DRUNKEN PRAYER

Morgan Geer learned his trade in Asheville's backyard jam sessions and bluegrass festivals, part of a music-soaked childhood spent tagging along with his mother's circle of artists, the self-styled "Asheville 1000." By 14 he was on stage playing guitar with a local rockabilly band. In the '90s he co-founded The Merle, a heavy, hilarious garage-punk outfit out of Warren Wilson College, before turning toward country music with Unholy Trio — a band unafraid to cover Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise" and mean it, helping spark Asheville's country resurgence in the process.

A conversation with Tom Waits about church music sent Geer to Portland, where he started playing for bikers on Sunday mornings — and Drunken Prayer was born. Decades later, the project remains his musical home: his latest record was made with Drive-By Truckers' Matt Patton and a cast of friends from Appalachia and the Delta, including members of Wednesday. Restless and prolific, Geer keeps turning up in unexpected places — including a 2026 cover of his song "Cordelia" by The Deslondes — while staying rooted in the Asheville scene he helped build.

WILEY GABY

Wiley Gaby is a queer country/folk singer-songwriter who grew up in a small town in northern Florida before landing in Brooklyn, where his music now carries both places at once — classic country and rural roots colliding with the noise and stumbles of city life. His voice does a lot of that work, swelling into high notes and emoting with a sly, balladeer's finesse.

Gaby first broke through as one half of Goldenchild, his collaboration with Jeff Doker. Their 2015 debut Bridges married country and pop on honest, heartfelt ground. Now stepping out fully under his own name, Gaby is set to release his solo debut on Mississippi's Dial Back Sound, produced with Drive-By Truckers' Bobby Matt Patton — the first single "IDGAF No More" arrived in February, with a full LP and vinyl release to follow later in 2026.

MATT YORK

Matt York grew up in Foxboro, Massachusetts, and started playing Boston clubs as a teenager. He cut his teeth with his indie band Wide Iris who, from 1996 to 2000, played legendary rooms like CBGB, The Rat, and TT the Bear's. He's spent the years since building a career as a solo artist, playing stages across the U.S. and Canada and earning back-to-back Boston Music Awards nominations for Best Country Artist in 2022 and 2023, alongside two nominations for Best Male Artist from the New England Music Awards.

His 2019 album Bruisable Heart marked an early high point, and he followed it with 2022's Gently Used, named an album of the year by multiple regional outlets and his most acclaimed release to date. He's shared stages with artists including Rhett Miller, Jim Lauderdale, The Motels, and Chris Knight, and continues to write and perform from his home on Massachusetts' South Shore.

TWANGVILLE

For over two decades, Twangville has been a devoted champion of Americana music, shining a spotlight on the artists who give the genre its heart and soul. Whether celebrating beloved favorites or introducing emerging talents, they’ve showcased some of the most compelling voices in music through passionate album reviews, insightful interviews, exclusive videos, and even hosting memorable live performances. Their commitment to discovery and storytelling has made Twangville a trusted home for those who love and support independent music.

Founded in 2005, Twangville is a music review website covering all corners of Americana, including folk, country, bluegrass, rock, and blues.

DIAL BACK SOUND

Dial Back Sound is a recording studio and label in Water Valley, Mississippi owned by Matt Patton (Drive-By Truckers, Laura Jane Grace and the Mississippi Medicals, The Dexateens, Model Citizen). The studio was opened in 2009 by producer Bruce Watson. Patton began frequenting the studio as a session bassist early on and later began producing, eventually purchasing the studio in 2016. The Dial Back Sound label launched in 2018.

Some of the many artists, producers, and engineers that have worked at Dial Back include Bruce Watson, Simone Felice, Clay Jones, Tim Kerr, Patterson Hood, Laura Jane Grace, Leo Bud Welch, The Seratones, A. A. Bondy, Thomas Dollbaum and MJ Lenderman.