The Hypsys
    Based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, The Hypsys are made up of Paul Oliver, David Ray and Bo Hembree. This trio is highly skilled, and they're all driven musicians with a promise to provide what they refer to as "progressive-jazz-rock-fusion-soul-funk." Since coming together in early 2007, these guys have played shows throughout the Southeast.
    They've played with acts like Bruce Hampton and the Quark Alliance and venues like the Birmingham ArtWalk Festival. As of December 2009 they've added being college graduates to their list.
    In fall 2008, The Hypsys released their self-titled album. You can purchase it on iTunes. Currently, the guys are finishing up material for their second full-length studio album.

 Betsy Franck
    Since they made their start several years ago, Betsy Franck and the Bareknuckle Band have become local favorites and gained a lot of well-deserved attention. And who wouldn’t love a soulful woman who possesses a voice from the blues gods?
    The Bareknuckle Band backs Franck up with music that’s drenched in rhythm and blues and soul, and there are fragrant flavors of bluegrass, rock, folk and funk. And Franck pulls it all seamlessly together with a smooth voice that rolls across every note like molasses rolling across a plate full of pancakes.

 Jazzchronic
    Picture a group of guys whose sole mission in life is to bring jazz to the masses. But it's not just jazz they bring. JazzChronic brings in exciting beats and heavy-hitting talent. JazzChronic neophytes just have to listen to the smokin' solos from sax master Luke "Gnarly G" Powell to become caught by the music.
    The band hasn't followed up their first album "Share the Wealth" since releasing it over a year ago, but the reviews of the jazzy-funky fusion have been extremely positive.
    "The genre-jumping production incorporates soul, funk, acid-jazz, and rock to literally share the riches of musical talent and collaboration," wrote Will Hackett in The Athens Blur Magazine.

 Tent City
   They're still supported by side-jobs, but Tent City is always ready to rock.
    "From bagging groceries to even working at a bank," said band member Greg Kearney. "Day jobs are a drag, but you've got to do what you've got to do."
    Kearney, along with a trio made up of Scott Underwood, Greg Cooler and Scott "Boss" Hogg, is part of a band that doesn;t exactly fit into a "jam band" mold.
    "We like to avoid playing the same song the same way twice," said Kearney. "We definitely like to improvise a good bit."
    Tent City is based in Athens, with three-fourths of the group from Statesboro.