Phoebe and Jacyln are talented sisters originally from Lake Orion, MI who've been making music together for over a decade. Their peers in the local music scene, including Jill Jack, have been helping to lift them up as they've continued to find their path and hone their craft over the years. Their third release, Temporary By Design, comes nine years after their debut covers record, Come What May, and shows the growth the duo have made since their debut. Put it on and feel what they've been through via the heartfelt lyrics.

Songs, written by Keynote Sisters, include:

Done and Damned

Phoenix Tears

Waitin' On You

It's All Talk

More about Keynote Sisters at: https://keynotesisters.com/

More about Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Grove Studios makes it all possible: https://grovestudios.space/

Brooklyn based – Brooklyn MI that is – singer songwriter, contributor to the feeding of hungry people who prioritize organic produce, multi-instrumentalist, and all around good guy, Billy King joins me at Grove Studios for a chat about his new record, Chill.

Learn a bit about the difference between the family farm he works on and the similarly named produce seller in the area, the Hollerfest Music Festival that takes place on the family farm, hear an as of yet unreleased song and more.

All songs written by Billy King

Makes Me Wonder

Truth Lies

Chill

Snow in NOLA.

More about Billy King: https://billykingdom.com/

More about Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Book your session at Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space

I've been working at one of the premiere jazz stations in the country since the summer of 2022. In the spring of 2024 I was given a twice a week two hour radio program called The Song Break to program. I brought my existing knowledge of The Great American Songbook and the classic vocalists who are best known for interpreting it to the table. The other side of the equation is the modern day songbook. This required some research into newer singers. Along the way I found one in my own state who was masterfully interpreting the classics AND writing new ones.

Olivia Van Goor is a gifted artist and vocalist and I love making new fans out of anyone willing to listen. It is my belief that she will be a breakout national jazz artist at some point, not just one who performs regionally. She has the "IT" factor.

Joined by her friend and talented bassist Reuben Stump, Olivia chats about her 4th release "Waiting For Santa." If you aren't in the mood for Holiday music, please at least listen to the conversation and skip the songs until you are ready, but among the 4 songs performed only one is a cover and it's not one you hear over and over and over.

Please enjoy this session with Olivia and Reuben and please check her out live sometime. You won't be disappointed.

Songs written by Olivia Van Goor except where noted:

Santa, Did You Get My Letter?

Holiday Traditions (OVG and Reuben Stump)

Hermey's Blues (OVG and Mike Harrison)

There's Always Tomorrow (Johnny Marks)

Do yourself a favor and check out Olivia on line at: https://www.oliviavangoor.com/

Want to learn more and support Acoustic Alternatives? https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

None of it, I mean NONE of it happens without the support of Grove Studios:https://grovestudios.space/

Can you dig it? I got to visit with Jen Sygit. A large reason I do this podcast is to shine the spotlight on artists I think deserve more attention than they are getting. All three of Jen's most recent releases were in my top 5 albums of the year they were released. She's had some wonderful opportunities in her 20+ years as a performing musician. We chat about those and mention that she's got her first headlining gig at The Ark in November.

All songs written by Jen Sygit:

Grandma Went to Heaven In A Cowgirl Cadillac

Smell The Flowers

Marshall Street

One In A Million

More about Jen Sygit: http://www.jensygit.com/

More about Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

More about Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space/

David's first album, The Nightshift Watchman, came out independently in 1987. In 1989 he made his major label debut on A&M Records with How Did You Find Me Here, which included modern folk classics that he still plays in his sets 35+ years later ("Eye of the Hurricane" & "Rusty Old American Dream").

Ask a handful of younger modern folk singers and no doubt some of them will cite David's playing and/or writing as an influence on what they are doing.

It was a pleasure to chat with David again as he has just put out his best album in many years, The Way I Tell The Story. Hear some of the story in this visit as well as two songs not on any record yet.

Bonus! The old Acoustic Alternatives WHFR show intro and the classic ann arbor's 107one show ID.

Songs written by David Wilcox:

"I'm From Nowhere"

"Miss Liberty"

"The Way I Tell The Story"

"The Beautiful"

More about David: https://www.davidwilcox.com/

More about Acoustic Alternatives: https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

More about Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space/

Kora Feder is a well traveled singer songwriter with music in her blood now calling Detroit home. It was a chance meeting that brought me to her music and one song in particular that destroyed my heart in the way only songs can do. There are a few other interview with Kora out there and some of them really good and in-depth. I think I only scratched the surface. I was also distracted by issues I was having with the sound quality and a week's worth of headaches.

I encourage you to explore her professionally recorded catalog.

Songs written by Kora Feder:

Automatic Times

Elementary Queen

In A Young Person's Body

Ballad to Feel.

Support and follow Kora: https://korafeder.com/

Support and follow Acoustic Alternatives (clearly I need to buy some microphones and cables): https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Support the great home of the podcast, Grove Studios: https://grovestudios.space/

Chicago area songwriter Joe Goodkin has, at the time of this posting, 14 records to his credit - some solo, some with his band Paper Arrows. Two of his projects are ambitious retellings of Homer's The Odyssey and The Illiad and he has toured these records in every state in the US and abroad as well.

Get to know Joe and hear an as of yet unreleased song in this performance and conversation with a modern bard.

Songs written by Joe Goodkin:

Somebody Loved (The Invocation)

What Kind of Love (Patroclus to Achilles)

Hands of Grief (Priam to Achilles)

Winedark Life

More information about Joe:

https://www.joegoodkin.com/

All things Acoustic Alternatives including how to support my efforts on Patreon:

https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

All the love goes to my host Grove Studios without whom none of this happens

https://grovestudios.space/

Myron Elkins is from the small town Otsego, MI(About 17 miles north west of Kalamazoo). His friends from school probably didn't see him as the guy who would one day play shows with Willie Nelson, John Fogerty, Marcus King and Kaleo, and have his second release produced by one of the most in demand producers in the Americana genre, Dave Cobb, but he did just that. With unique voice and a love of music from another time, Myron Elkins isn't like any other artist I've met who was born since the 2000's began. Hear his stories and a brand new, as of yet unreleased, song in our conversation from Grove Studios.

Songs written by Myron Elkins

"God Bless The Rain"

"Testimony"

"Red Ball"

"Winnin'"

Learn more about Myron (until he's able to get his own website back from Elektra records) at https://www.myronelkins.com/

Find other Acoustic Alternatives podcasts and playlists:

https://johnmbommarito.wixsite.com/johnbommarito/acoustic-alternatives

Endless thanks to my hosts, Grove Studios

https://grovestudios.space/