Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

The Tillers

It's been over a decade since their last performance at Abilene Bar and Lounge....and we're thrilled to be hosting them once again.

The Tillers have been thumping their own distinctive sound of string band style folk music for a decade, riding it all over the country and across the sea. Four studio albums and one live record have won them praise as modern folk storytellers of the national soundscape. They have shared the stage with a broad swath of national acts, from folk legends like Doc Watson, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Guy Clark, Country Joe McDonald, Jerry Douglas, Iris Dement, Pokey LaFarge, and The Carolina Chocolate Drops to rock daredevils like the Legendary Shack Shakers. The band came into being while busking for nickels and dimes in the gaslight district of Cincinnati. Now far removed from those humble beginnings, the band has won over Cincinnati’s bar and festival scene and launched international tours with tireless momentum. They resurrect songs of America’s past, craft originals all their own while touching on themes both historical and timeless. They are Cincinnati’s traveling minstrels. Expect to hear from them soon.
https://www.the-tillers.com/

Tyler Westcott
Singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Founder of the band Folkfaces and Folkfaces Fest.
https://www.facebook.com/tylerwestcottmusic/

Special Low-Dough Show-Only $15 at the Door

1pm-6pm

ROC Band is Rochester City School District's very first district-wide modern band ensemble directed by Scott Weber and Anastasia Polashenski. Serving grades 7-12 and open to any school in the district, ROC Band gives RCSD secondary students a chance to be the rockstars they always dreamed of. Students perform on guitar, bass, drum set, keyboard and vocals, manage their setlists and are actively involved in each rehearsal.

 The first annual ROC Band Music Festival on April 21st brings these talented students together with local bands: Deepak Thettu & Friends, Some Ska Band and The Flowerhead Folks. Come enjoy an afternoon of incredible live music and explore raffle prizes and a 50/50 raffle at your favorite music venue, Abilene Bar & Lounge. $10 at the door and all proceeds benefit future performance opportunities for the rock stars of ROC Band!

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

The Living Room Session

TLRS started in the living rooms of friends, the idea of Dublin-born Phelim White. What started as piano, acoustic guitar, fiddle and upright bass quickly morphed into its present lineup. The addition of Chris Coon(keys/sax), Stevie Hartman(guitar), and MF Jones(bass), rounded out the lineup and steered it towards its current mission of weaving smoothly through 60’s Blue Note jazz, 70’s funk and R&B, 80’s new wave, pop and rock and a mix of tunes from the 90’s on. They delight in bringing mostly b-sides and more obscure tunes to the party. Artists covered include :Sade, The Mavericks, Pretenders, Elvis Costello, U2, Donny Hathaway, Grant Green, Tina Turner, Depeche Mode, The Band, Leon Bridges, Morphine, Van Morrison, Bowie, The Meters, Nina Simone, ZZ Top…and much more!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068065377226

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

The Occasional Saints

Doors 4:00pm • Music 5:30pm

Yes, it’s the April “Third Friday” Happy Hour!!!!

Do NOT miss this monthly party!!! Great music by The Occasional Saints, Genesee Beer specials during Happy Hour, Prizes, T-shirt giveaways and more!!! Did we say beads?!

The Occasional Saints

Playing primarily original songs by keyboard player P. V. Nunes, the Occasional Saints brand of music is New Orleans blues and swing. The band is: P.V. Nunes on keyboards and vocals, Carmen Verzillo on lead guitar, Jay Chafee on bass, Michael Verzillo on drums, Rick McRae on trombone, and Mark Bradley on sax.

https://www.occasionalsaints.com/

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

John R. Miller

John R Miller is a true hyphenate artist: singer-songwriter-picker. Every song on his thrilling debut solo album, Depreciated, is lush with intricate wordplay and haunting imagery, as well as being backed by a band that is on fire. One of his biggest long-time fans is roots music favorite Tyler Childers, who says he's "a well-travelled wordsmith mapping out the world he's seen, three chords at a time." Miller is somehow able to transport us to a shadowy honkytonk and get existential all in the same line with his tightly written compositions. Miller's own guitar-playing is on fine display here along with vocals that evoke the white-waters of the Potomac River rumbling below the high ridges of his native Shenandoah Valley.

