Music was always an essential part of my life, declares Pieta Brown. "It was my church. I feel like I've always been singing and writing songs." Not surprisingly, the eldest daughter of singer-songwriter legend Greg Brown felt the call of folk, country, and blues music from early on; Pieta has answered that call with a refreshing brand of rootsy country-folk music that is all her own. In person and on albums like her recent In the Cool (Trailer Records), her voice is languid and knowing, full of an unhurried grace and the relaxed feel of a Southern summer afternoon.

On stage, as on the album, Pieta is joined by Midwest guitar ace Bo Ramsey. Born and raised in the Mississippi River town of Burlington, Iowa, Bo helped shape Iowa's distinctive blues-rock hybrid and is well known for his work with Greg Brown and Lucinda Williams.