Adam Mackintosh
A native Californian who makes his home in DC, Adam has become a major player on the local stage. He is an accomplished musician, graphic designer, web developer, event promoter, and guitar teacher. Along with his partner Anna Sacks, Adam hosts the Songwriter Showcase throughout Door County, an open mic where any and all original music is welcome.

Big Mouth
The brainchild of Jay Whitney, Big Mouth & the Power Tool Horns have a reputation for high-octane rock and catchy original tunes. Though the band's roster sometimes changes, the kickin' blues-rock energy is always there. 

Cat Braaten
A Wisconsin girl with a voice like iron, Cat came to Door County for Steel Bridge Songfest's first songwriting workshop in 2006. She makes her home in the Virgin Islands, where she strums her guitar and works on her killer tan.

Charlie Prazma
A Chicago blues man who's been involved with every one of Pete Thelen's impressive Blues Today albums. Charlie is branching out these days, recording artists in his studio (most notably George Clinton) and penning tunes with Thelen and Blues Today collaborator Mike King.

Chris Aaron
Proud to call Wisconsin his native state, blues legend Chris Aaron has a style as wide and sparkling as his smile. Despite making his home in Denver these days, Chris always seems to be playing somewhere just up the road.

Chris Alley

Chris Irwin 
Another native Tennesseean who can't get enough of our neck of the woods. He's one of the rugged band of populist polymaths who make their summer homes at AFT. Chris has also trod the boards at Fishstock with Claudia Russell, Eric Lewis and many other great local favorites. In addition to being an accomplished musician, Chris is also a pilot in the steaming jungles of California.

  Chris Reynolds
Christopher is a singer-songwriter with family roots in Door County. Known for his vocal quality, he continues to compose and perform in the Great Lakes region. He
is currently recording his 13th musical release. Listeners of The Lodge may recognize him as the cousin of Stephan Reynolds, voice of The Lodge Activity Board.

Claudia Russell
A California original who calls Door County her second home, Claudia has a voice like hot coffee in the morning: energizing and relaxing at the same time. She loves being here not just for the atmosphere, but for the recording studios as well - her latest album, "Ready To Receive", was mastered at Hans Christian's Allemande Music, now Studio 330.

Dirty Deuce
Rob Atwood and Jamey Clark make a wicked duo. Their grungy hard rock reverberates around the county as soon as the summer gigging season begins.

Doc Heide
It sounds like a screenplay: psychology professor by day, playwright/author/actor/singer by night. Exchange the times of day for seasons of the year and you have Dr. Frederick "Doc" Heide, a Wisconsin native who splits his time between teaching in Berkeley, CA, and crafting musicals for American Folklore Theatre in Door County. The Pills are: Doc "Haldol" Heide, Eric "Lortab" Lewis, Andy "Ritalin" Ratliff, "Prozac" Pat Judy, "Paxil" Paul Sowinski

Dorothy Scott
Long a friendly face in the local scene, Dorothy Scott charms audiences with her unique voice and musical authenticity. Her resume is broad and varied, featuring appearances onstage with Jeff Buckley, Janis Ian, The Frames, Joan Armatrading and many more. She and manager/collaborator Terry Lundahl founded the "Peace Within" project in 2005 with the aim of supporting independent radio stations nationwide.

Eli Mattson
Despite the whirlwind following "America's Got Talent," Eli took the time to come home to Door County and help raise money for local charities. We like the sound of that, and the world likes the sound of his soulful style. With a career on the rise and a loyal fan base already behind him, it's fair to say that things are looking good for this local boy.

Eric Lewis
Eric Lewis and Tommy Burroughs are a couple of dudes from Tennessee who really know how to kick some grass - bluegrass, that is. They're honorary locals, having appeared with American Folklore Theatre, at Fishstock, Third Avenue Playhouse, and many popular venues and events throughout the county. Their sprightly musical sensibility and sweet, soothing harmonies do good things to our radios.

Fred Alley
1963-2001
American Folklore Theatre's beloved co-founding father and leading man, a multi-talented artist who left the world too soon. Fred's achievements are many, not the least of which is one of the most-performed musicals on earth, The Spitfire Grill, that earned him the American Academy of Arts & Letters' Richard Rodgers Production Award in 2001. His open-air populist theatre nestled in the pines of Peninsula State Park is a Door County institution.

Freedy Johnston
Nashville's Freedy Johnston has had radio hits for decades, and is perhaps best known for 1994's "Bad Reputation." Steel Bridge Songfest brought him to Sturgeon Bay in 2007, where he teamed up with Austin native Mark Addison to write and record "Door County Girl," a simple love song dedicated to every local lady.

Geri X.
This honorary local artist has traveled perhaps the farthest distance to join us. Bulgarian native Geri X. was drawn to Door County in 2007 by Steel Bridge Songfest. Her crystalline voice and cutting lyrics make her a stand-out in Milwaukee, her latest hometown.

