YouTube Spotlight: Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy

Inside Cityfolk returns from a brief hiatus with a new YouTube series, spotlighting artists who will be performing at the 2009 Cityfolk Festival. We'll kick things off with the amazing voice of Diunna Greenleaf and her band Blue Mercy, who will close the Main Stage on Friday night before the City of Dayton Fireworks.

In 2005, Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy bested more than 80 bands to take top honors at the 21st Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, putting the Texas band on the fast track to blues stardom. A native of Houston, Greenleaf is the latest in the long line of blues men and women from the Lone Star State to meld gospel, soul and the blues into a mighty roar. Greenleaf and Blue Mercy have performed at blues festivals throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. She has two albums to her credit, Cotton Field to Coffee House and Crazy But Live in Houston, and was the winner of the Best New Artist Debut award at the 2008 Blues Music Awards. She is nominated this year for “Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year.”