What unknown musical artist would you like to share with your fellow audiophiles?

Lots of interesting suggestions here. Particularly pleased to see some fellow Hip fans. I will throw out a few:
James- U.K. band that has been releasing solid albums for 20 years.
The Horrors- U.K. band that sounds like early Simple Minds or even the Psychedelic Furs. Their last 4 albums are fantastic. The name of the band doesn't do justice to their sound.
Big Big Train- British prog band that sounds like early Genesis to me. Their last album "Grimspound" is terrific. Large band with a horn section and violin player that will make your system sing.

Since people have mentioned the DB's, Bongos, etc, three of my favorites from that era are Guadalcanal Diary, The Connells, and the Dream Syndicate. I got Steve Wynn's "Steve plays Bob" yesterday. It is a collection of Dylan tunes covered by the Dream Syndicate and Steve Wynn playing with people like Alejandro Escovedo. Guadalcanal Diary just rereleased a live album that captures their spirit from a show in 1999. And the Connells released a best of compilation last year that is a good start if you are not familiar with them.


Finally, for really new bands, The Eyelids out of Portland are a great jangle band reminiscent of REM. Their last album "Or" was produced by Peter Buck and they have a new one on the way. 

Cheers.

I'm a big Marti/Don fan too!
Although they are not unknown, Ojos de Brujo deserve much wider attention in this country.  Great musicians, song writers and amazing performers.  Here's a link to a video of a concert from 2007.

That old Marti Jones album, "Used Guitars" is great, but the recording, at least on the vinyl issued at the time of release, is a tad bright.
Good to see the less mainstream stuff all of you are into--once I learned that old heavy rock had been recategorized into 'metal' I found a lot of stuff that wasn't just cookie monster vocals and shredding. Some good bands out there. Orne- "Tree of Life" --'doom prog' an offshoot of the doom metal band Reverend Bizarre. The Scandinavians (well, Finns are not Scandinavian, but) seem to revel in this stuff. All sludgy, heavy, like Sabbath's first album, the slow grind with the flatted 5th. 

mitchagain....i couldnt agree more. the best band to never make it big. i love the first 6 albums. ive seen them well over 100x. 
Crack the Sky (Rolling Stone declared debut album of the year)
Animal Notes
Safety in Numbers
White Music
Photoflamingo
World in Motion1

beyond that i have 2 favs...

Tony C & the Truth. DEMONOPHONIC BLUES
delicious album...start to finish

Karl Werne
one of the greatest guitarists ive ever heard. 
lives and plays in Virginia Beach, VA. 

Please! This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let's not bicker and argue over who killed who.