Jim Bryson - guitar, organ, piano, vibraphone   Jim was a founding member of the power-pop band Punchbuggy, which was formed in 1994. They released the two albums All Night Christian Rollerskate (1994) and Grand Opening...Going Out of Business Sale (1996). He left the band in 1997 to pursue his solo career, and went through a furious songwriting phase. But it wasn't until 1999 that he started recording. Jim released the album The Occasionals in 2000, which was the name of his band. The album went on to became very popular among the critics, and in 2003 his Orange Record Label debut The North Side Benches was released. The North Side Benches appeared on many year-end "Best of" lists, including Billboard, Americana UK, No Depression and NOW Toronto. His songs have been described as "folk songs played with rock instruments" and "rock songs played with folk instruments", while in truth they almost consistently lilt and sway between the two. Some of Jim's favorite artists include Wilco, The Giant Sand, Nick Drake and Paul Westerberg. In addition to his own releases, his guitar playing and singing can be heard on numerous recordings, most recently with Kathleen, Sarah Harmer and Howe Gelb. As well, Kathleen has covered Jim's song Somewhere Else, from The North Side Benches, and the track appeared on Back to Me. Jim's songs have also appeared on numerous compilations, both in North America and the UK. Jim has a folksy yet just-this-side-of-bizarre stage banter that's fast becoming a trademark and he's got himself a full-on live spectacle. "I've realized very recently that I get nervous on stage, so talking has become a coping mechanism, I think. It doesn't always work to my advantage. My manager says that when he watches me play he wants to tear his hair out sometimes. He's just concerned about how bad my banter is. I didn't think it was so bad". [canoe.ca] jimbryson.org Sources: jimbryson.org, umbrellamusic.com, darwilliams.net				The Band Joel Anderson Jim Bryson Colin Cripps Kevin McCarragher