It's kind of amazing that Melody didn't meet Tyler Forsberg sooner.

The 27-year-olds both grew up in the small town of Logan, graduated from high school the same year, and played out regularly at local music venues. They had mutual friends, and she even enjoyed listening to a song by one of his bands, but they didn't meet until two years ago.

Forsberg, who had been the drummer for the aggressive rock Blind Iris until they broke up in 2006, was hanging out at the Eagles Lodge when a friend introduced him to Melody Pulsipher (who prefers to go by only her very appropriate first name, thank you).

"You should give me your number; we should jam sometime," he said.

"Yeah, like I haven't heard that pickup line before," thought the attractive blond singer-songwriter, whose voice is a bit reminiscent of Jewel.

But she did let him bring his guitar over, cringing in anticipation as he began to play, and then slowly realizing that he has a great voice, in the Ben Harper style.

The pair started dating, and she encouraged him to play out acoustically as well. After six months, Forsberg got a job offer for a flooring company in Salt Lake, and Melody went with him.

A persistent show booker, she was soon getting them gigs all over Salt Lake. They'd take turns opening for one another, and eventually began playing and singing backup for one another on stage.

Forsberg says he currently prefers being an acoustic artist. For one thing, tear down is a snap.

"Acoustic is naturally more intimate," he says. "You can't hide behind anything." He says he enjoys the way the audience focuses on his music rather than being distracted by all the movement of a full band.

"We're starting to see a lot more acoustic musicians playing in bigger spots and on TV shows," he says. "It just seems like acoustic solo musicians are starting to build, almost to the level playing field of bands."

Melody adds, "Whether it's a political song or a love song or a break up song or whatever it is, I think we as people need those, not only to connect with someone we may have never met before, but to kind of really release whatever emotion that we're feeling with it."

Their idea to create a festival came while they were at a bar, watching an under-attended acoustic show on a Wednesday night. That's when Melody realized that there wasn't a real showcase for acoustic music; it "kind of gets lots in the mix."

They booked the first Acoustic All-Stars festival over a Saturday and Sunday in late August 2008 at The Star Bar in Park City. "Acoustic music seems to blossom a little more in Park City," Forsberg comments. "Salt Lake is more band-driven."

They ended up with a pretty healthy crowd on Saturday and a slightly sparser one on Sunday.

This year, the festival is taking place during the Park City Arts Festival. Forsberg also says that he and Melody handled all the promotion themselves last year, but this year, they're leaning on the musicians themselves to help a little more.

Those musicians, by the way, aren't all folky types; they represent genres that include alternative, blues and country.

And while some promoters make bands pay to play by selling tickets and then turning in the money, Melody and Forsberg give them tickets which they can either sell to make money or give away to bring more people in, as they choose.

Melody says she sees it as a chance to correct things she's experienced at other shows that "aren't in the spirit of just being a musician." Even though Melody and Forsberg are doing the bulk of the legwork to make the event happen, they plan to split any proceeds between themselves and the other bands equally.

"It truly is about the festival. It's not about us. We're no bigger than the festival," Forsberg says.

"Honestly," he continues, "it's the love of the music. That's what both of us have in common. That's what we try to fill our lives with. I just look forward to the day that it's the 10th Annual Acoustic All-Stars."



SAT., AUG. 1



TIMMY PEARCE (8 - 8:30 p.m.)

Hails from: Logan

The sound: "Soulful, feelgood, honest and raw."

Why acoustic? Pearce says, "I love playing acoustic guitar because it is very personal, I can play it anywhere, and it's like a big hollow drum, great for rhythm!"

Story behind a song: His favorite things to sing about are "making the best of what's around, fighting through the trials and hard times life can throw at you, and being there for your friends and loved ones!"

You should know: He's self-taught. "I can't read music, but I can sure feel it," he says.

Info: www.myspace.com/timmypearce



JABLUE (8:45 - 9:15 p.m.)

Hails from: Provo

The sound: Jam Band / Folk Rock

You should know: Jablue's influences include Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Bob Dylan, 311, Sublime, John Mayer, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Three Dog Night, "or anything that you would wanna play while chill'n on a beach somewhere."

