Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear: SXSW 2015

Independence, Missouri's Ruth and Madisen Ward are a mother-and-son duo who go by the moniker Madisen Ward And The Mama Bear. They're the kind of artists you root for in this world — you want to tell people about them so they'll have that many more fans.

Ruth was already a fixture on the coffeehouse circuit when Madison started sitting in with her in about 2010. He got inspired to start writing his own songs to add to those gigs, and wrote parts for her too.

Fast-forward to 2015 and that many more people are enjoying their folk and Americana sound — a Letterman appearance brought them some national attention, and they're releasing their first full-length album on Glassnote Records.

Ask them what's next? Ruth says: "Only God knows the future. So we take it one day at a time. We'll stop when they tell us to stop... or throw apples at us!"

Part of WFUV's SXSW 2015 showcase: Public Radio Rocks, Friday, March 20, with Courtney Barnett, Gang of Four, Twin Shadow, Best Coast, Ryan Bingham and Madisen Ward and Mama Bear.