Patty Griffin

What does a budding singer/songwriter do growing up the youngest of seven kids — all born within seven years? Patty Griffin, for one, would close herself in her closet and sing to the clothes. These days, she has a half-dozen albums and a couple of Grammy nominations to her credit. Her songs (and sometimes Patty herself) appear on TV shows and movie soundtracks, including Elizabethtown, and they've been performed by Martina McBride, Bette Midler, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Reba McEntire, Maura O'Connell, and many others. Her sixth CD, Children Running Through (ATO), came out earlier this year.

Jearlyn Steele first sang with her siblings (as The Steele Children) in churches, concert halls and on radio and TV. After she left Indiana and moved to Minnesota, one by one the rest of the Steele kids followed. They started singing together again as The Steeles. Now music is the family business. Jearlyn is the entertainment reporter for Twin Cities Public Television's public-affairs program, Almanac, and she hosts Steele Talkin', a Sunday-night radio show that originates on WCCO in Minneapolis and is heard in some 30 states nationwide. Steele Praising Hymn is her most recent CD.

Becky Schlegel

When a college friend gave Becky Schlegel a couple of Reno and Smiley albums, the die was cast: She got hooked on bluegrass. She left her South Dakota home, moved to Minnesota, and became a big favorite in the Upper Midwest music scene. Since then, she has released four albums — the most recent, For All the World to See (Lilly Ray Records), came out just this summer — and she was awarded Bluegrass/Old-Time Artist of the Year at the Minnesota Music Awards four years running. At home, Becky and her husband, banjo player Heath Loy, try to keep up with their two preschool sons. Becky's accompanist is Brian Fesler.

Since 1979, The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers have been wowing audiences with their captivating footwork. While clogging has its roots in the Appalachian South, "The Geese" have danced their way through Minnesota and into Canada, France, Belgium, Sweden and beyond. Accompanied by The Yard Buzzard String Band, they make it their mission to introduce their brand of this dance style to people of all ages — school kids to seniors. The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers: Jim Brooks, Ann Carter, Meghan Dudle, Thea Evans, Craig Johnson, Andy Lambert, Jim Parker, Cedar Roller-Olsen, Rina Rossi, Autumn Ruse. The Yard Buzzard String Band: Shawn Glidden (fiddle), Rob Daves (banjo), Myron Price (harmonica), Eric Lind (guitar), Karl Burke (bass).