L to R: Derek (vocals, guitar), Tim (vocals, drums), Wil (keyboards), Mike (vocals, guitar), Fiona (bass) Settler is a five-piece band from Dublin (although Fiona's Australian and Mike's from the west of Ireland). Formed in February 2001, the band has developed a small, devoted following, and has just released its debut EP on Dublin label Mango Music. The guys practice a couple of times a week in Wil's house, because it has a conservatory out the back. They like to tell people that they play music in a conservatory. They have played a number of gigs in 2001, all in Dublin, but plan to capitalise on the momentum created by the EP by playing some dates in other parts of Ireland as well as the United States.

www.settlersite.com

Hungarian-born Catherine Smitko has been an actor for 35 years and a singer in jazz combos and rock bands for 26 years. These days she’d rather gypsy around with other bands than form her own. (“I liken being in a band to being married to five people…and I am opposed to polygamy.”) She does sing regularly at Gentry on Halsted in her Torch Show, which has been described as, “Judy Garland Meets Pearl Jam”, and is, as we speak, diving back into theatre. Some Likes: churchyards, cherries, the unseen danger of the night, and watching Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. Some Dislikes: doing time, the dangerously insecure, collective thinking, and menthol cigarettes. When not performing, Smitko tends to wounded creatures and drinks too much to ease the pain. Oh, and she is a priest.

www.bluesparkles.com

Victoria Storm goes to the store, goes to work, sings tunes in her head, and sometimes allows them to pop out when others are around. She's been happy to share in the Hoots with her sometimes serious, sometimes silly tunes, always glad to have an opportunity to undo a better songwriter's work. Dig it.