Cleveland, Ohio, might not be an Americana mecca in the way cities such as Nashville and Austin are. But for singer-songwriter Thor Platter, being a working folk-roots musician in the gritty Rust Belt town affords him the kind of creative freedom few artists enjoy. His 2013 solo LP, Looking For Sunshine, uses brisk acoustic guitar as a mere starting point: Gospel-tinged organ, evocative blues guitar melodies and especially his confident voice–which recalls Jason Isbell’s soulful depth and Jay Farrar’s wise-beyond-his-years grit—ensures the album confounds expectations. Equally surprising is a forthcoming bluegrass EP, recorded at the studio of notable drummer Jim Wall (Hot Tuna, Big Brother & The Holding Company). Although reminiscent of Platter’s former band the Whiskey Lock, these songs possess greater sophistication and reverence for tradition, courtesy of buckling mandolin from 40-year-veteran Bill Lestock, stellar Banjo from Paul Kovac, and lyrics featuring bittersweet romantic notions and characters searching for a place to belong. “That’s what’s nice about Americana–it encompasses many sounds and styles, from many different eras,” Platter says. “Above all, it should just be good music to your ears.”