It was a voting frenzy that came down to the last few days, but Company Of Theives got the title in the voting for our best Summer Session of 2011. The Chicago, IL band released their sophomore album Running From A Gamble back in May by the good folks at Wind-up Entertainment. They stopped by our studio about a month after it’s release to play 4 songs and chat with us. The top 5 finished off like this: MONA, Deluka, Alberta Cross, and a tie at #5 between Matt Nathanson and AWOLNATION. Thanks to everyone who took the time out to watch and vote. Check out the Company Of Thieves session one more time.The Champs

Now that Summer 2011 has officially ended, it’s only fitting we close out the Last.fm Discover Summer Sessions today. We’ve got MONA in session, a very special acoustic performance by vocalist Nick Brown and guitarist Jordan Young. Bassist Zach Lindsey joined in for the interview while drummer Vince Gard, well, he was swimming back at the hotel. Although they are based in Nashville, TN, I first became aware of the band over a year ago thanks to the press and the airplay they were getting in the U.K.Our MONA Session

Welcome to another new artist in our Summer Sessions series, from right here in Manhattan, Cults. Built around the core duo of vocalist Madeline Follin and guitarist Brian Oblivion, Marc Deriso, Gabe Rodriguez & Nate Aguilar complete the touring band that set up shop in our studio for a three-song performance and interview.Go Inside For Cults

 Alberta Cross are the latest band to come to our NYC studios for a Summer Session, and they did so as we anticipate new music to be released on Sept. 27th. Their five-song Rolling Thunder EP will give us a taste of what to expect on their new album, due in early 2012. Come inside, check out the band doing four songs and a sit down chat with Petter & Terry.Click For More Alberta Cross

AWOLNATION is gearing up to be one of the year’s biggest alternative breakthroughs, set up quite nicely by the Top 5 hit “Sail.” The guy behind the project, Aaron Bruno, while in the midst of being at a real low point in his life, with no money at all, came up with this gem that turned things around. Get the story behind this song and watch the band live from our studio.It’s An AWOLNATION Invasion

Summer Sessions continue with the Chicago, IL band Company Of Thieves. In our studio they played four-songs from their sophomore album Running From A Gamble and chatted with us. Their debut album Ordinary Riches released in February of ’09, was fueled by the  feel-good, four-on-the-floor single “Oscar Wilde.” Click thru to check out their unplugged session.Keeping Good Company

The beginnings of Deluka start at a venue that each member frequently went to in Birmingham, UK. Evenutally, Ellie Innocenti, Kris Kovacs, Stevie Palmer and Robbie G were huddled in Ellie’s bedroom studio putting together the sound of the band. Soon thereafter in 2009, the rock & roll / electronic foursome were discovered and signed to a record deal by their current label here in the states, via MySpace. Next thing they knew, they were in Brooklyn, NY recording music and there was no plans or a reason, to go back home.Deluka Settles In

Good luck pinning down George Lewis, Jr. into any one musical genre. The mastermind behind the sensational band Twin Shadow has a list of musical influences as long as (or longer than) the list of labels that music writers have tried to stick on him.

The band’s 2010 album Forget has quietly built up a dedicated following since its release, gathering adjectives from the press such as “sophisticated,” “new wave-tinged” and “haunting.” Earlier this summer the band visited Last.fm Discover for a killer Summer Sessions performance–click through now to watch them perform the title track from the album (“Forget“) plus “Castles In The Snow” and “Can’t Wait.”Get Your Dance On With Twin Shadow

This week’s Summer Sessions artists hail from the leafy green Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, and have been making waves in the folk and Americana music scenes for the past several years. The Felice Brothers really are a band of brothers, fronted by singer and lyricist Ian Felice and younger brother, accordionist and keys player James Felice. Their latest album is titled Celebration, Florida and is a showcase for the group’s intricate storytelling. During their recent visit to Last.fm Discover they performed four excellent new tunes from the album – click through now to watch the videos and find out more about these talented players.The Felice Brothers Want To Tell You A Story

Last.fm Discover continues it’s praise of up-and-coming and new country acts this week in Summer Sessions with Edens Edge. The trio, Hannah Blaylock, Dean Berner and Cherril Green, all originally from Arkansas, now call Nashville, TN home. Out now is a 5-song self-titled EP which you can grab from iTunes or Amazon. Four of those songs they played live in our studio, so click thru and get the vibe of Edens Edge.

Perfect Harmony

It’s not too often that a band would sever ties with the label that would be releasing their debut album, but that was the case with Whittier, CA based band Funeral Party. Originally signed to Fearless Records, the band would eventually sign with RCA and release the album, around three years from when the band first started to record it.

Let The Party Begin

Matt Nathanson is a perfect example of an artist with patience, dedication and perseverance. Add to the fact that this 38 year-old soulful pop-rocker  is a pure music fanatic, it’s no wonder that he continues to grow after all these years.

Matt Gets Us Higher