The John Butler Trio effortlessly combines gritty soulful vocals, elements of hip-hop, and Appalachian folk with subtle hints of everything from reggae to Zeppelin.

Authentic. Timeless. Harmonious. Exhilarating. Any or all of these adjectives could describe the folk-rock sound created by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion.

Being this month's WXPN Artist To Watch coincides with Boggia's second solo release Safe In Sound due in stores on May 3.

Matthew Miller was born in West Chester, NY on June 30, 1979, corresponding to the Jewish date of the 5th of Tamuz 5740. Shortly after his birth, the Miller family moved to Berkeley, CA, and eventually settled in White Plains, NY.

Being this month's WXPN Artist To Watch comes quickly after Feist's April 2005 release of Let It Die on the Interscope Records label.

Death Cab For Cutie is comprised of band members Ben Gibbard (singer/guitarist), Nick Harmer (bassist), Jason McGerr (drummer), and Chris Walla (guitarist/organist). Their newest album, Plans, is scheduled for release on August 30.

Seattle-based singer-songwriter Laura Veirs calls her 2005 Nonesuch release Year of Meteors "a road record." "It doesn't sound like one," she says, "but it is."

The sound of The Magic Numbers revolves around the brilliant songwriting and guitar playing talents of singer Romeo. Born and raised in Trinidad (where his mother had her own opera show on TV)

Authentic. That's the first word that springs to mind when you encounter Brandi Carlile. From her rootsy bell-clear voice to the palpable emotion that seeps through every song on her stunning debut album, everything about this 23-year-old from rural Washington state is the real deal.

"For us, ALO is more than just a band and we're more than just a group of great friends making music together. ALO is our lifestyle."