Depreciated is a collection of eleven gems that take us to his homeplace even while exploring the way we can't go home again, no matter how much we might ache for it. On the album, Miller says he was eager to combine elements of country, folk, blues, and rock to make his own sound. Recently lost heroes like Prine, Walker, and Shaver served as guideposts for the songcrafting but Miller has completely achieved his own sound. The album is almost novelistic in its journey, not only to the complicated relationship Miller has with the Shenandoah Valley but also into the mind of someone going through transitions. "I wrote most of these songs after finding myself single and without a band for the first time in a long while," Miller says. "I stumbled to Nashville and started to figure things out, so a lot of these have the feel of closing a chapter."

Miller grew up in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia near the Potomac River. "There are three or four little towns I know well that make up the region," he says, name-checking places like Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Hedgesville, and Keyes Gap. "It's a haunted place. In some ways it's frozen in time. So much old stuff has lingered there, and its history is still very present." As much as Miller loves where he's from, he's always had a complicated relationship with home and never could figure out what to do with himself there. "I just wanted to make music, and there's no real infrastructure for that there. We had to travel to play regularly and as teenagers most of our gigs were spent playing in old church halls or Ruritan Clubs." He was raised "kinda sorta Catholic" and although he gave up on that as a teenager, he says "it follows me everywhere, still."

His family was not musical — his father worked odd jobs and was a paramedic before Miller was born, while his mother was a nurse — but he was drawn to music at an early age, which was essential to him since he says school was "an exercise in patience" for him. "Music was the first thing to turn my brain on. I'd sit by the stereo for hours with a blank audio cassette waiting to record songs I liked," he says. "I was into a lot of whatever was on the radio until I was in middle school and started finding out about punk music, which is what I gravitated toward and tried to play through high school." Not long after a short and aimless attempt at college, I was introduced to old time and traditional fiddle music, particularly around West Virginia, and my whole musical world started to open up." Around the same time he discovered John Prine and says the music of Steve Earle sent him "down a rabbit hole." From there he found the 1970s Texas gods like Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver, and Blaze Foley, the swamp pop of Bobby Charles, and the Tulsa Sound of J.J. Cale, who is probably his biggest influence.

As much as the music buoyed him, it also took its toll. "I always prioritized being a touring musician above everything, and my attempts at relationships suffered for it," he says. Miller was also often fighting depression and watching many of his friends "go off the rails on occasion." He says that for a long period he did a lot of self-medicating. "I used to go about it by drinking vodka from morning to night for months on end," he says. "I shouldn't have made it this far. I'm lucky, I think." Ultimately, the music won out and Depreciated is the hard-won result of years of self-education provided by life experiences that included arrests, a drunken knife-throwing incident, relationships both lost and long-term, and learning from the best of the singer-songwriters by listening.

For the creation of the album Miller joined forces with two producers who shared his vision for a country-blues infused record: multiple Grammy nominee Justin Francis, who has worked with everyone from Leon Bridges to Kacey Musgraves, and Adam Meisterhans, a renowned guitarist whom Miller has known since their days as roustabout musicians in West Virginia. They recorded Depreciated in the legendary Studio A of Sound Emporium in Nashville. Miller says the studio's "killer gear and lived-in feeling" enhanced the sound but most importantly it provided plenty of space for the band to be together. "It's important to me to have a relationship with the people I'm working with," Miller says. The crew is a well-oiled machine that is given the opportunity to shine throughout the album: Meisterhans adding guitar along with Miller, Francis bringing in congas and Wurlitzer, Chloe Edmonstone offering a plaintive fiddle, John Looney on mandolin, Jonathan Beam providing bass, Russ Pahl's shimmery pedal steel, John Clay on drums, and Robbie Crowell playing the Wurlie and Hammond B3.

We're driven into Miller's world by steady drums, a thudding bass, and steering electric guitar in "Lookin' Over My Shoulder," a song that perfectly captures going back to your old haunts after a breakup. Right away the many layers — sonic and thematic — are revealed as we continue on into "Borrowed Time," a song that feels like a smoky bar-room but is also Miller at his most profound, pondering about "listening to that eternal engine whine." Its ghostly electric guitar and percussion begs for two-steppers. More variety kicks in with "Faustina," a lovely prayer to the most recent saint that shows Miller in seeker mode. "Shenandoah Shakedown" is a four-minute epic with its river that "speaks in tongues" and a "sky frozen black" but also intimate in its exploration of a relationship crumbling. "Coming Down" is perhaps the thematic heart of the album, asking "Don't you wish you could go back home?" and exploring that question in elegiac tones with stand-out harmonies between Miller and Edmonstone. The breakup is further explored in the deceptively lively "Old Dance Floor," which is answered in the keep-your-head-up anthem of "Motor's Fried" before the intricate character study of a woman who "grew up too fast in the moonlight" in "Back and Forth," which features memorable turns on the fiddle and mandolin. There's the calming instrumental track "What's Left of the Valley" that is an elegy for a region, an ode to searching for used cars called "Half Ton Van," and finally, the melodic mastery of "Fire Dancer," which may be the most complex and psychedelically-influenced track on the album that allows the album to land on a place of self-acceptance, with a narrator ready to go forward stronger and wiser.

