Time for your monthly dose of what the doctor ordered! Dr. K, that is, continuing his monthly series showcasing up-and-coming bands from the Bay Area & environs.

SF-based Misisipi Rider is a folk pop quartet featuring rich four-part vocal harmonies, clever songwriting, and a tight, lively stage show. Fiddler Katy Rexford, 'Misisipi' Mike Wolf and Cree Reiter on guitars, and bassist Doug Blumer create original music that's an infectious mix of joy and pathos, both live and on CDs like their new Live in the Studio, a track from which ("The Voice of Johnny Cash") was recently selected as one of the 20 Best Songs of 2009 by KALX radio.

A hard-hitting lineup of Bay Area veterans playing the music they love: sounds irresistible! Charlie Wallace (Johnny Paycheck, Alice Stuart) on pedal steel, lap steel, and Telecaster; Tony Marcus (Geoff Muldaur, Cats & Jammers) on fiddle and guitar; and bassist Jerry Logan (Bob Paisley & Southern Grass, Peter Rowan), join guitarist and singer Julay Brooks for some serious twang as the Honky Tonk Dreamers.

Kentucky girl Gayle Lynn Schmitt writes bourbon-soaked originals full of equal parts wit and sadness. Backed by Hired Hands Rik Elswit on guitars, Jon Mitguard on pedal steel, harmonica and vocals, Tom Drohan on stand-up bass, and Corey Losee on drums, Gayle covers a range of Americana roots music from rocking alt-country to folk.

Visit Misisipi Rider's MySpace page

Visit Honky Tonk Dreamers' MySpace page

Visit Gayle Lynn & the Hired Hands' website

Listen to a track from Misisipi Rider:

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