The Felice Brothers

Before they had records to sell, Ian and James Felice were busking for commuters in the 42nd Street and Union Square subway stations of New York City. The brothers, originally from Palenville in the Catskill Mountains, were living in Brooklyn then, and that street-level apprenticeship shows in a sound that blends American folk rock and country rock with an easy, roadworn feel. Ian takes the lead vocals and guitar, while James adds vocals and accordion, organ and piano, giving their music a textured, communal character.

Their 2006 self-released debut, Through These Reins and Gone, made Radio Woodstock WDST's top 25 albums of the year, and 2007's Tonight at the Arizona came out on Loose. In August 2008 they played the Newport Folk Festival, where storms cut power to the whole Newport area; with no generators on their stage, the band performed unplugged for more than an hour. In 2009 they joined Old Crow Medicine Show and Justin Townes Earle on The Big Surprise Tour, and Celebration, Florida followed in 2011. The most recent milestone here is a 2013 Dell advert featuring their cover of The Drifters' This Magic Moment.