BLUE CACTUS:

Rooted in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Blue Cactus got their start among the active honky-tonk circuit, developing an electrified twang that now branches out effortlessly into folk, alt-country, and psychedelic-tinged rock. Having released three records to critical acclaim, they have grown a cult following in the South and beyond, their introspective lyricism and blistering guitar techniques making the band potent in the studio and on stage. Their 2025 album Believer was hailed in Bandcamp's Best New Country list and earned them slots on SXSW, Hopscotch Fest’s main stage opening for Geese and My Morning Jacket, and PBS' new original series, Shaped By Sound. Blue Cactus have toured throughout the US, developing a dedicated cult following. From intimate clubs to major festival stages, Blue Cactus is known for connecting deeply with audiences wherever they go.

RAMONA & THE HOLY SMOKES

Based in Central Virginia and with family roots in South Texas,

Ramona and the Holy Smokes represent a new generation of honky

tonk music. With powerful female vocals that cover an emotional

range from determined to comic to vulnerable, and a talented

backing band steeped in classic country and western styles of the

1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the band exhibits a “clarity and sincerity

that bring Patsy Cline to mind” (Nashville Scene, 2025). Fronted by

Ramona Martinez, whose songwriting has earned her recognition

from Wide Open Country as one of the ""15 Latino Artists Shaping

Country Music,"" this Charlottesville, Virginia-based band is rooted

in the traditional sounds of country music but unafraid of pushing

boundaries and highlighting the connections across border cultures.

They have appeared at several Americana festivals including Red

Wing Roots (2024), Rooster Walk (2025), and Bristol Rhythm &

Roots (2025), and has opened for touring artists like Margo Cilker,

Colby Acuff, Willi Carlisle, Redd Volkaert, Joshua Hedley, Donna

the Buffalo, and Kashus Culpepper. Their self-produced debut

album, Ramona and the Holy Smokes, a collection of original songs

about heartache and resiliency, was released on September 26.