Bangoman the funny thing is, those artists I posted have been around for a long time and they are making it in the industry. Ray Wylie is the one who wrote Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother, made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker.
Elizabeth Cook is a favorite artist of Jay Leno. He had her on his show a few times and she hosts a radio show on SiriusXM Outlaw channel 60.
As for Mike Farris, the guy is great. True story... his former band, The Screaming Cheetah Willies opened up for Skynyrd and ZZ Top at Phillips Arena on the 2nd night the new building was open. My friends and I thought they were absolutely horribe. Last year, I heard Mike Farris on the radio. He sounded familiar so I looked him up. Turned out it was the same guy... but he has now gotten clean (dark days of drugs, etc in his past) and gotten saved. Interesting how the same artist can be so different.
Another one I really like is Will Hoge. Been around forever but doesn't try to fit a "popular" mold.