EPK
Electronic Press Kit: FAI 2026 Edition
Resources for venues, press and other folks we adore.
BUGGY JIVE is an Official Showcase Artist at the 2026 Folk Alliance International conference taking place Jan. 21-25 in New Orleans.
Buggy is a semi-reclusive soul rock singer-songwriter quietly uploading music from a basement somewhere in Upstate New York. Equal parts Zeppelin and D’Angelo and Prince and Joni in sound and sensibility, his lyrics often mine the literature of the past to make sense of the present – from Ellison to Morrison to Eliot to Didion – delicately balancing the heaviness with humor.
His new album Icarus Ascending offers 13 new acoustic soul rock songs contemplating songwriting and storytelling, love and literature, and the festering fears of a divided nation.
Recent accomplishments include opening slots for Macy Gray and Ben Folds; a feature as a “Top Shelf” entry for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest; and best songwriter, album and music video wins for Upstate New York’s “Eddies” Awards.
CONTACT
GENERAL INQUIRIES: buggyjive@gmail.com
BOOKING: Michael Paz, The Paz Group
michael@thepazgroup.com • 504-382-0343
The Paz Group is based in New Orleans, Lousiana. Paz Group artists include rising powerhouse singer-songwriter Joy Clark and folk-tinged Americana songslinger Gregg Hill.
FAI Tentative Showcase Schedule
WEDNESDAY 11:00-11:30 p.m.
Access Juniper Hill
THURSDAY 11:00-11:15 p.m.
NERFA Room
SATURDAY 8:00-8:25
OFFICIAL SHOWCASE
Rhythms 1 - Level 2 (BAMS Stage).
SATURDAY Midnight
TBA
Check out Buggy’s greatest hits or the complete discography.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Amazon Music
Buggy Trivia for Fellow FAI Nerds
Buggy has Louisiana roots! He was born and raised in Upstate New York, but both of his parents are from Baton Rouge. Most of his relatives – aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews – currently reside in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport.
Buggy’s father went to Grambling University; Buggy’s mother went to Southern University. The union of these opposing forces makes Buggy a BAYOU CLASSIC.
Since the first show launched in 2000, Buggy has performed at several New Orleans “PazFest” events celebrating the music of Joni Mitchell to benefit the Ruth Paz Foundation.
Buggy is shy. Please be gentle.
VIDEO
A Tiny Desk Contest “Top Shelf” entry. 2023.
The scond single from the ICARUS ASCENDING album.
Buggy contemplates the state of music while walking the Brooklyn Bridge.
Buggy joins a Bluebird Cafe-style song circle hosted by powerhouse songstress Erin Harkes.
LATEST PRESS RELEASES
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Niskayuna native Buggy Jive receives well-deserved accolades from NPR and the Eddie Awards. Daily Gazette.
“I’m singing about my reality, so those are things I wrestle with all the time,” he said of his musical forays into socially conscious messages. “It’s almost like there’s an obligation not to ignore tough issues and also an obligation to acknowledge that issues are complicated. It’s not always cut and dry or black and white. I do play with those themes.”
Sound Opinions: “Buried Treasures.” (Episode 802)
JIM DEROGATIS: “I was curious about Dr. Buggy Jive. You know what I kept flashing on when I was listening to it, Greg? If Bill Withers was alive and well and recording with a little bit of EDM hip-hop consciousness in 2022, I think it would sound a lot like that track we just heard.”
GREG KOT: “Yeah the intimacy you know of the recording really got to me and that’s a good comparison. Yeah, the honesty, the intimacy, and a sound that is completely of the moment.”
NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest “Top Shelf” Features
BOB BOILEN: “I picked [Buggy Jive’s live music video “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”] not only because he’s a talented human being but also because there’s lots of references to [Tiny Desk Contest]. Maybe this is the year you might want to quit your day job. I dearly love this.”
Buggy Jive thrives in opening slot for Macy Gray’s “Reset” tour. Nippertown.
Musically… local songwriter Buggy Jive stole the night with his originals that captivated us with his thoughtful lyrics and complex, layered sounds.
PRESS
WEB + SOCIAL
Website: http://www.buggyjive.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/buggyjive
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/buggyjive
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/buggyjive
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/buggyjive
Bandcamp: http://buggyjive.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://bit.ly/buggify
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/buggyjive
PHOTOS
Latest: https://adobe.ly/4eZnKPW
Additional: https://bit.ly/buggyselfies
VIDEO: LIVE PERFORMANCE
AUDIO: Icarus Ascending (2025)
Press Preview: Press Release and Videos
Soundcloud: Album Playlist (private link)
Audio Files: Google Drive (private link)
AUDIO: Hurry Up Please It’s Time (2024)
Soundcloud: https://bit.ly/buggyhurry1369
Audio Files: https://bit.ly/buggyhurryaudio
BIOS
LONG BIO (220 words)
Buggy Jive is a semi-reclusive soul rock singer-songwriter quietly uploading music from a basement somewhere in Upstate New York. Equal parts Zeppelin and D’Angelo and Prince and Joni in sound and sensibility, his lyrics often mine the literature of the past to make sense of the present – from Ellison to Morrison to Eliot to Didion – delicately balancing the heaviness with humor.
Set for a Fall 2025 release, his forthcoming album Icarus Ascending promises 13 new acoustic soul rock songs contemplating songwriting and storytelling, love and literature, and the festering fears of a divided nation.
Recent accomplishments include: opening slots for Macy Gray’s “Reset” tour kickoff and Ben Folds' New Year's Eve show; a feature as a “Top Shelf” entry for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest; Songwriter of the Year, Album of the Year and Music Video of the Year wins for Upstate New York’s “Eddies” Awards; and official and curated showcases at Folk Alliance International’s northeast and midwest regional conferences (NERFA and FARM).
The artist is a graduate of Niskayuna High School in Schenectady, New York and Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. There are reports that the songwriter behind the NPR fave “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” may or may not have quit his most recent day job in digital communications at an educational non-profit headquartered in New York's Capital Region. He lives in Delmar, NY, with his wife and two daughters.
SHORT BIO (64 words)
Buggy Jive is a semi-reclusive acoustic soul rock singer-songwriter from Albany, New York, equal parts Zeppelin and D’Angelo and Prince and Joni in sound and sensibility. Recent accomplishments include opening slots for Macy Gray and Ben Folds; a feature as a “Top Shelf” entry for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest; and best songwriter, album and music video wins for Upstate New York’s “Eddies” Awards.
MINI BIO (25 words)
Buggy Jive is an acoustic soul rock singer-songwriter from Albany, New York, equal parts Zeppelin and D’Angelo and Prince and Joni in sound and sensibility.