The eleven songs, all penned by Miller, provide an album that stands strong as an entity but also provides tight singles that announce a major new voice. Miller possesses a rich voice, a flair for leading a band, and perhaps most of all, a startling ability for songwriting that results in Depreciated being an album that will have widespread appeal. Miller has achieved that most difficult yet most important thing: presenting the universal in the specific, paying attention to the cool beneath the pines along the rivers of the Shenandoah Valley while also pulling the camera back to reveal the longings that unite us all. — Silas House

https://jrmillermusic.com/

The Delsondes

We shed old skin in order to evolve and move forward. We let go of who we were in the past and embrace who we’re meant to be now. The Deslondes have taken such steps as not only bandmates, but as brothers. The New Orleans quintet—Dan Cutler, Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Cameron Snyder, and John James Tourville—have weathered ups, downs, and everything in between only to strengthen the bond between them. Infusing everything from saxophone, flute, and synth to string arrangements and a full drum kit for the first time, the group naturally progress and evolve in real-time on their third full-length offering, Ways & Means [New West Records]. “The title reminds me of being young, getting into the music business, going through everything, and coming out of it,” Riley observes. “We’re taking a look right, left, and back at ourselves.” “We were letting go of a bunch of old dynamics that left us burnt out,” adds John James. “However, we’re focused on being productive and on the other side.” The “other side” might just be their brightest yet. The Deslondes revealed their self-titled debut to widespread tastemaker applause during 2015. However, they really hit their stride on Hurry Home in 2017. Right out of the gate, Noisey proclaimed, “The Deslondes have found a comfortable sound to create art in, and it serves them well,” while Rolling Stone noted, “The Deslondes’ take on country relies on a gritty, grimy mix of early rock ‘n’ roll and lo-fi R&B.” In addition to praise from American Songwriter, Paste, The Boot, and more, the record closed out the year on Uncut’s “Favorite Albums of 2017.” Then, the musicians opted to quietly take a break. In the meantime, Sam shared his self-titled debut as Riley also served up his solo album, Start It Over. Maybe it was something in the air, but 2021 seemed like the perfect moment for the boys to pick up where they left off. “I reached out to everybody individually,” recalls John James. “Dan’s got kids, and I’ve got kids. We’d been touring for a long time. Once I called, it seemed like everyone was really into it. We were excited about doing it again.” “I was in Lawrence, KS visiting my folks at the height of the Pandemic,” Sam remembers. “I was walking down Massachusetts Avenue on a Sunday morning and wondering what I had left to give the world. Perhaps, I was experiencing a mild existential crisis from living off unemployment and facing the cancellation of my album release tours. Luckily, my phone rang. John James asked how I’d feel about making another Deslondes record with so much genuine enthusiasm it was contagious. We all owe it to him. Instinctually, a resounding ‘Hell Yes’ came out of my mouth.” Missing the camaraderie, the guys congregated at old haunt The Tigermen Den. Together, they worked out the songs before they entered the Bomb Shelter with longtime producer Andrija Tokic. This time around, members brought in a host of ideas and agreed upon the process before recording. “We came to some personal agreements about how everything was going to go down in advance,” Dan elaborates. “From experience, we realized what we liked and who was good at what. In terms of the studio, it was probably the easiest album we’ve ever made. Usually, we’re too busy touring to put a lot of thought into pre-production and ideas. This was definitely the most prepared we’ve ever been beforehand.” The preparation shines on the likes of the first single “South Dakota Wild One.” On the track, harmonica wails over acoustic strumming. Simultaneously, Riley’s grizzled and gruff delivery simmers above a slow burning beat punctuated by a soulful lead. “It’s a nostalgic song about getting into music, traveling, and running into the special people who were around then, but aren’t around now,” notes Riley. Elsewhere, the opener “Good To Go” saunters on airy electric piano towards a heavenly and hummable saxophone solo. “If ‘South Dakota Wild One’ was the beginning of traveling and playing music, ‘Good To Go’ is where we’re at now,” Riley continues. “We’re still out here. We’re still good to go. The songs bookend each other.” Then, there’s “Dunes.” A twang-y riff underscores a fifties-style melody as guitar echoes. “It’s about the arc of a love affair—a relationship that went wrong eventually,” Dan says. “It explores the symmetry of a relationship and how things come full circle in our life.” The dreamy “Five Year Plan” nods to Harry Nilsson with its dusty bliss, plinking keys, and cinematic orchestration. Album closer “Hero” takes flight on soaring slide guitar and wistful vocal delivery. “I grew up in a real tight-knit family in the country,” Riley goes in. “We all pitched in to take care of my grandmother at the end of her life. We’re our own heroes to our families and friends. I needed to write the song to remind myself you can be your own hero. If it helps me, maybe it will help someone else.” In the end, The Deslondes draw on their own familial union to forge a similar connection with listeners. “To us, this is family,” John James leaves off. “It’s a part of our lives. When you hear our music, I hope you feel like you’re hanging out with us. The band’s back together now, and it just feels good.” “Riley, JJ, Dan, and Cam are my brothers,” Sam concurs. “We’ve all been through so much together. I don’t think any of us will have that experience with another group of people again in our lives. Sometimes, we drive each other crazy of course, but we’re family. I’d take a bullet for any of those geezers.”

