BONUS Show: Carolyn Wonderland, Shelley King & Kevin Russell with Slaid Cleaves (Special Guest)

Carolyn Wonderland

Carolyn Wonderland is a fiery Texas blues rocker known for her soulful, powerhouse vocals, killer guitar chops, and undeniable stage presence. Praised by the Los Angeles Times as “the real deal” and compared by NPR to icons Stevie Ray Vaughan and Janis Joplin, Wonderland has earned admiration from the likes of Bob Dylan and Bonnie Raitt while becoming a staple of the modern blues scene.

Born and raised in Houston, she was performing professionally by age 15 and quickly emerged as a standout talent in the Texas blues tradition. A multi-instrumentalist, she not only plays blistering electric guitar but also trumpet, piano, accordion, mandolin, lap steel — and is known for her remarkable whistling ability.

After early success with her band The Imperial Monkeys, Wonderland moved to Austin where she cemented her reputation through critically acclaimed albums such as Miss Understood, Peace Meal, Live Texas Trio, and Moon Goes Missing. Her music has appeared in film and television, and she has shared stages with legends including Levon Helm, James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Los Lobos, and Johnny Winter. She has also dedicated her artistry to numerous charitable recordings and collaborations.

Most recently, Wonderland served as the lead guitarist in John Mayall’s band while continuing to tour internationally and record new music. With “luxurious vocals and fine guitar work” (Austin Chronicle), she remains one of the most captivating artists in blues today — a true Texas original.

Shelley King

Shelley King is a powerhouse blues, roots-rock, and gospel artist with a smart, soulful style and award-winning songwriting rooted in Americana. Born in Arkansas and raised between Arkansas and Texas, she grew up surrounded by music and later found mentorship from icons including Marcia Ball, John Magnie, and Delbert McClinton.

Her ninth album, Kick Up Your Heels (2019), showcases her most joyful and collaborative work yet. Featuring guest performances from Delbert McClinton, The Subdudes, Marcia Ball, Carolyn Wonderland, Byron Isaacs (The Lumineers), and Cindy Cashdollar, the album brings together a dream cast of Texas and Americana talent. Her band includes Sarah Brown on bass, Marvin Dykhuis on guitars and mandolin, Chip Dolan on keys and accordion, and longtime drummer Perry Drake.

King describes the album as a celebration of resilience, friendship, and fun — music to lift spirits in challenging times. Songs like “Levon’s New Drumset” pay tribute to her heroes and musical journey, while tracks such as “Storming in the South” and “Hurricane Party” blend storytelling, Texas swagger, and upbeat grooves. From soul-charged vocals inspired by Aretha Franklin to Louisiana-flavored rhythms influenced by her collaborators, the album reflects the diverse sounds that have shaped her.

Named Texas State Musician in 2008, Shelley King has toured the country and beyond, winning over audiences with her vocal fire, magnetic stage presence, and deep songwriting. Kick Up Your Heels is a milestone in a career built on meaningful connections — and one hell of a good time.

Kevin Russell

Kevin Russell is the frontman and multi-instrumentalist of the award-winning, Austin-based 8-piece Swamp-Pop-Soul supergroup, Shinyribs, and a former member of the beloved cult-favorite The Gourds. A Beaumont, Texas native, Russell is a natural observer and wordsmith — drawing from the Gulf Coast hotbeds of roots music to shape his clever songwriting, charismatic showmanship, and joyful on-stage antics.

With his signature mix of humor, storytelling, and groove-driven musicality, Russell leads Shinyribs through unforgettable live performances featuring everything from soulful ballads and horn-packed party anthems to high-energy dance breaks and playful theatrics. His musical curiosity knows no bounds, blending country, R&B, rock ’n’ roll, Louisiana swamp pop, and Texas soul into a sound that feels both familiar and entirely his own.

Whether penning a tender tune or turning a concert into a full-tilt celebration, Kevin Russell creates an ethereal entertainment experience — one that keeps audiences smiling, dancing, and coming back for more.

SPECIAL GUEST

Slaid Cleaves is an American singer-songwriter whose work blends folk, country and Americana into vivid narratives of working-class life. Raised in South Berwick, Maine, he moved to Austin, Texas in 1991 before settling in Wimberley where he calls home today.

Cleaves began his musical journey playing keyboards in garage bands and busking in Cork, Ireland during college, where he discovered how to craft songs around real-life characters and places.  His 1992 win of the prestigious New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival helped launch a national career, leading to his breakthrough album No Angel Knows in 1997 on the Rounder Records label.

His 2000 album Broke Down earned significant attention on Americana charts with its title-track co-written alongside childhood friend Rod Picott. Known as “a master storyteller, one influenced not by the shine of pop-culture but by the dirt of real life,” says Rolling Stone Country’s Joseph Hudak.

Over the years, Cleaves has spoken with empathy for characters often overlooked—small-town survivors, men and women scraping by, the hopeful and the battered alike. He draws on both his Maine upbringing and Texas life, weaving those landscapes into songs defined by honesty and craft. Today, he continues to tour, write and record, building on more than three decades of musical dedication.