* New Compilation CD*

Big Sky, Emma Gibbs Band and Jupiter Coyote were selected to perform as part of the ASCAP Presents… Heineken Ampt Music Series. The showcase took place at The Lincoln Theatre on November 21, 2002. The Heineken Ampt/ASCAP Recognition Award was presented to Andy Martin from Deep South Entertainment for his contribution to the local music scene.

A five Piece band out of Gainesville, Florida, Big Sky is guided by a passion for spreading their dynamic brand of Guitar driven pop rock with emotionally charged lyrics. Their fourth studio album By Design has already garnered them national radio airplay with the title track, as well as strategic song placement on MTV's The Real World, Road Rules, and ABC's Making the Band. Underscored by the same collective energy and creative chemistry they bring to their studio work, Big Sky explodes on stage, able to bring an entire audience into a state of unbridled enthusiasm. Their sound has been compared to the Foo Fighters and Jimmy Eat World-an obviously dynamic combination of music. Big Sky has created a truly original and powerful sound which, fused with their unequivocal talent, has confirmed that the sky is the limit for their success.

The Emma Gibbs Band, a five-piece out of Winston-Salem NC, have been playing together since 1998, developing a fresh take on bluegrass and country music. EGB combines a revved-up approach with the traditional instrumentation of mandolin, lap steel, harmonica, stand-up bass and guitars to create a wholly original sound. In 1999 the Emma Gibbs Band released SevenEven, produced by John Keane (Robert Earl Keen, Cowboy Junkies, REM), which was greeted with both critical and popular success. National publications such as No Depression and Relix magazine featured the band and EGB’s energetic live shows created a loyal following up and down the east coast. Returning to John Keane’s studio in Athens GA, the band followed up SevenEven with Out To the Country, released in September 2001. During the past year, EGB has played numerous shows and festivals including showcase performances at the 2002 South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin, TX and the 2002 Americana Music Conference in Nashville, TN.

Over their twelve-year history, Jupiter Coyote has played thousands of shows, sold well over 150,000 CDs independently and shows no signs of vanishing from the ever changing and unpredictable music-scene horizon. JC was conceived in Brevard, North Carolina, when Matthew Mayes (guitar, Guijo, vocals) and childhood friend John Felty (vocals, guitars) decided to pursue music as a career and headed down to Athens, Georgia to join forces with Sanders Brightwell (bass). Steve Trismen (vocals, fiddle) and Noel Felty (drums) joined the band in the last few years. JC offers a new twist in southern rock delivered with a relaxed, worldly view - a style that has been referred to as “mountain rock”, with touches of bluegrass and funk. Still on the road nearly 200 days a year, they have managed to survive in the tough environment of the “underground” club and theatre circuit. JC has shared the stage with The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, The Radiators, and Kansas to name a few, and they have played large festivals across the country, including the High Sierra Music Festival, Atlanta’s Mid-Town Music Festival, Birmingham’s City Stages, Asheville’s Bele Chere Festival, and Magnolia Festival in Live Oak, FL.

ASCAP's Courtney Hard; Ampt Recipient Andy Martin from Deep South Entertainment, and Heineken USA's Chad Kumper.

The story begins with a driven high school kid, who gets backstage to interview the likes of Lars from Metallica. Andy Martin knew as a young adult that he would be working in the music business. Since that very day Martin has followed his dream of working in many aspects of the industry from being a College Retail Rep for a major record label, Promotions Director at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, Field Marketing Director for a major record distributor, to starting up a Record Label, which matriculated into Artist Management. Co-founder of Deep South Records/Entertainment, Martin has had his fair share of successes in the industry. In 1996, Deep South Records was started by releasing the Deep 1 Compilation of Unsigned Artists that Martin felt would impact the music industry. The Deep Compilations have included Marcy Playground, Sister Hazel, Five For Fighting, and SR-71 just to name a few of the more than 20 artist to participate in the compilation that have gone onto major label record deals. The last compilation was released in 1999 and Deep South is now hard at work on the Deep 4 compilation to be released in early 2003. Today Deep South Entertainment has a large roster of both signed and unsigned artists including Bruce Hornsby (RCA), Little Feat, Stretch Princess (Wind-Up), and Darden Smith (Dualtone). Still young and passionate, Martin has built a company from the ground up and is constantly challenging himself and those around him.

Photography: Chris Harris

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