Michael Pitre is the author of Five and Twenty-Fives (Bloomsbury), his debut novel that follows a Marine platoon as they clear and fill potholes — 157 out of 157 of them containing some form of explosive device — day after day, week after week on the highways of Anbar Province in western Iraq. (The title refers to the distance the soldiers scan (five meters) before leaving their trucks and the distance (25 meters) they scan once cleared to move forward). Pitre joined the Marines in 2002. He deployed twice to Iraq and attained the rank of Captain before leaving the service in 2010. He lives in New Orleans.

Garry Burnside is the son of the late R.L. Burnside and continues the family tradition of performing Mississippi hill country blues while also incorporating rock and more contemporary styles into his sound. Garry is a multi-instrumentalist who played bass on Junior Kimbrough’s Fat Possum releases and has recorded with the North Miss. Allstars among others. He currently fronts his own band and tours extensively.

The Holy Ghost Electric Show hails from Corinth but credits Oxford with helping to hone their sound. Brothers Cody (songwriter, lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Jake Rogers (guitar and banjo), are joined by Will Shirley (guitar), Connor Wroten (bass), Austin Wheeler (drums) and Jesse James (trombone and keys). Their music is described as “country and folk-y rhythms amplified with elements of punk and rock and roll.” Their debut CD, released last month, is The Great American.