MIKE CAMPBELL was a member, architect and co-captain of the Heartbreakers, a band he co-founded with Tom Petty, whom he met in a Gainesville, Florida carport in 1972.

The Heartbreakers lead guitarist, Campbell co-wrote many of the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers hits and co-produced many of their albums—in addition to penning songs for Don Henley (“Boys of Summer”), Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks and playing on records by Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash.

In 2018, Campbell joined Fleetwood Mac’s World Tour on lead guitar and in 2020, Campbell released Wreckless Abandon, the first album by The Dirty Knobs, a group that was Campbell’s longtime side project but is now his primary musical focus.

Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs released their second LP, External Combustion, in 2022 and toured the US, including runs opening for both Chris Stapleton and The Who.

photo by Chris Phleps

---

California-born and Nashville-based singer and songwriter EMILY NENNI chronicles her life through delicate songcraft rife with honky-tonk spirit and spiked with just the right amount of soul. In possession of a deep understanding of music stoked by a lifelong passion and sharp chops shaped by endless sets in smoky bars and sizzling doublewides, she asserts herself as the consummate country storyteller on her full-length debut album, On the Ranch.

 

“What I love about country is the songs can be very honest and vulnerable, yet they’re beautiful enough to make you cry,” she notes. “My music is sweet and sad, but I don’t take myself too seriously. It’s old school honky-tonk with a slightly different flavor.”

 

---

WXPN: The Home of Music Discovery.

WXPN is a nationally recognized leader in Triple A programming and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots, and folk. As the non-commercial, member-supported radio service of the University of Pennsylvania offers handcrafted curation of broadcast and digital programming, events, and local music journalism. WXPN’s mission is to connect artists and audiences, and build, serve, and engage community.