Ross James wrote “Pigeons of Marrakech” in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco a week after proposing to his wife. In this naturally elated state, he took in the beauty of all of his surroundings and was particularly drawn to the birds in Marrakech. James enlisted Mark Levy (Circles Around the Sun) and Todd Smallie (JJ Grey & Mofro) to round out the ensemble in the J.J Cale, Lou Reed-inspired rock song. James has spent the last decade on the bandstand at Terrapin Crossroads and traveling the world with Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. Along the way he's shared the stage with John Scofield, Warren Haynes, Bob Weir, Cass McCombs, Jim James, John Mayer and many more. “Pigeons of Marrakech” marks his first release on the GO MAPS MUSIC, the record label arm of the Vail, Colorado-based non-profit organization MAPS (Mr. Anonymous Philanthropic Society) that supports artists who create and bring healing music to the world.

If You Got The Blues is the debut full length record from Denver psych-blues and soul band Dragondeer. The record mixes a swampy Muscle Shoals sound with a dose of Topanga Canyon cosmic psych. The record was in fact recorded in the storied Topanga Canyon with producer Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tom Waits) in a single wood floored room in a small house perched in the dusty hills. The band lived in that house together for two weeks, refined and crafted the songs you hear on “If You Got The Blues” and there is an immediacy and energy to the recordings that comes from the often one-take captures of the songs on the record”