https://www.deslondes.com/welcome

Tickets: Sold out!

Please note: this show is SOLD OUT!

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

Join us in celebrating and paying tribute to the wonderful music of John Prine!

Folkfaces

“Folkfaces is arguably the most ubiquitous roots-Americana band in upstate New York. If you love hearing music live, you've probably caught the Buffalo-based quartet's infectious blend of bluegrass, folk, blues, and hot jazz. Led by tireless frontman Tyler Westcott, Folkfaces are sure to paste a smile on your face with lightning-fast musical chops wrapped up in punk rock energy. The band recently released "PLUMS" - its first album with newest member Brendan Gosson on fiddle and mandolin - which includes a full-band version of Westcott's brilliant and charming “When Lockdown Lifts." - Daniel Kushner CITY Paper

https://www.folkfacesmusic.com/

Jackson Cavalier

Jackson Cavalier is an Americana one man band based out of the finger lakes region of New York state. He has been a full time recording and performing musician since 2013. Notably, he has opened up for Steve Earle, Willie Watson of Old Crow Medicine Show, The Felice Brothers, Billy Bob Thorton and The Boxmasters, Eilen Jewell, Blackberry Smoke, and Holly Golightly and The Brokeoffs.

​In the Spring of 2023 Jackson entered the Gems On VHS "Gems In The Rough" contest and out of over 1000 submissions and 3 rounds of voting placed 2nd overall. Beyond this, he has been voted “Best Busker” 3 times locally in his hometown of Rochester, New York.​

Jackson has released multiple full length records and all of his music can be found on major streaming platforms. On average Jackson performs between 100 and 200 times a year at venues of all variations.

https://www.jacksoncavaliermusic.com/

Honey Smugglers Trio

The Honey Smugglers are a Rochester based folk-rock band that play music for, and from, the heart. Their unique blend of thoughtful and catchy songwriting, dazzling instrumentation, and powerful vocals, coupled with the thrill of their live performances, has garnished a dedicated and loving fan base in the Western New York music scene. Since their conception in late 2014, the band has released three length albums.

https://www.facebook.com/honeysmugglers/

Adrianna Noone

Adrianna Noone is an indie/folk/americana singer-songwriter born and raised in Rochester, NY. Her songs tell tales of love and heartache, blending indie and rock with a slight yankee twang. She formed her band at the start of the pandemic in 2020 and has since played at the Rochester Lilac Fest, Party in the Park, Buffalo’s Thursday & Main, and Babeville. At 25, she has sung with Brandi Carlile, opened for Lyle Lovett, and continues to tour the northeast and Midwest solo, with her band, or previously as 1/6 of the Rochester-based band Public Water Supply.

