Americana musicians are often forced to walk an interesting line between folk idealism and popular realities, with the best of such acts successfully synthesizing the strongest elements of both paradigms. One such act is New York-based songwriter Julia Haltigan. Her eclectic brand of roots music is reminiscent of iconoclasts such as Tom Waits, the electric blues of Chess records, and the atmospheric soundscapes of golden age Hollywood. Haltigan’s cryptic lyrics and blues-inflected vocal timbre sit right at home amongst a backdrop of lush guitars, old-timey horns, and a driving rhythm section. The pedal steel guitar, a mainstay in country music since the time of Hank Williams, adds an eerie ambiance that appropriately ties together Haltigan’s sound. Required listening for fans of classic blues, alt-country, and rockabilly alike. Check out "Knocking at the Door" from her latest release, "Julia Haltigan and the Hooligans." You can see Julia and her band at 11th Street Bar on May 31. – Jason Bertone