John Francis O'Mara @ The Basement

Mando Saenz is an American singer-songwriter living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has released four albums, all on the Carnival Music label: Watertown (2005), Bucket (2008), Studebaker (2013) and All My Shame (2021). Saenz's songs have been recorded by a wide range of artists, including Miranda Lambert, Midland, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jim Lauderdale Eli Young Band, Whiskey Myers, Stoney LaRue, Wade Bowen, Lee Ann Womack, Aubrie Sellers, Jack Ingram, Kim Richey, and Shelly Colvin.

SUZIE BROWN – might be a common name, but there’s nothing common about this rising talent. Brown is a practicing cardiologist who gave up a promising research career to pursue music. Having started writing songs just two years ago, she has already taken the circuit in New England by storm, selling out popular area music venues such as Philadelphia's Tin Angel and Boston's Club Passim, and opening for the likes of Livingston Taylor and Lyle Lovett. Just recently, she was named Best of Philly for music talent (Philadelphia Magazine, August 2010 edition). "Bluesy, folky, achy, sweet-voiced Suzie Brown. A practicing cardiologist pursuing a career in singing (her own songs) and playing the guitar, she's part Emmylou Harris, part Allison Krauss, and totally worth seeing. (Try Tin Angel). Or even just hearing - her debut album is called 'Side Streets'." While media outlets have seized on her unusual bio, audiences and promoters have focused on Brown’s engaging performances and her intimate songs. The easy familiarity of her melodies harkens back to Carole King’s folk-pop creations, while the yearning sweetness in her voice recalls the down-home intimacy of Patty Griffin. Brown’s songwriting is remarkably mature, combining subtle progressions with memorable turns of phrase, in the best tradition of Nashville-style songwriting. Brown released her debut record "Side Streets" last fall to a sell-out crowd at Philadelphia's Tin Angel, and has been touring nationally in support of the record ever since. "Side Streets" has enjoyed regular airplay on Philadelphia's WXPN as well as other local and regional radio stations, and was named one of the year's best local releases by WXPN's Helen Leicht. This fall, she is set to return to the studio to record her sophomore album with Barrie Maguire at the producer's helm (credits include Amos Lee, Rickie Lee Jones, Natalie Merchant). Winner, 'Best of Philly' for music talent 2010 Runner up, Connecticut Folk Festival Songwriting contest 2010 4th place, beta hi-fi contest at World Cafe Live 2010 Honorable Mention, SongCircle Songwriting contest 2010