Indie Spotlight: Suzi Ragsdale, Jonatha Brooke, Peggy James, Brian Lisik, Greg Copeland and others • by Lee Zimmerman

Suzi Ragsdale may have come from a storied gene pool — after all, her father was singer-songwriter Ray Stevens — but over the course of her own career she’s created an indelible impression all on her own. She’s written songs for Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert, contributed backing vocals to albums by Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams Jr., toured alongside Guy Clark and Darrell Scott, and, more importantly, recorded any number of albums on her own beginning with her initial efforts 25 years ago. However, that’s all the more reason to wonder why she’s kept her silence as a solo artist for the better part of a decade. Granted, a six song EP may be small recompense to those who have anticipated her return, but happily Ghost Town clearly compensates for any perceived absence. The emphatic tones of songs such as “Wildlowers” and “Bonfire,” and the closing caress of “The Ending” each clearly connect on even initial encounter. Credit Ragsdale’s easily engaging vocals and a superb cast of backing musicians who add a supple touch to these vibrant yet varied arrangements. As a result, it’s certainly fair to say that Ghost Town is quite haunting indeed.