A singer and songwriter whose taut, observant songs are a fine match for his fiery banjo playing, Al Scorch (real name Al Schorsch) was born in Chicago, Illinois. Scorch and his band, the Country Soul Ensemble, developed a passionate following in Chicago, and in March 2012, they released their debut album, Tired Ghostly Town. Word about Scorch and the Country Soul Ensemble began to spread across the United States and overseas. In 2015, Scorch released a concert album, Live at the Spirit Store, recorded at a performance in Ireland. He signed on with Chicago's celebrated roots music imprint Bloodshot Records, and in May 2016, he released his first album for the label, Circle Round the Signs. ~ Mark Deming