Baltimore band Ultrafaux performs original music composed by guitarist Michael Joseph Harris in the style of Jazz Manouche or Gypsy Jazz.  The band is an acoustic powerhouse of two guitars and upright bass. Sami Arefin and Harris trade dazzling leads and harmonize together on rich gypsy-inspired melodies. The dynamic Eddie Hrybyk on upright bass holds down the steady swinging pulse and brings his passion for improvisation to the group.

Columbia, South Carolina's The Ruby Brunettes are a four piece band whose sound is largely defined by the intertwining of the male and female voices of Chris Compton (guitar) and Catherine Allgrim (trombone) and the three and four part harmonies created by the rhythm section of Chris Paget (bass) and Ken Mixon (percussion). The group released their debut album in early 2013, before the addition of a rhythm section, and received tremendous reviews with Jasper magazine saying "this self-titled sticks out in a major way among music released in Columbia this year."