FEATURING -- Laura Methvin

Laura grew up in a house where, on any given day, you might hear Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones or The Pretenders. After writing and performing in Atlanta as lead singer of The Cave Babies, she moved back to her native Florida and started a solo career in Tallahassee. As a solo artist, she’s released four albums: Boy Meets Girl, Sweet Medicine, So Far, and a best-of collection of songs from 1998 to 2002.  In 2001, Laura took up a nomadic lifestyle, living and touring in different cities throughout the year. Later that year, she moved to Los Angeles, where she performed around Hollywood and Santa Monica. Response from audiences at her appearances in LA was immediate and overwhelming.

Now that Laura’s returned to Tallahassee, she’s playing live shows around town for the locals.  “I’m doing the indie-acoustic solo la-la thing around Tally.  Very lo-fi and intimate, which the crowds seem to like,” she reports.  Solo shows aren't easy, but I enjoy them.  I'm dying to get back in front of a band again, if I can find the right people to play with.  But in the meantime, the solo thing is a great way to interact with the audiences and explore new territory musically. 

You can catch Laura at venues around town.  Check her website for locations and times!

Linda Hargrove at Lindahargrove.com - Florida's First Lady of country music and supporter of The Tallahassee NSAI Songwriters Workshop.  Check out her newest works and revisit her mega-hits, such as "Tennessee Whiskey" and others.

Del Suggs at SaltWaterMusic.com - highly acclaimed singer/songwriter, Del's work is wonderfully soulful and fun at the same time.  His production of several compilation CD's over the years of local talent is a testament to his caring and support of songwriters and the music they make.

Marc-Alan Barnette at Marcalanbarnette.com - gotta check Marc out!  Shows, Nashville working-tours, a staunch supporter of NSAI and a friend of the family (of songwriters), the man knows his stuff and loves everyone of ya!

Jan Peterson at Wisdomcries.com -  from Jacksonville, Jan's wonderful songs of praise and message have lifted and filled so many through the years.  Penned with ace songwriter Rick NesSmith, it just doesn't get any better.

Carla Ulbrich at Carlau.com - A fan favorite on the long-running, nationally syndicated Dr. Demento show, award-winning songwriter and Professional Smart Aleck Carla Ulbrich has been compared to the likes of Weird Al, Chet Atkins and a bologna sandwich.  Carla made her singing debut at a pig pickin' on Spring Break in college and has released 3 CDs: Her Fabulous Debut (1999), Professional Smart Aleck (2003) and Sick Humor (2004).  Carla's songs cover such socially relevant topics as dating for food, the Guinness Book of Records, and a duet with a Klingon.

In 2002, Carla suffered two strokes and kidney failure. Undeterred, she re-learned the guitar from scratch that year, spending her many hours in doctors' waiting rooms penning funny parodies about her malady and the absurdity of the health care system. The result was her third CD, "Sick Humor" release in late 2004. The song "What If Your Butt Was Gone," a parody of one of Carla's own songs, is an audience favorite and is included on Dr. Demento's 2005 Basement Tapes compilation.  Carla has also taught guitar at several colleges, Hummingbird Music Camp, and the National Guitar Workshop.  Carla tours all over the country, appearing at various folk venues such as The Bluebird Cafe and Eddie's Attic, festivals including Kerrville and Falcon Ridge, medical and nursing conventions, concert series, science fiction conventions, colleges, numerous radio stations, as well as spots on USA's Up All Night, PAX TV, and XM radio. Check her web site for her schedule and newsletter.

Bottom Dollar Boys at Bottom Dollar Boys - 30 years of bluegrass (and still sober!)  See 'em and believe!

Carrie Hamby at www.singingbiscuit.com - talented on guitar, keyboards, bass, mandolin, and fiddle, Tallahassee's Carrie Hamby sings songs from and of the heart. Performing solo and with Singing Biscuit, Carrie has gained a following at coffee houses, clubs, oyster bars, picking parlors, house concerts, legion halls, nature centers and music festivals throughout Florida; venturing into northern and western territories over the past few years - because, face it, there's not too many roads south and east of Florida.  Two of Carrie's songs have placed in the annual new song contest sponsored by the Will McLean Foundation. One performance got Carrie into the semi-finalist round at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta. Rich Warren picked "Stand Up Eight" as the CD-of-the-week during June 2005. Other songs have appeared on the Oasis sampler and "Before Their Time" music collection. Carrie has recently released another wonderful CD, "The Cosmic Reel".

Lizza Connor at www.lizzaconnor.com - Originally from Tallahassee, Lizza cracked the shell that is Nashville and has been widely acclaimed for her CD, "Runaway", an all-together mezmerizing collection of her songs.  Lizza, winner in the prestigious Merlefest 2003 songwriting competition, fuses her personal journal of experience and observations on life in song. The result is a unique blend of country, bluegrass, gospel and folk music.  In 1998, Connor won a scholarship to study English and Irish literature at London's Imperial College, and the following year, she attended England's Oxford University for religious studies. During her time abroad, Connor took the opportunity to backpack across Europe and Britain. Her travels inspired a deep love for landscapes, a curiosity for other cultures, and an interaction with characters that would color her writing.  A  recent semi-finalist win in the International Songwriting Competition from over 11,000 entries, and top honors in the singer/songwriter competition at Suwannee Springfest (Florida's premier folk festival) have affirmed that Connor is on track for what she's always known as her first love and calling.

Paul Harbin at www.paulharbin.com - radio released "Hero at Home" -- with the Nashville-produced video as seen on CMT.  Another original Tallahassee hometown "kid" who made good!  Congratulations, Paul!  Good job...we were always pullin' for ya!

Charles Harvey at www.hutchtom.com/harvey/ -  a true country gentleman, a great songwriter of songs such as "Halfway to Birmingham", "A Woman Can", "Home Invasion Robbery", and "Bulbous Heads of Wheat", Charles has entertained audiences in venues from Tallahassee to Nashville's  Blue Bird.