The Spine Stealers are a two-gal duo making “spooky folk” influenced by the north-wood Wisconsin pines, 24/7 truck stop diners, heartbreak and dark lakes. Kate and Emma started learning guitar together around bonfires in their shared hometown during the height of the pandemic, soon writing songs inspired by lonesome winters, the heartaches of nostalgia and broken ideas of love. The duo started frequenting open mics in July of 2022, which led them to a whirlwind first year as performers. It began with opening for Dead Horses at Madison’s Majestic Theater for Folk Fest 2023, then winning the 2023 Blue Ox Music Festival Virtual Band Competition, and releasing their first ever EP, “River Teeth Tapes” in July, 2023. 2024 brought the release of several singles, a feature in DAYBREAK magazine, and most proudly, the recording of their debut album “If the Sky Falls, Beyond the Sidewalks”, released in October, 2024. The duo is making a name in the Midwestern folk scene, and anxiously await the introduction of their sound to new corners of the country.<hr>Kate Dinsmore is a singer-songwriter based in Seattle, WA. A dynamic performer and vocalist, Dinsmore brings her songs to the stage with an undeniable presence. Deeply rooted in singer/songwriter traditions, she brings a modern pop sensibility to timeless lyrics and melodies. Dinsmore has built a fervent fan base in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, allowing her to share stages with notable artists Pat Benatar and Colin Hay.&nbsp;<hr>With a pastoral upbringing in northern Wisconsin, Ross Thorn’s music emanates as a warm and soulful hymn, waking up optimistically beside a snow-covered window. His sharply crafted and often humorous lyrics—distinctly reminiscent of great folk artists like John Prine—reveal internal struggles of empathy, questions of human character and virtue, and a search for hope, often finding solace in some unanticipated truth. In 2023, Thorn released his debut album, Hugo, a thoughtful exploration into mortality, loss, and identity. The 9-track record leans heavily into his folk and country roots, showcasing introspective and melancholic songwriting along with political fervor and compassion for others—an album for anyone that appreciates an old sound with a forward-looking message. These songs caught the attention of Trampled By Turtles, who selected Thorn to open for them and Jenny Lewis at their annual sold-out show in Duluth. His second album, Fitting In, is set to release in August of 2025. The album showcases fine-tuned songwriting through traditional and contemporary folk tunes that explore the humorous and somber sides of the human condition.