Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country Christmas Jam

There are a lot of musical influences and sources that Daniel Donato has drawn on during his career and that inform his latest album, Horizon (Retrace Music), his second all-original album. But within those, Donato has carved out a unique and individualized spot for himself, one that speaks to the deep American music heritage that inspires him — and that he’s pushing towards the future with inspired, intentional vigor.

He calls it Cosmic Country, a moniker that’s both self-descriptive and a statement of purpose. It’s an organic rock band aesthetic with plenty of roadhouse twang; a showcase for Donato’s instrumental virtuosity and facility for melodically infectious songcraft. Bridging Nashville and the Great West, Kentucky and mid-60s northern California, tie-dye and plaid, it’s a world of his own, and a wide world of musical adventure at that.

While growing up in Nashville his his father, who turned his young son on to music of all genres, suggested the fledgling and industriously minded (even at just 14) artist start busking in Nashville’s lower Broadway area and outside concerts, for eight hours at a time on the weekends. One night, the two happened by Robert’s Western World where legendary honky-tonk local mainstay the Don Kelly Band were performing. Donato eventually became a member of the band, playing four hours a night at Robert’s (464 shows in total).

Horizons is the follow up to 2023’s Reflector, which received critical acclaim from a wide range of press, including No Depression, Glide Magazine, Magnet Magazine, and more. Donato the subject of features in Rolling Stone, UPROXX, Garden & Gun and Relix. Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country made their network television debut on CBS Saturday Morning and appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s #LateShowMeMusic online series.

The whole package of player, singer, writer and band leader was in place. Three albums in, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, featuring Nathan “Sugarlegg” Aronowitz (keyboards/guitars/vocals), Will “Mustang” McGee (bass/vocals) and Will “Bronco” Clark (drums, percussion/vocals) are selling out venues throughout the country and bringing their brand of Cosmic Country to an ever growing, passionate fanbase

Grace Bowers is a 19-year-old, award-winning guitarist, singer/songwriter and bandleader who is undisputedly on a meteoric rise. Her debut album, Wine On Venus, was produced by John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), released independently and garnered widespread acclaim, Forbes praised it as, “an infectious, joyous party” and Rolling Stone calling Bowers “Nashville’s new guitar hero.” 

Bowers cut her teeth playing in dive bars, inspired by the blues of B.B. King as well as the soulful funk of Sly And The Family Stone. Her breakout moment came when videos of her playing guitar on social media went viral during the pandemic. She has since become one of the most in-demand and celebrated young guitarists, and an inspiration to a whole new generation of women around the world.

Grace recently performed at the 67^th Annual Grammy Awards with Chris Martin (Coldplay) and at Love Rocks NYC with Peter Frampton and Trey Anastasio at the Beacon Theater. She was awarded the Variety Next Gen award at their annual Hitmakers event in Los Angeles. She also made her late-night television debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” was featured on “CBS Mornings”, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and toured this past year with The Red Clay Strays, Gary Clark Jr., Slash and The Roots. She has further headlined sold out shows in Japan, New York City, Los Angeles and beyond. She has also appeared at prominent festivals such as Bourbon & Beyond, Telluride Blues and Brews, Bottlerock, Sea.Hear.Now., Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival and “Let Freedom Sing” Nashville’s 4^th of July concert.

If that was not enough, Grace recently won Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2024 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, made her Grand Ole Opry debut on her eighteenth birthday, and was named a U.S. Global Music Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and YouTube’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative. She also performed alongside Dolly Parton on CBS, joined Lainey Wilson as part of CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live celebration, and been sought after by everyone from Tyler Childers and Susan Tedeschi to Remi Wolf, Mt. Joy and All-American Rejects. She is perhaps most proud of raising $30,000 with her 2nd Annual “Grace Bowers & Friends” benefit show, $15,000 of which was donated to MusiCares®.

Sierra Hull is widely regarded to be a as a master of her instrument; A two-time Grammy Nominated artist and songwriter, recognized for both her most recent projects, 25 Trips (2020) and Weighted Mind (2016), she is also the 4x recipient of IBMA’s Mandolin Player of the Year, the first woman to ever receive this distinction. A pioneer for acoustic music throughout her already impressive multi-decade career, she has graced the country's most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House. Her virtuosic abilities have garnered respect from genre-defining trailblazers, friends, and collaborators such as Alison Krauss, Sturgill Simpson, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Bobby McFerrin, and Brandi Carlile. Originally hailing from Byrdstown, Tennessee, her unique sound is rooted in bluegrass, and she is widely considered one of acoustic music’s most inventive artists.

The Mountain Grass Unit consists of three Birmingham pickers, Drury Anderson (mandolin and vocals), Luke Black (acoustic guitar and banjo), and Sam Wilson (upright bass). The Mountain Grass Unit has played music festivals, private functions and multiple music venues, playing bluegrass tunes and adding a bluegrass touch to country, jazz, funk, rock, and even metal. With the addition of Luke Black and Sam Wilson on harmonies, The Mountain Grass Unit has established the firm foundation to take on not only the vocal harmonies of traditional bluegrass tunes, but also the freedom to adapt songs from various genres to an all-acoustic format. Aside from their original songs, all three are equally comfortable restyling a Tony Rice number, a classic Grateful Dead tune, or covering contemporary acoustic masters like Billy Strings. The youthful exuberance and energy they bring to the stage is always remarkable. Their competency at what they do was best described by Birmingham music promoter Steve Masterson when the boys performed at his Acoustic Café festival: "They don't just play good for their age, they play good. Period." Sam, Luke, and Drury are excited to share with their audiences this new and exciting musical chapter.