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Favorite "off-the-beaten-path" singer-songwriters

When it comes to lists of favorite singer-songwriters, it's easy to fill the list with Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, etc. But how about your favorite singer-songwriter that doesn't fill arenas or amphitheaters? Give us your favorite 3-5 singer-songwriters that you can still see in intimate clubs. Mine are:

Cory Branan

Micah Schnabel and Shane Sweeney (Two Cow Garage)

Brent Best (Slobberbone, The Drams)

Tags: 5, favorite, indie, music, singer-songwriter

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Permalink Reply by T Hanssen on July 19, 2012 at 11:54pm

[top of head]

Jim O'Rourke

Paul Kelly

Eric Bachmann

Tommy Keene

Bob Mould

[wish I could still see] Vic Chesnutt

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Permalink Reply by steviedal on July 20, 2012 at 6:47am

I'll start with one of my all time favourites , Mark Eitzel. He's written some tremendous songs over the years but remains pretty much unknown. I can see him in venues that hold 300 or less. I seen his band American Music Club in one that size just a few years ago and it wasn't even full, a disgrace.

Also :

Robert Ellis

Lee Bains III

Otis Gibb

Ryan Bingham

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Permalink Reply by Gary Schwind on July 24, 2012 at 5:38am

Otis Gibbs is a good one.

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Permalink Reply by Brendan Cooke on July 20, 2012 at 7:17am

Not all are what you might call" Off the beaten track" but I have seen them all in small venues...

Dave Alvin

Guy Clark

Tom Russell

Alejandro Escovedo

Chuck Prophet

Anais Mitchell

Eilen Jewell

Elizabeth Cook

Tift Merritt

Gretchen Peters

seen all of these great songwriters in intimate settings in the past few years!

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Permalink Reply by Gary Schwind on July 24, 2012 at 5:39am

Some good ones here. I like guy Clark, Alejandro Escovedo, Dave Alvin, and Elizabeth Cook.

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Permalink Reply by Derek on July 20, 2012 at 7:42am

Griffin House

Darrel Scott

Ryan Bingham

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Permalink Reply by Peter Harris on July 20, 2012 at 12:00pm

Todd Snider

( I guess he's getting close to the beaten path, but under the mainstream radar). Brilliant, moving and hilarious.

Joe Rut .

Way under the radar! Just saw him at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Best show I've seen all year. Similar to Todd Snider in some ways, but weirder (in a good way). Plays a great guitar too. Played some amazing b-bender and slide stuff.

Moore Brothers

These 2 brothers sing amazing harmonies and you can't even SEE a cliche from where these song are standing. Poppier than most of the stuff I listen to, but very unique.

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Permalink Reply by L A Johnson on July 20, 2012 at 2:51pm

Steve Forbert

David Mead

Peter Case

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Permalink Reply by Ray Massucco on July 24, 2012 at 4:06am

As a small concert promoter and festival producer, I have the luxury of booking dozens of new artists every year. Recent ones who have played for me and caught some attention [from me and others] include Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers [Seattle], Eilen Jewel [not "new", but still relatively below the radar] [Idaho], Chris O'Brien [Boston], Dan Weber [Portland OR] and Gordie Tentree [Yukon]. I could easily list so many more artists who should be on the national/international "watch list," but who for one reason or another don't get the attention they deserve.