Info: www.myspace.com/jabluemusic



MUHAW (9:30 - 10 p.m.)

Hails from: Park City

The sound: A mix of early '80s alternative and blues.

Why acoustic? "It's a stripped-down idea with clarity."

You should know: Most of MUHAW's lyrics are about struggle and a higher power. He's currently a solo acoustic act but is seeking a bass player and a drummer.

Info: myspace.com/muhawrocks



GREG DOWNS (10:15 - 10:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Salt Lake City

The sound: "Part Alexi Murdoch, part Postal Service, with a dash of Alice In Chains."

Why acoustic? "Something so stripped down and so personal, often has more power to touch people's souls than anything else. Not having much to take to a gig helps too!"

Story behind a song: The song "Sleep" is about a single dad struggling to make ends meet, who sings his son to sleep every night with a lullaby. "The lullaby changes its impact on his son from night to night as the son sees the struggles his father endures to keep their family together," Downs explains.

You should know: Downs is also a record producer looking for fresh projects.

Info: myspace.com/gregdowns



MELODY W/ TYLER FORSBERG (11 - 11:30 p.m.)

Hails from: Salt Lake City by way of Logan

The sound: Jewel, Sarah McLachlan

You should know: Melody and Tyler are an acoustic-music-loving couple who organized the Acoustic All-Stars festival, now in its second year.

Info: myspace.com/melodyvocals



STEVEN SWIFT (11:45 p.m. - 12:15 a.m.)

Hails from: Cedar City

The sound: Jam Band/Blues. Influences include Wilco, Ben Harper, Phish and Leo Kottke.

You should know: The Cedar City resident gets around, with frequent shows in Salt Lake, Park City, and even Idaho.

Info: www.myspace.com/stevenswiftmusician



CAMBRIAH & KINFOLK (12:30 - 1 a.m.)

Hails from: Salt Lake City

The sound: "We have dubbed our sound Wasatch Folk Grass because we are a folky arrangement of various instrumental talent that has a blue grassy influence yet continues to evolve eclectically by many styles of music," says Cambriah.

Why acoustic? "Acoustic music is down home really. You can play anywhere you are."

Story behind a song: The song "Fortune Cookie" was inspired by a dim sum meal that ended with the fortune, "You have the ability to overcome obstacles on your way to success." The fortune has now been modge podged into a magnet on Cambriah's fridge.

You should know: Cambriah's philosophy is, "I am here for a reason, to spread love like wildfire and I just happen to be lucky enough in this life on earth to be able to do that with some genius musical madmen and women. I have miles to go; yep, still on this journey."

Info: www.myspace.com/polishingpoppies



SUN., AUG. 2



JOSH JOHNSON (2 - 2:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Logan

The sound: "Brutal beauty, with a touch of raw honesty."

Why acoustic? "It's very cathartic to me; it's as emotional or as intimate as you want to make it. There's nothing to hide behind," Johnson says.

Story behind a song: On a four-hour flight to Boston, Johnson was seated next to an elderly woman who told him her life story. Her husband had been shot to death by her sister, and she herself had been badly injured by a shotgun blast. While recovering in the hospital, her physical wounds healed, but the doctor wouldn't allow her to leave. She kept insisting she was fine, but the doctor noticed that she had never cried, not once, but instead had relied on her humor to influence her doctor to release her. One day, she finally broke down over -- literally -- spilt milk. The doctor let her go home. Her only son then died of cancer and she was left to raise her three grandchildren. The song Josh wrote about that is called "Let It Heal."

You should know: Johnson is also in Resistor Radio, who are opening for Rancid at In the Venue on Sept. 24.

Info: www.myspace.com/guitarjango



ZAYN JONES (3 - 3:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Brigham City

The sound: Jones calls it "irreverent country music." He says, "It's rooted in country, but I don't think Nashville will find a lot of it to be appropriate. It's more of the Texas-country vibe."

Why acoustic? He enjoys the "purity" of it. "I love the fact that there is very little to hide behind," Jones says.

Story behind a song: He wrote a song called "I'll Be Home Soon" while he was in Iraq. "It's my favorite because it meant a lot to the guys I deployed with and it got us through some difficult moments," he says.

