artist bios

Hill Country Honeys  

The Hill Country Honeys are a Wimberley-based trio with an honorary Honey-Bear bonus member! They play feisty originals, fun covers, and perform gorgeous 3-part harmonies. The music style is Americana / Classic Country.

  • Rose Gabriel on vocals, percussion, guitar & mandolin
  • Mindy Curnutt on vocals, percussion, guitar & flute
  • Janice Ryals-Rogers on vocals & bass
  • Elliott Rogers (Honey Bear) on Guitar & vocals

 

Rosie Flores

It’s telling that Rosie Flores’ e-mail handle begins “chickwpick…” In a long and eclectic career of singing, songwriting and performing, no phrase has ever described the San Antonio native better or more concisely. 

But now, with the release of her latest album, Flores takes square aim at a genre she has only sampled heretofore. Simple Case of the Blues showcases Flores in a new light, as a seasoned performer steeped in life’s uncompromising lessons. At once torchy, soulful, heartfelt and yearning, the songs on Simple Case of the Blues are not for the emotionally naïve—it’s the music you make when you’ve come through joy and heartbreak and back again. 

Utilizing songs by Roy Brown, Wilson Pickett, Heath Wilson, and Flores herself, Simple Case of the Blues was produced by songwriter/guitarist Charlie Sexton  (Bob Dylan, The Arc Angels). With an assist by guitarist Kenny Vaughan (Marty Stuart, Lucinda Williams), Simple Case of the Blues was, to hear Flores tell it, a long time coming. 

“I got infatuated with the blues in high school,” said Flores, who played in a band called Penelope’s Children during those years. “It was the first music I ever played. A high school friend taught me some chords and mentored me. He introduced me to the blues. He went on to play in the King Biscuit Blues Band, so I felt like I got a great early education. 

“I always loved Buddy Guy—his real lyrical playing. It’s like his guitar is having its own conversation. It’s an ongoing process; I’ve mastered the life of a musician, but I’ll be working on the guitar for the rest of my life.” 

In a career that spans more than four decades, Flores has proven to be a musical chameleon. She’s jumped feet first into punk rock (with her ’70-era band, the Screaming Sirens), country of both the Bakersfield and Nashville varieties, the Texas singer/songwriter scene, alt-country, straight-up rock and rockabilly. So much so the latter that her onstage moniker for years was “The Rockabilly Filly.” But always and throughout, she has been the Chick with the Pick. 

Over the years, Flores has been profiled in Guitar World, Premiere Guitar and Guitar Player magazines. Venuszine cited Flores   as one of the “Top 75 Greatest Female Guitarists of All Time” by Venuszine magazine. She performed at a tribute to Chuck Berry at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. She has worked with, and helped propel back in to the spotlight, pioneer female rockabilly artists Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin. In 2007, she won a Peabody Award for her narration of the rockabilly documentary, Whole Lotta Shakin’. She worked with Martin in producing the latter’s 2012 album, The Blanco Sessions, which would prove to be Martin’s last recording. 

Throughout, she released her own work. To name but a few, they include her solo debut, 1987’s Rosie Flores, 1995’s Rockabilly Filly, 1999’s Dance Hall Dreams, the acoustic live set Single Rose in 2004, 2009’s Girl of the Century and, in 2012, the aptly-named, self-produced Working Girl’s Guitar. Since then, her time has been spent on her labor of love—Simple Case of the Blues. 

Though she has toured around the world, Flores always returns to her adopted hometown of Austin, Texas, where she was honored with Rosie Flores day in 2006 (an honor she was accorded once again in 2017). Cover stories in the Austin Chronicle and Austin Woman magazine have codified her status as one of the city’s most celebrated musicians. 

“She’s a hard-working, independently minded artist who’s well-respected for her gritty, energetic vocals and fiery guitar solos,” writes the authoritative website Allmusic.com. “Prolifically creative, Flores deserves to be numbered among the creators of the alternative country movement.” Now, with Simple Case of the Blues, Flores is making a full musical circle, back to her roots—and ours.

Amber Lucille 

Amber Lucille offers a beautiful blend of Americana, Folk Rock and Roots Music with her Original Compositions. Amber has been playing guitar and writing songs since her early teens. Her smoky voice and poignant lyrics create an atmosphere of shared love and longing in audiences, in clubs, at festivals and even inside the "Walls" at Huntsville State Prison. 

She started out in the Houston folk scene performing regularly from her early teens until moving to Austin, TX in the late 90's to play and sing in various music projects while touring extensively though out the US and some Internationally in 2019 and 2022. In addition to guitar, Amber also honed her skills on bass guitar and drums. 

