Emerging from the verdant landscapes of County Offaly, Ireland, folk/ballad singer-songwriter Wayne Brereton stitches tales of resilience, drawing upon the deep cultural wells of his homeland and his personal trials. From the Heart of Ireland Emerges a Story of Grit, Wrapped in Beautiful Ballads and Infused with the Spirit of Traditional Irish Folk. Brereton was a musical prodigy who began playing guitar in bands at the juvenile age of 14 and eventually carved out a place as the lead guitarist for the popular Irish pop/rock band "Hogan." The Robin's Call by Wayne Brereton Brereton's music is a magnificent tapestry woven from...

Ava Valianti represents something increasingly rare in contemporary music: genuine precocity without artifice. This Massachusetts artist, who is only fifteen years old, handles general themes with a level of emotional depth that is shocking. She shows that youth can bring out the best in complicated human experiences, rather than hiding them. "Distant," her sixth single, functions as a sonic archaeology of friendship's dissolution. The track excavates layers...