Michael Tolcher (June 12, 2011)

This week's featured artist, Michael Tolcher, is one of my all time favorites. He has an amazing voice that just can't do wrong. In addition, he writes some of the best lyrics of anyone I've ever listened to. From his early songs ("Sooner or Later", "Mission Responsible") to his latest "Fine" (which is a free download at http://www.michaeltolcher.com/) everything he does is simply incredible. Go give him a listen if you don't already know him!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

P.S. Today is my birthday - help me celebrate by inviting friends to the Emerge Group on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_2411689880 

Tim Blane (June 5, 2011)

Tim Blane (http://timblane.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/TimBlaneBand ) is an outstanding singer-songwriter who has just released an incredible album, "You Can't Go Back." It starts with one of my favorite songs of the year 'Magnetic" which deserved serious radio attention. The album doesn't stop there with more great songs such as "Take 2 or 3" and "Lay It All On Me" which brings a 70s feel to modern pop music. The entire album is great and you can get the whole thing for $7 at http://timblane.bandcamp.com/

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Hannah Winkler (May 29, 2011)

Hannah Winkler (http://www.facebook.com/HannahWinklerMusic) is a wonderful singer songwriter currently based out of Ann Arbor, MI (though I'm lucky enough to have know her since she was a high school student in Washington, DC). Her debut EP, which you can download for free at bandcamp, is outstanding. The opening track "Away From You" starts with a whisper and builds to a perfect crescendo. Her songs grow from simple to complex and all are totally enchanting. This is a great debut that needs to be heard. Go download it from her bandcamp site (http://hannahwinkler.bandcamp.com/) for free or feel free to make a donation to help support great new music!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

The Five One (May 22, 2011)

This week's featured artist is The Five One (http://www.facebook.com/thefiveone) - a creative hip-hop group that blends great beats and rhymes with a variety of musical backgrounds. Check out the "My Band" tab on their facebook page for a free download of "Closing Time" (a pseudo cover of the Semisonic song) and other good songs including "Mandatory."

More good stuff on their website: http://thefiveone.com/

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

P.S. Don't forget to listen to 8 of April's best new songs on 8Tracks (Free streaming music)
http://8tracks.com/emergemusicgroup/emerge-music-group-s-april-2011-mix

Favorite April 2011 songs on 8 Tracks

Check out some of April's best new music streaming online on 8 Tracks:
http://8tracks.com/emergemusicgroup/emerge-music-group-s-april-2011-mix

Great new music from One Hot Minute, Hannah Winkler, Delta Rae, Rachel Platten, Jon McLaughlin and several more!  We'll post a new playlist each month!

Ben Schofield (May 15, 2011)

Ben Schofield (https://noisetrade.com/benschofieldmusic#) has one of the best and most soothing voices I've ever heard. There are lots of people you could compare him to but in reality he is a unique talent who has quickly become a favorite of mine. His solo EP is available for free at the Noisetrade link posted above. These 5 songs will take you through a variety of moods and styles and each on its own would be impressive - together they are truly outstanding - and again, free.

IMPORTANT! PLEASE follow this link and join the new Emerge Music Group.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_218175601526813

Facebook is changing their groups and this group will be archived. I'm still figuring out the new group page and I'm concerned it doesn't have the same features. With that in mind I"m going to post all new entries on the blog as well:
http://emergemusicgroup.blogspot.com/

So please check that out and subscribe. It's going to be a bit of a transition but we're hoping to bring all of you along for the ride.

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira 

Best of the Rest 2010

There is so much good new music released each year and 2010 was a great year for new bands and new music!!  I've already featured 23 artists on my Best of 2010 collection and this is my list of the best of the rest - many of these could have easily ended up on the main list as well. Songs end up on this list because they are really to my liking and hopefully they will be to yours as well - refer back to this list whenever your in the mood for something new - there are 50 bands on this list so lots to listen to and choose from!  Enjoy and Happy 2011 to one and all!!



