When four singer-songwriters put their heads together and hit the studio, expectations were high. In 2022, they came out with a fantastic debut album called, with a wink, The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat, more than living up to expectations. Behind the pouty heads of this supergroup are four big names in roots and Americana: Anthony D’Amato (Coldsnap), Mike Montali (Hollis Brown), Brian Dunne, launched by our own Danny Vera, and Don Dilego. All men who over the years have gathered a cartload of experience and rave reviews. In March 2023 and at that year’s TakeRoot festival, they had already played at De Oosterpoort; this year they are coming back!

Individually, each member has their own impressive resume and a wealth of rave reviews. The Guardian described Don Dilego as “one to watch.” NPR wrote that Anthony D’Amato “sings and writes in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen or Josh Ritter.” Rolling Stone called Brian Dunne’s latest single “a stunner” and said of Mike Montali’s band Hollis Brown that it is “the soundtrack for a late-night drive through the American heartland.” But collectively, these artists transcend their pasts and arrive at an instrument-swapping, tear-jerking and biting rock-and-roll whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts.