Recently voted Orlando’s Best Rock Act and Best Singer/songwriter (2 years running), Cat Ridgeway is a powerhouse performer from Orlando, FL known for her soulful vocals, high energy, and magnetic stage presence. Her 2020 release, ‘Nice to Meet You,’ marked her debut as a fully independent artist to commercial radio and a touring musician that has landed on many publications’ “Ones to Watch” lists.
She has directly supported acts including Houndmouth, Amanda Shires, Hannah Wicklund, Emily Wolfe, Brett Dennen, and Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane/Starship) and shared bills with Arcade Fire, Leon Bridges, Sylvan Esso, and Lucy Dacus (Boygenius) among many more. Additionally, in 2016 indie rock duo Tegan & Sara personally selected Cat as the winner of their worldwide cover contest, praising her vocals and multi-instrumentalism.
Cat’s upcoming release is a thoughtful collection of indie rock tunes bursting with color and sprawling soundscapes co-produced by Mike Savino (Tall Tall Trees) and Ridgeway herself and mixed by Dan Molad (Coco, Lucius). The record will feature musicians Claude Coleman Jr. (Ween), Josiah Wolf (WHY?), and Adam Schatz (Sylvan Esso).
With a voice much bigger than she is, anywhere she plays, a buzz is sure to follow.
Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards is an American multi-genre ensemble founded by Johnny Manchild.Since its founding in 2016, the band took the internet by storm, with a unique conundrum of jazz idioms, grunge, alt-rock, world music, and funk that prompted even Anthony Fantano himself (known as “The Only Music Critic Who Matters” by the NYT) ask “what gives them the right to be this good? ”
The Bastards have since answered that question, drawing from a dedicated and thriving fanbase that is bound together by a deep love of music, lyricism, engineering and sonic exploration. From their hometown of Oklahoma City to the global stage, each release has been a marked discovery not just for the fans, but the Poor Bastards themselves.
With 18+ million streams, 4 albums, and new sonic horizons to be crossed, the Poor Bastards have morphed into a collective of sorts with as many as 10 collaborators (affectionately “Bastards”) in regular rotation, with Johnny Manchild at the helm.