Joe Pug with special guest Possessed by Paul James

A singer-songwriter known for his lyrical acumen and plaintive harmonica style, Joe Pug dropped out of college and moved to Chicago where he worked as a carpenter before breaking into the city’s music scene. Since 2008 he has released a string of critically-acclaimed albums and toured heavily in the U.S. and abroad. Paste Magazine wrote of his music: “Unless your surname is Dylan, Waits, Ritter or Prine, you could face-palm yourself to death trying to pen songs half as inspired."

He has toured with Steve Earle, Levon Helm, The Killers, Justin Townes Earle, Sturgill Simpson, and many others. He has appeared at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and The Newport Folk Festival. His music has appeared on NPR’s “Prairie Home Companion” and “Mountain Stage”. His music has been released by Lightning Rod Records, which features an alumni roster of Jason Isbell, Billy Joe Shaver, and James McMurtry.

Additionally, he is the creator and host of the popular podcast The Working Songwriter.

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After 20 plus years working within the realms of special education & advocacy work, Konrad Wert known as the band Possessed by Paul James, continues the balance with yet another upcoming album while in the classroom. Continuing to raise a family in Texas & working a 50 hr work week within public education, Wert has still been able to release 5 full length albums, two of which topped Bluegrass Billboard charts in 2013 & 2020. Possessed by Paul James’s upcoming 6th album, titled Fighting For Our Own Survival, set to release "sooner than later" highlights life’s passage with such tracks as See You On Sunday; recorded live here with WAF in Laramie, Wyoming & accompanied by Joe Macheret on fiddle.