Last August at Durham’s Blue Note Grill, Jon won the 2018 Triangle Blues Society’s Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category, sending him on to the International Challenge.  Jon Shain is a veteran singer-songwriter who’s been turning heads for years with his words, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his evolved musical style – combining improvised Piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime.

Based in Chapel Hill, NC, FJ Ventre plays upright and electric bass and sings with several acts from The Triangle area, including Jon Shain, Wyatt Easterling, Wes Collins, the Bennys, Nantahala and others.

Rissi Palmer, who describes her musical style as “Southern Soul,” has received widespread media attention in national publications including Ebony, Parade, People, Newsweek, Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal and more. She has performed on the CBS Early Show, CNN, The Tavis Smiley Show, Oprah & Friends, at the White House, Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry. Rissi has also shared the stage with such notable artists as Charley Crockett, Chris Young, Taylor Swift and The Eagles, to name a few. And, on top of all that, she made music history in 2007 with the release of her Top 40 debut single, “Country Girl,” becoming the first African-American female to chart a country song since 1987.