Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman make music that brings together elements of folk and pop, old time music and Southern rock, with undertones of samba and Afrobeat. Their tight harmonies float over a richly textured mix of banjo, guitar, and mandolin on catchy originals and the occasional cover, like a terrific countrified version of the old Blondie hit, “Dreaming,” that somehow brings to mind dream songs by the Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison. The website Turnstyled Junkpiled calls their first album, Gold Rush Goddess, “easily one of the strongest Americana releases of 2012” and describes their music as “shot through with joyful diversity, fresh original songs, and an attitude that is unafraid to try something new on every track.”

Melody comes from Martinez, California, where her father is a musician and songwriter, and her mother owns an auto body shop. Melody earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Humboldt State, where she co-founded the women’s world-music/fusion a cappella group AkaBella. Jacob comes from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He played in a jug band at Oberlin College while earning a degree in jazz guitar before moving to the Bay Area and jumping into the local music scene.

Melody & Jacob have a new album ready for release, and they will be recording tonight’s show for release on a future album.

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