Paul W. Ogle Cultural & Community Center

Sam Brooker and Ruby Amanfu are each accomplished artists and Grammy-nominated songwriters in their own right. After meeting at a writer's night in Nashville, the two became friends, penned their first song together and began to perform it at each other's shows, giving rise to the duo of Sam & Ruby. These musical soulmates suprise their audiences with lively and uplifting music that is intimate, honest, hopeful and inspirational. Their song, "Heaven's My Home," was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007, and is featured in the feature film "The Secret Lives of Bees." They are frequent performers at Austin's annual South By Southwest Music Festival and are regularly welcomed on campuses across the country.

This four-man comedy a cappella group has won awards from the Contemporary A Cappella Society, The Harmony Sweepstakes and had their music included on Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes. The side-splittingly funny live shows have garnered fans from around the country. With tight harmonies, intelligent lyrics and eclectic humor, Moosebutter have charmed audiences and enjoy cult-like adoration among fans for their take on Star Wars, Harry Potter and other pop culture classics.

A professional animator by trade, singer Nick Pitera is living proof of the power of the internet. After posting a clip of himself singing both parts to "A Whole New World" from Disney's Aladdin, his videos went viral. He has since received over 27 million video views, and currently has 60,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel. He continues to post videos, and perform at venues across the country. He is currently working on original material, and hopes to have a single on iTunes in the near future.

A self-billed "urban folk and jazz artist," KJ Denhert offers a wonderful mix of acoustic guitars, soulful rhythms and honest vocals.  Her voice is powerful, her lyrics full of intelligent insight, and her musicianship is impeccable. KJ's  been  playing  in  and  around  New  York  for  years and her eclectic performances have earned her a solid reputation as a artist that reaches out to many different types of audiences without compromising her music and beliefs.  Among KJ Denhert's many accomplishments, in addition to running her own band and label, are three highly successful appearances at Umbria Jazz, an ongoing residency The 55 Bar in NYC since 1999, winning many songwriting contests, and successful appearances at other festivals and clubs around the world. Her previous recording, "Another Year Gone By, Live," won the 2006 Independent Music Award for Best Live Performance.

[ See DIFFERENT DRUMMER series for description. ]