Hans Christian
German cellist and recording engineer Hans Christian has a passion for intricate and unconventional music. Whether it's improvising unearthly music with his partner, singer Kim Waters, in their collaboration, RASA; or tracking and mastering some of the best-sounding music in Door County, Hans keeps busy. If you're lucky, you might catch him sitting in at an open mic.

The Jana Nyberg Group
The Jana Nyberg Group is the wicked team of Adam Meckler (trumpet/flugelhorn), Evan Montgomery (guitar), Jake Nyberg/Derek Dreier (percussion) and namesake Jana Nyberg (vox). A treat like none other in the balmy summertime, the group, which also performs as a trio, spends the off-season in the Twin Cities. Frontwoman Jana is also a model, character actor, flutist and music teacher. Click here for free music downloads.

Jay Whitney
Hats off to a man who knows what to do with a roll of gaffing tape. Jay Whitney is the founder and frontman of Big Mouth, brandishing his blues chops all over the county.

Jeanne Kuhns
The doyenne of the Door County folk music scene is a multi-talented woman: artist, musician, lyricist, nurse, and public speaker. Jeanne's fresh roots sound graces the county in every season. Onstage and in person she radiates sincerity.

Jesse Smits
At just 17, Jesse Smits has already composed an impressive catalogue of songs. Growing up outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, he was inspired by local musicians to pick up the craft at the tender age of six. His ambitious rock guitar lines help to distinguish him from other musicians his age, but its his mature, astute lyrics that truly set him apart. Jesse and his father Patrick, a physicist by training, come to Door County to compose together.

Jimmy Davis
Memphis, Tennessee singer/songwriter Jimmy Davis has Door County on his mind. His 2008 demo album, "Beagles (The Blue Album)" is dedicated to our peninsula, "[whose] skies are the bluest there is." Morning Glory was written here during one of Davis's sojourns (during Fish Stock perhaps?), and it's fair to say that he's always welcome back.

Julian Hagen

Karen Mal

Marisa Kasriel

Mark Raddatz
Ladies and gentlemen, this man is the real deal. He writes folk music in the spirit of Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie and Bob Dylan, and sings his ballads with the voice of an old friend. Mark's melodies carry his well-penned lyrics across the room at many Door County open mics.

melaniejane
Rock cellist, poet and self-titled "Queen Tambourine" melaniejane has been a fixture in Milwaukee's alternative music scene for a long time, earning awards and loyal fans. The big city lost out when she moved to Sturgeon Bay in 2008, but Door County gained itself one dynamite artist. Just watch out for those washtub basses, mj.

pat mAcdonald
pat's work is complex and comes served with a twist of black humor. He's most famous for a certain song about sunglasses, but, as with Door County itself, his real musical gems are found only by getting beneath the surface - and once you're down there, you don't want to come back up. pat often gigs around town with rock cellist melaniejane.

Patrick Smits
Patrick Smits has been writing and performing music since 1969. He taught guitar in Green Bay in the seventies while attending the University of Wisconsin and performed at local clubs in a band as well as a solo singer/guitarist. After a career in Nuclear Physics and Computer Programming spanning 30 years, Patrick is back to composing music and performing. Left click here for a free download of Patrick Smits song Christmas Time.

Rick Younglove
This native Virginian sauntered his way from coast to coast doing all sorts of work before coming to call Fish Creek home. Along the way he became an incisive observer of American culture, and penned his opinions as sharp, poetic songs. Rick can often be heard at the Songwriter Showcase, as well as playing solo shows throughout the county. Wherever you happen to meet him, get him talking - I promise you won't regret it.

Scott Wakefield
A creative giant with the soul of an old-time storyteller, Scott has crossed the stages of Broadway and shared stages with Tori Amos and Arlo Guthrie. In 2008 he came to Door County and became Dan Fogelberg in his show, AFT's "Sometimes A Song: The Music of Dan Fogelberg." Performing Fogelberg's music with Claudia Russell and Paul Helm made Scott a local favorite, and so he remains.

Take Solace

Timbuk3
Take a look at the mop-haired fellow on the left. That cool, sinister profile looks familiar - you know it's pat mAcdonald in his earlier days, jamming with his former collaborator Barbara K. MacDonald. Timbuk3 had one mega-hit, but their catalogue is eclectic and worth a second glance.

Tommy Burroughs
Eric Lewis and Tommy Burroughs are a couple of dudes from Tennessee who really know how to kick some grass - bluegrass, that is. They're honorary locals, having appeared with American Folklore Theatre, at Fishstock, Third Avenue Playhouse, and many popular venues and events throughout the county. Their sprightly musical sensibility and sweet, soothing harmonies do good things to our radios.

Tyler & Phil
This Sister Bay-based duo enjoys everything about music, and it shows. Ty and Phil (who also goes by Quinn) are gaining fans with their fresh indie style at open mics throughout the county. Stop in to the Songwriter Showcase in Sturgeon Bay Thursday nights, and buy 'em a burger while you're at it.