, Blackberry Love and an 8 song album in 2011, Sheryl Diane's Dream Carnival. She relocated to New Orleans to pursue swing era jazz in 2011. She's recently returned to Seattle and continues to develop compositions in multiple genres, teach piano, and explore swing era jazz.

Lesley Barth's debut full-length Green Hearts, a 2017 concept album charting the course of young love, has been referred to as "one of the most intelligent, evocative pop albums to appear in recent years (Anti-Heroin Chic)."  

"Intelligent" and "evocative" are appropriate words for her thoughtful and inquisitive lyrics that vividly paint curiosity, heartbreak, and longing in ways that move listeners deeply.

Drawing frequent comparisons to Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Fleetwood Mac, with a commanding and singular voice reminiscent of Natalie Merchant, Barth shapes these influences into a unique viewpoint - a mixture of confessional songwriting, poetry, and wry observations about human nature.   Her songs find the beauty in pain and the bittersweet nature of fleeting joy, as her songs seem to rotate seemingly straight-forward concepts around 360 degrees to expose the complexities of love, sadness, and other emotions. 

Praised for her clever lyrics and craftswoman approach to songwriting (writing 30 songs in 30 days to celebrate turning 30, for example), Barth performs frequently to large and intimate crowds.  Her rich voice immediately grabs the listener as she weaves engaging stories on solo guitar, piano, or with a full band that invites the audience into her world, laying bare her own emotions to help them access theirs. 

Barth is releasing her first single since "blowing up her world" and quitting her day job in March of 2018 to focus on music.  

Pinwheels, featuring and co-written by Shannon Soderlund and Chelsey Coy (of Punch The Sun and Single Girl, Married Girl, respectively), is out on Friday, October 12th.

Angry socialist belter influenced by Folk, Punk, and good old-fashioned Rock.

Past: Guitar for Victoria Watts and Moni Grace (Monica Whitlock)

After The Show is an indie music discovery site that features concert reviews, exclusive interviews with artists and music industry executives, and news on upcoming albums/tours.

Spiky indie-pop & art-rock from the city of Brotherly Love. 

Mama Bird is an independent record label, based in Portland, Oregon. We are proudly committed to exceptional songcraft.

Lesley Barth is following