Rebecca Porter, originally from Guam and now based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, brings raw authenticity to her music, defined by her honey-smooth voice and sharp, irreverent songwriting. Her lyrics courageously explore personal themes such as trauma, discrimination as a Pacific Islander woman in rural Virginia, and the complex challenges of motherhood.

Her musical journey began over a decade ago as a member of local cover bands, where she honed her skills and gained local acclaim. However, it was during the pandemic that Porter redirected her creative energy, eventually releasing two EPs: “Prime Rainbow Conditions” and “Queen of the Local.” The latter marked a pivotal move towards independence, propelling Porter to national and international recognition through her grassroots efforts.

Recently, Porter joined Rissi Palmer’s esteemed Color Me Country Class of 2024 and made her debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage. Her music also captured the interest of Ed Helms, editor of Good Country, who selected her for his curated playlist, ‘Ed’s Pick’. These achievements underscore Porter’s artistic evolution and the broad appeal of her music, touching listeners well beyond her local beginnings. In essence, Porter’s musical journey epitomizes unwavering determination, creativity, and the transformative power of storytelling through music.

Whether pondering the emotions of a radish or pleading with an unresponsive God, Dirty Dan & the Basketball Boys finds its comfort zone in the turbulent — often inconclusive — internal monologues we find ourselves in when we combine a quiet moment with just the right amount to drink.

Multi-instrumentalist band members meld DIY punk sensibilities (and merchandising) with more soulful, funk-filled musical strands. They’ve even been known to play the occasional proto-punk SpongeBob cover when the stars are right.

Based in Denton, TX (40 miles northwest of Dallas), the band consists of siblings Zach (Dirty Dan, himself), Jessa (Lady Wail), and Patrick Lussier (Chicken Patty), as well as found-family members Isaac Palermo (Little Italy), Rae Callies (The Bebop Botanist), and Dave Weaver (The Brass Lung).

Since forming in 2019, the band has played dozens of professional live shows across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as well as a gig in Austin during SXSW.