https://adriannanoone.com/

Susanna Rose and the Chazzlers

https://www.susannarose.com/

Left-Handed Second Baseman

“LH2B is the creation of singer/songwriter/producer Fran Broderick. Fusing diverse influences ranging from folk to soul to synthpop, the result is stirring anthems and tender ballads, anchored by Broderick’s captivating lyrics. ...the music is a “joyous noise,” and writes, “this is where Broderick shines. His words are gold.” He's probably listening to John Prine.” ~City Newspaper

Left-Handed Second Baseman is Fran Broderick – vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, Shane Kelsen – keys, vocals., Ben Rossi – guitar, keys, vocals., Brendan Simms – trombone, percussion, vocals, Dan Carter – bass., and Zak Mendoza-drums.

https://www.facebook.com/LH2Bmusic/

Ben Proctor

Ben Proctor is a musical pilgrim living in Rochester, New York. He works as a performer, teacher of guitar and rock history for Fairport Central School District, instructor and ensemble director at the Kanack School of Music, and private teacher of guitar, voice, banjo, dobro, and mandolin. His current project is acclaimed bluegrass/Americana band The Crooked North. He has many annoying habits, like constantly playing instruments and singing children's melodies in odd meters. Ben likes to write songs and believes that teaching music is a high art.

https://www.benproctor.com/

Please note: We will be passing the bucket for the “Hello in There Foundation.” The Hello in There Foundation is an initiative established by the family of John Prine, to honor his memory and continue the love, kindness and generosity he shared with the world. The work of the foundation will be inspired and guided by John’s simple song title, “Hello in There.” Our mission aims to identify and collaborate with individuals and communities to offer support for people who are marginalized, discriminated against or, for any reason, are otherwise forgotten.

https://thehellointherefoundation.org

Note: This show is SOLD OUT!

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

ACME R&B

​ACME R&B are a Rochester, NY based quintet of professional and accomplished musicians .They craft unique versions of classic R&B, funk, rock covers and select original tunes. They perform music that’s audience focused, dynamic, interesting, entertaining and danceable. The band features The Bonny Prince Charles (BPC) on bass, Gi Dabiyu on vocals, Nickolas ‘Nick’ Odemus Lykalatapous on
Percussion, Vocals, ​Sir Douglas MacDouglas MBE Keys, Strings of all types, Vocals, and ​Dr Robert ‘Rob’ Roulez on Guitars/Sax
https://www.acmerandb.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084424266007

cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Blues Circle

Blues Circle was founded with the idea to play old fashioned Chicago style blues with a modern and playful twist. Harmonica player Jerry Laufer, vocalist Opal Rose, guitarist Doug Chanin, drummer Paul Pakusch and bassist Greg Seward combine their favorite versions of blues standards to create new and unique interpretations of familiar classics. The band also throws in some blues influenced rock and other genres to keep things fun and  interesting.  Since the beginning, this self-described "fun little blues band" has built a loyal following of like-minded blues lovers and continues to introduce new fans to the magic of the blues.

Blues Circle (bluescircleblues.com)

Cover: $5

Doors 6pm, Music 7:30pm

Do NOT miss this Once in a Lifetime Event!!!!

Yes, it’s Solar Eclipse Day…and we’ll be celebrating that night with the incomparable…

Igor & The Red Elvises

Igor Yuzov was born in Germany, raised in Ukraine and studied in Russia. He grew up in the former Soviet Union, where folk music was the norm and rock'n'roll was illegal. A rebellious streak, however, led him to seek out the forbidden music. As soon as it became possible, Igor left Russia for America with his “Folk'n'Roll" band Limpopo and was personally greeted by Ronald Reagan. In 1993, Limpopo won Ed McMahon's Star Search and their popularity began to blossom. In 1995, Igor dreamed that Elvis Presley came to him and told him to start playing rock'n'roll. Igor and his Russian friends became Red Elvises and gave street performances on Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade. As their crowds grew larger, the City of Santa Monica ordered them to discontinue their street performances. Evolving over the years, Igor’s music has been labeled "Siberian Surf Rock” which contains humorous lyrics and grooves that forces his audience to dance. Over the past 20 years, Red Elvises have constantly toured all over the world with occasional breaks to record new music and to participate in film and television projects.

