Augustana

Dan Layus, the creative force behind Augustana, is a Platinum-selling American pop-rock artist celebrated for chart-topping hits like "Boston,”"Sweet and Low,” “Fire,”and “Steal Your Heart.”As a seasoned touring musician, Layus has shared the stage with iconic acts such as One Republic, Maroon 5, Owl City, and Counting Crows, among many others. In addition to his pop-rock success, Layus recently collaborated with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, composing original classical pieces and arranging Augustana'ssongs for a string quartet. For his highly anticipated 2025 Midwest summer tour, Layus has assembled his world-class band again to perform a host of Augustana classics.

Will Dailey’s seventh album, BOYS TALKING, is his most personal—and paradoxically, the one he’s “not releasing.” Eschewing digital streaming, the album is only available via vinyl, CD, or direct download. This deliberate move is meant to restore joy and intimacy to music sharing. “Music is supposed to be a joyful expression of self that connects us to other people,” Dailey says. By bypassing the flood of streaming releases, he aims to create a more meaningful exchange between artist and listener.

Dailey has long followed his own path in the music world. Over the past 15 years, he’s crafted a unique brand of Americana psychedelia and indie songwriter that refuses to conform to genre expectations or marketing formulas. Instead of molding his sound for mass appeal, he lets the songs shape themselves. This freeform ethos has earned him the respect of artists like Eddie Vedder and Peter Buck, and led to opening slots for The Wallflowers and a 2024 tribute to Richie Havens. BOYS TALKING is a culmination of this journey—an album that showcases his strengths as a visionary writer, performer, and independent spirit.

Central to the album’s creation was Dailey’s insistence on recording live with a stellar cast of musicians, including Juliana Hatfield, Alisa Amador, and Dave Brophy. Across ten days, they gathered in the studio to build the record together—capturing the energy of real-time collaboration. This camaraderie lies at the heart of the album’s concept, as BOYS TALKING explores how men communicate, or fail to, with vulnerability, humor, and depth. Despite the title, the inclusion of women’s voices is essential to the music’s emotional landscape.

Ultimately, the album embodies Dailey’s continued push to redefine how we engage with music. From a $10 unreleased track fans could hear only once to empowering listeners to choose singles from the physical album, his approach prioritizes connection over consumption. On BOYS TALKING, Dailey reflects not only on what it means to be a musician in 2024, but on the enduring power of dialogue itself—keeping the conversation alive, one song at a time.