This list is in alphabetical order by band name or artist first name - not in any type of priority order
1. When I Show Up... ABCDE (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abcde/85254221002)
2. Waiting... Alexa Wilkinson (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexa-Wilkinson/21063662344)
3. Heart... Aubrey Wood (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aubrey-Wood/49674662885)
4. My Goodbye...Automatic Loveletter (http://www.facebook.com/AutomaticLoveletter)
5. Mississippi...Benjy Davis Project (http://www.facebook.com/benjydavisproject)
6. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Fame...Black Cards (http://www.facebook.com/blackcardsmusic)
7. Stereotypical Fountains...Boxer and Clover (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boxer-Clover/59442027226)
8. Hear Me Now...Boyce Avenue (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boxer-Clover/59442027226)
9. The Lucky Ones... Brendan James (http://www.facebook.com/brendanjamesmusic)
10. Sugar Rush...Charlee Drew (http://www.facebook.com/charleedrewfans)
11. Promise This...Cheryl Cole (http://www.facebook.com/CherylCole)
12.  Jar Of Hearts...Christina Perri (http://www.facebook.com/ChristinaPerriMusic)
13. What It Takes...Clear for Takeoff (http://www.facebook.com/clearfortakeoff)
14. My Love, My Enemy...Dave Barnes (http://www.facebook.com/davebarnes)
15. Breathe In Breathe Out...Erik Gronwall (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Erik-Gronwall/112490288764261)
16. Pulling Away...Foreverinmotion (http://www.foreverinmotion.net/)
17. Holding A Heart...Girl Named Toby (http://www.facebook.com/girlnamedtoby)
18. Nothing But A Song... Great Big Sea (http://www.facebook.com/greatbigsea)

19. Shake...Hey Champ (http://www.facebook.com/heychamp)
20. This Is The New Year...Ian Axel (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ian-Axel/7505423402)
21. Wait On Love...Jake Ousley (http://www.facebook.com/jakeousleymusic)
22. It's A Good Thing...Jaron and the Long Road to Love (http://www.facebook.com/JaronandTheLongRoadtoLove)
23. Dive In...Jennifer Knapp (http://www.facebook.com/JenniferKnappMusic)

24. Maybe...Josiah Leming (http://www.facebook.com/JosiahLeming)
25. Love Shocked...Joy Island (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joy-Island/106452079410732)
26. Weak...Kate & Kacey (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-and-Kacey/47070303252)
27. Desperate Girls & Stupid Boys...Kimberly Caldwell (http://www.facebook.com/KimberlyCaldwellOfficial)
28. I Just Realized...Matt Wertz (http://www.facebook.com/mattwertz)
29. Come Out Of The Woods...Matthew and the Atlas (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthew-And-The-Atlas/75319148294)
30. Winter Winds...Mumford and Sons (http://www.facebook.com/mumfordandsons)
31. Early Spring Till...Nathaniel Rateliff (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nathaniel-Rateliff/106500672716748)
32. Miss Nothing...The Pretty Reckless (http://www.facebook.com/theprettyreckless)
33. Nothing Ever Happens...Rachel Platten (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Platten/6346584785)
34. Stay Over... The Rescues (http://www.facebook.com/therescues)
35. You Gotta Believe...The Rocket Summer (http://www.facebook.com/TheRocketSummer)
36. Breathe...Ryan Star (http://www.facebook.com/ryanstar)
37. Taking Memories...Sam & Ruby (http://www.facebook.com/samandruby)
38. Fallin'...Sam Little (http://www.purevolume.com/SamLittle/)
39. Hard Working Man...Seth Lakeman (http://www.sethlakeman.co.uk/)
40. Fireworks...Stacy Clark (http://www.facebook.com/StacyClarkMusic)
41. Leave Her Alone...Steven Page (http://www.facebook.com/stevenpage)
42.This Is Our Moment...Storyline (http://www.facebook.com/storylineband)
43. Like A Million Lights...This Love (http://www.facebook.com/thisloveband)
44. Wasting Away...Tonight Alive (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tonight-Alive/155381905811)
45. Into U...Tori Blake (http://www.facebook.com/toriblakemusic)
46. Keep On...Tyler Hilton (http://www.facebook.com/TylerHilton)
47. All I Want...Tyrone & Elina (http://www.facebook.com/tyroneandelina)
48. Almost Everything...Wakey! Wakey! (http://www.facebook.com/pages/WakeyWakey/20283793584)
49. Wish You Would Stay...Weatherstar (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weatherstar/131969762786)
50. Bootstraps... You, Me, and Everyone We Know (http://www.facebook.com/youmeandeveryoneweknow)