In early 2008, Amber returned to her roots, with her namesake band, Amber Lucille. She wants to spread hope and encouragement with her original music, much of which has been released on her self-titled EP, "Amber Lucille," her two full-length Albums, "All the Beauty and the Love," co-produced by Omar Vallejo and released in Summer 2010 and "Love That Never Ends" that was released in the Spring of 2012 at The Continental Club in Austin, TX. Amber mostly records in her own home studio these days and has released two Singles in 2019 called "About Love" and "I See You"  from and EP called "Endless Highway" where Amber was the sole musician/writer/producer and engineer. Amber also recorded a live album at The Marc in San Marcos, Texas in 2021 and released a three song EP called "Live at the Marc". Amber's most recent release, a 3 song EP called "Vapor of Thought, Part One was released in Spring of 2023 hailing once again from her own home studio. Amber, this time around, enlisted the help of the amazing pianist, Greg Fieler and the incredible singer, Brenda Lucille. Again, Amber performed multiple roles as Producer, Engineer, Songwriter and multi instrumentalist. More albums are in the works while Amber continues to do what she loves spreading her music to the World! 

Amber Lucille's entire catalog is available everywhere that you stream your favorite music World Wide... 

Amber Lucille has opened for, or shared the stage with Kevin Fowler, Bill Carter, Billy Joe Shaver, The Whiskey Sisters, The Mother Truckers, Micky and the Motorcars, James Otto, Vallejo, Guy Forsythe and Rosehill to name a few. Amber has toured throughout the United States and extensively through Central Texas and is a veteran of the Austin Music Scene but it is only just beginning. With a passion for music, a dedication to her craft and love  of life, Amber continues the dream of doing what she loves, playing music full time and hopes to share her music for many years to come. 

Amber Lucille is available for bookings as a Solo Artist, Duo or Trio (Full Band) with a wide variety of Covers to fit in any situation. A list of Covers is available upon request.

Riley Amanda 

 Riley Amanda is an award-winning 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Wimberley, Texas. She began writing her own songs and performing on stage at 11 years old.  At 14 she took 3rd place in the youth talent competition at Old Settler's Music Festival in Austin, TX, and the same year was the 1st place winner of the youth singer-songwriter competition at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, earning a spot on the big stage at the Pastures of Plenty! In 2019 she took 3rd place at the BW Stevenson singer/songwriter competition in Dallas, TX.  Riley has written over 300 songs, performs regularly in and around the Texas Hill Country, and works with small children teaching music lessons (ukulele, guitar, piano & voice). She is currently attending Austin Community College, with a focus on Music Composition.

Amethyst Jonquille 

Amethyst Jonquille was born and raised in Austin, Texas around some of the best singer-songwriters in the country. She's always been musically driven and started singing before she could walk. Her elementary school teachers noticed her vocal gifts early and recommended she take up singing! She has loved every musical moment when she's on and off the stage. It's been said her audiences are always left wanting to hear more. 

Amethyst started writing songs based on her experiences and the emotions she feels, when she was a pre-teen. She writes on, and accompanies herself with ukulele and guitar. Having been educated at a multilingual school from a very young age, she sings in English and French. She recently graduated McCallum High School’s renowned Fine Arts Academy in Austin, Texas where she focused on musical theatre and choir. But, to one of her performance teacher’s annoyance “She sings like a pop-star!” 

She's had the wonderful honor of opening for the amazing Andrea Magee at her Belfast Girl Album debut in 2022. This sold-out show at Austin’s beautiful listening room, the 04 Center was an incredible, almost surreal experience. Since then, Amethyst is recognized around town by music fans who say hello and ask her where she’s playing next! 

Since graduating high school in 2022, she’s started playing gigs in Austin and working with other songwriters to make music. Because of her determination and perseverance she's had the honor of receiving the 2023 Nicole B. Tate - Miriam Makeba Rising Star Award from the Herizon Music Foundation and starting in 2023 will be an Official Ambassador. 

“You’re going to go far..” Said Sara Hickman, singer-songwriter, at a talent contest that she judged when Amethyst sang an original song at her middle school. 

"Annoyingly talented", according to Ben Jones, one-half of the Austin-based duo, Beat Root Revival. 

“Wise beyond her years. You won’t want to miss her!” - Shayna Sands 

“You are inspired. You are inspiring. I’m impressed and moved beyond my ability to articulate. Fucking hell. Brilliant and beautiful.” - Barbara Nesbitt of the Stone Mountain Nesbitts