Info: www.myspace.com/zaynjones



BRETT TURNER (4 - 4:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Ogden

The sound: "Throwback acoustic blues, reminiscent of the 1950s West Coast folk scene."

Why acoustic? "I've always been drawn to the raw nature of acoustic music," Turner says. "A six-string and a good story can go a long way. There is just something about it then when the right chords are played with the right words; it can move you into a whole new realm."

Story behind a song: "All Across America" was inspired by people he met who had bought Greyhound bus tickets and traveled the U.S. "It's a story about getting on a bus and traveling all over the country and all the unique characters you'd meet along the way, such as a farmer from Nebraska, a girl named Carolina as well as the unique characteristics of different places you go to, such as a church on every corner down south, or Times Square in New York City," he says. "So it's this big exciting trip across the U.S. and then you get to the end of the song and you realize it was all a dream, but such a good one that you want to pack your things and go do it for real."

You should know: Brett performs every Wednesday night at Poplar Street Pub. His album, "All Across America," is coming out later this year.

Info: www.myspace.com/brettturnermusic



NICOLE "KOLE" (5 - 5:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Midvale

The sound: Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Amy Lee of Evanescence

Why acoustic? She thinks it brings back the emotion and keeps it genuine. She grew up listening to musicians like Gordon Lightfoot and loved the fact that she could "see the story."

Story behind a song: "Someone Save Me" was originally written while she was abusing drugs, shortly before she overdosed and went into a coma. It was about how she wanted help, but didn't know how to ask. She's now reworked it and dedicated it to animals without a voice who need help.

Trivia: After coming out of a coma, she went on to become Miss Utah Teen 2001

Info: www.myspace.com/kolekloseup



DUSTIN BANGERTER (6 - 6:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Salt Lake City

The sound: Indie/Americana. "I think my sound is deep and passionate, subtle and quiet building to a peak. I would compare it to Glen Hansard of The Frames," Bangerter says.

Story behind a song: He wrote the song "April" for his wife (whose name is actually Sarah). "I sing about fear and desperation about losing something you already have," he explains, "and that fear can complicate and potentially destroy what is already obtained. I apologize for my inabilities and failures, and ask for hope."

You should know: Dustin is the lead singer of The Wayne Hoskins Band, who have a Web site at www.thewayne.com.

Info: www. myspace.com/dustinbangerter



JEREMIAH MAXEY (7 - 7:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Park City

The sound: Blues/Folk

You should know: Jeremiah Maxey is a one-armed guitarist who can probably outplay most anyone you've ever met. He performs regularly at Poplar Street Pub and a Gepetto's in Holladay, sometimes with his backup band, The Bad Habits.

Info: www.myspace.com/jeremiahmaxey



MCCALL ERICKSON (8 - 8:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Ogden

The sound: McCall's influences include Emmylou Harris, Eva Cassidy, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Erica Wheeler, James Taylor, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash and Jolie Holland.

You should know: She released her debut album, "Beautiful Place" on June 14. Also, her muses include "love, spirituality, creativity, art, people's idiosyncrasies, birds, busses, the moon, lakes, dragonflies, lizards, fairies, colors, grief, loss, peace, dark chocolate and grandfather clocks."

Info: www. myspace.com/mccallerickson



SILVER GLEN (9 - 9:45 p.m.)

Hails from: Salt Lake City

The sound: "Mellow acoustic finger picking with vocal and guitar harmonies."

Why acoustic? Chad Biddle started playing acoustic music because he lived in small apartments and rented rooms, so he had to learn to play quietly. Later he found it easier to just pick up an acoustic and start strumming instead straining his voice and going through all the work it takes to plug in cables and flick the switches on amps.

Story behind a song: One of his favorites is about his dog. "I rob a bank and on the way home, in the car, she looks at me and her eyes makes me feel guilty," Biddle says. "I try to ignore her but it gets to me. Dogs always know when you're trying to rationalize a bad move. "

You should know: Biddle also makes instrumental music that can be heard at www.myspace.com/musicofsilverglen.

Info: www.myspace.com/silverglenmusic