RHYTHM

Gwenyth Hayes, a bassist, song stylist, vocalist, and recording artist hailing from Ann Arbor, captivates audiences throughout the Metro Detroit area with her distinctive performances. Gwenyth's unique reinterpretations showcase a fusion of classic tunes and soulful covers & originals across various genres, and are centered by her sultry vocals, groove-infused bass lines, and tight instrumental arrangements.

Since 2012, Gwenyth's ensembles have graced numerous festivals and venues across Southeastern Michigan, Chicago, and Honolulu, including: Arts, Beats, and Eats, Dally In The Alley, Harvest Festival, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Ann Arbor Jazz Festival, University of Michigan's Gift of Arts, and the North Atlantic Blues Festival.

In 2023, Gwenyth was inducted as a fellow with the Amplify Fellowship based in Washtenaw, a recognition that granted her valuable resources to begin finalizing her forthcoming recording project set for release in 2024. Alongside this, Gwenyth is an active member of Detroit Bass Players and has been prominently featured in various publications, including Buddy Guy's Legends Magazine, University of Michigan's Newsletter, Ann Arbor News, and Big City Rhythm and Blues Magazine.

Throughout her musical journey, she has served as a professional bassist, lending support to fellow artists in the realms of blues, pop, and soul. Notable milestones in her career include opening for B.B. King alongside Murali Coryell, the son of the late Larry Coryell, and subsequently embarking on a tour with Murali. Additionally, she graced the stage at The Chicago Blues Festival in both 2010 and 2013 with Quintus McCormick and Khalif "Wailin'" Walter. Her participation in the 2009 Detroit Blues Festival at Chene Park Amphitheater, now recognized as the Aretha Franklin Park, further underscores her impactful contributions.

During her residency in Chicago from 2010 to 2013, Gwenyth performed regularly as a blues bassists at renowned venues such as Buddy Guy's Legends, Kingston Mines, and B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, with Alligator and Delmark Records recording artists Maurice John Vaughn, Quintus McCormick, & Toronzo Cannon. Later, her musical pursuits extended to touring with Detroit Music Awarding winning recording artist Laura Rain and the Caesars and performing with other notable metro detroit artists.

Gwenyth's musical roots trace back to her upbringing in a family deeply connected to music, exposing her to a diverse range of genres, from classical and jazz to rock and R&B. With her mother and grandmother as pianists and her father, William Hayes, a renowned conductor, composer, educator, and performer, along with her brother, Matt Hayes, a celebrated drummer, music is woven into the fabric of her life.

Her modern approach to music serves as a conduit for reinventing popular soul, jazz, soft rock, and blues standards, infusing them with a sensual and contemporary vibe. Gwenyth's sound resonates with diverse audiences, aiming to evoke nostalgia for many generations to come.

Mia Green is a young singer-songwriter from Michigan who has already penned more than 100 introspective songs about life and relationships that have won her songwriting contests, helped her develop a following and gain play at an expanding number of shows around Southeast Michigan. It’s been said of her music “that her beautiful voice carries her sound and is punctuated with simple acoustic guitar progressions.” Inspired by the clever lyrics of Ed Sheeran and Gabrielle Aplin, she's now dedicating her life full-time to expanding the audience for her music

George Montelle is a powerhouse Detroit Songwriter and Performer. His music Features core elements of Pop, R&B, Rock, Soul and Hip-Hop

A tough, hard-working American city is reinventing itself as a vibrant incubator of ideas and creation. Back from decades of neglect, Detroit has returned to the forefront on the world stage. Adventurers, investors, artists, and young entrepreneurs are flocking to the Motor City, bringing with them energy, creativity and innovation. The city and its people are inspired again.
Laura Rain is a product of that environment, a hard driving soul singer who uses the power and finesse of her own voice to inspire and electrify your spirit. Born and raised in Detroit, where her father engineered conveyer systems for the auto plants, she delivers her original music with fearless emotion and excitement. Along with her creative partner George Friend, the pair have released four albums with a unique blend of contemporary funky soul, blues and r&b worthy of Detroit’s rich history of musical innovators.
It is the Motor City where Aretha Franklin, Parliament-Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye all lived and created. A town where singers are continually influencing and defining the world around themselves. Laura Rain creates her own environment of expression through her music. Having released four albums of all original music since 2013, the band blends their favorite elements of funky ‘60s organ jazz, lowdown blues, dance music, old-school R&B, and soul. Laura and producer-songwriter George Friend have created a unique style, winning a prestigious Detroit Music Award for “Outstanding Blues Songwriters” and touring the U.S. Canada and Europe. Laura Rain’s voice soars as she weaves her own path through a classic, but thoroughly modern, funky sound, reimagining the r&b, gospel, blues, and soul that the city made famous.
In 2020, Laura Rain is poised to release a large collection of new music (written over the last two years) and rebuild, renew and reinvent herself once again.
Detroit has returned: strong, creative, inspiring, and always funky.

Michael and Marsha Evans were both educated in the Detroit Public School system and actively receiving music education in that system as well as privately (vocal and instrumental) with both acquiring baccalaureate degrees at universities within the state of Michigan. The pair have performed together and individually with entertainers such as Kenny Latimore, Aaliyah, and opened for Marion Meadows. They have worked with a myriad of other local musical professionals as well in the greater Detroit area with Michael having been a piano accompanist in Detroit Public Schools for 25 years and Marsha performing as a vocal finalist for the annual WDIV Fire Works show competition. The couple met and later married being hired to both perform for an event through a mutual friend.

"...the kind of intoxicating indie-folk voice that instantly draws listeners into smartly arranged songs with haunting melodies..."
- Local Spins

Lilly MacPhee is a captivating singer-songwriter whose ethereal sound and heartfelt lyrics connect with audiences near and far. Her music, known for its intimate and yearning tones, has earned accolades from prestigious competitions, including the International Songwriting Competition and the Great American Song Contest.

Lilly's enchanting vocals have been compared to Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries. She made her National Television Debut at the 2025 Detroit Grand Prix singing the US & Canadian Anthems. Her songs are featured on notable radio stations like Ann Arbor's 107one, BBC Radio Scotland, 99.5 WYCD and Detroit's NPR Station, 101.9 WDET. She has worked with industry icons like Jeff Gutt (Stone Temple Pilots) and opened for international touring artists Joe Robinson and The Longest Johns.

Danny Runey is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter with 30 years of experience in Michigan in various genres. He’s fronted his band The Strangers for over 20 years and played national stages with the likes of Stone Temple Pilots, Collective Soul, Better Than Ezra, as well as dozens of local legends. Danny’s song list covers decades of rock, country, pop, and folk music to satisfy every crowd! #dannyruney #strangersmi IG: @djruney

Chris Emmerson is a multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, with hundreds of performances over the past 25 years in the area. He has gained recognition as a lead guitarist and singer-songwriter, being featured on local radio and television sharing his blend of soulful, bluesy rock.

Weatherston is a fine jazz guitarist, and he's assimilated the styles of players like Wes Montgomery and Chet Baker into his own clear tone, while his singing voice is warm, comfortable, and familiar-sounding.

Bob Mervak has been an active member of the Detroit [...]