As an independent band, Red Elvises have produced 12 studio albums, two live albums, a live concert DVD, and a Greatest Hits compilation. Some of their most notable film contributions include music and or performances in “Six String Samurai”, “Mail Order Bride”, “Armageddon”, “Skippy”,  “Melrose Place”, “Fastlane", “Penn and Teller's Sin City Extravaganza”, “VH-1 Behind the Music”, and “MTV”. Red Elvises have performed for large festivals, private parties, and played on massive stages such as 2005's Live 8 Benefit Concert. No matter where they perform, Igor & Red Elvises always bring the party with them!

https://www.facebook.com/igorandredelvises/

Tickets: $20 and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and at the door tonight

Doors 6pm, Music 7pm

Southern Star

Southern Star was formed by Cian McCarthy and Alex Coté at SUNY Purchase in 2012, starting as a collaboration between the two songwriters. Years later, pedal steel guitarist Kurt Johnson and bassist Shane McCarthy joined Cian and Alex to back harpist and vocalist Mikaela Davis on the road and on her 2023 release “And Southern Star.” 

Years of touring alongside Davis have fortified them into the tight knit group they are today. As they continue to collaborate outside of Davis’ band, the road tested quartet leans on their musical rapport to interpret the songwriting contributions of all four members, thus establishing the band in its current state. 

Stylistically, Southern Star combines folk songwriting with psychedelic rock, highlighting poetically driven lyrics with intricate arrangements and improvisation. The culmination is a sound drawing influences from New Riders of The Purple Sage, The Byrds, Wilco, John Coltrane and Led Zeppelin, to name a few. 

2024 will see the release of Southern Star’s debut record, A Change Has Come, exclusively comprised of Cian McCarthy songs, with the lead single, “Lake of the Mind”, already available. While the quartet has played a handful of double-duty shows throughout the country, both opening for Davis and backing her up, this spring will debut the first performances in their home turf of Upstate New York. 

https://andsouthernstar.bandcamp.com/track/lake-of-the-mind

Ongoing

Ongoing is a folk-rock group based in the Hudson Valley, NY. The band features lead vocals by Katie Jones, Adam Netsky of Maybird on drums, multi-instrumentalist Braden Bodensteiner and Jonathan Hudack on bass. Ongoing’s songs vary in style and draw inspiration from artists like Neil Young, Wilco and early Fairport Convention. They consider each live show an opportunity to ever so slightly explore beyond the edge of a song. Their music presents passionately delivered melodies, philosophical lyrics, as well as spirited and wild sonic textures.

https://katiejones.bandcamp.com/

https://bradenbodensteiner.bandcamp.com/

https://adamnetsky.com/

Andy Weaver

https://weaver.bandcamp.com/

Tickets: $10 advance, $15 day of show and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and at the bar

Doors 6:00pm • Zydeco Dance Lesson 7:30pm • Music 8pm

Cats on Holiday

Cats On Holiday is a Cleveland-based Zydeco & Swamp Pop band that has been pleasing audiences for 20 years with their own special blend of Louisiana inspired rock/roots/ Zydeco. The Cats are driven by founding member, songwriter, lead vocalist and guitar/ button-box player Denis DeVito. The Cats perform over 100 gigs annually at the best live music venues from as far West as the Lake Erie Islands and East to Cape Cod. COH has been a part of such cool events as The Great Blue Heron Festival, Hessler Street Fair, Parade the Circle, Lock 3 Live, Wade Oval Wednesdays, Ingenuity Festival, Burning River Fest, Nelson’s Ledges’ Lazy Daisy Festival, Starwood, Kent State Folk Festival,  Akron’s First Night, Boston Mills Art Festival  as well as the resident band for the annual Towpath Marathon. The band also have a regular rotation of clubs in which they perform including the Music Box, Beachland Ballroom, Brother’s Lounge, Water Street Tavern(Kent), G.A.R. Hall, Balloons(Ellicottville, NY), Parkview Niteclub, The Harp and many others.

Over the years COH has shared the stage with such national acts as Los Lobos,  Marcia Ball, Tab Benoit, Beau Soleil, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Buckwheat Zydeco, Carpenter Ants, The Iguanas,  NRBQ, Leon Russell, and Terrance Simien, to name a few.

https://www.catsonholiday.com/

Co-sponsored by The Rochester Cajun Zydeco Network

Survival Zydeco Dance Lessons from 7pm to 7:30pm, hosted by Bruce Handelman

www.rochesterzydeco.com

Special Low-Dough Show- Ten Bucks at the Door

Doors 4pm, Music 9:15pm

Paxtor

Quirky, eclectic folk/rock inspired by the likes of Django Reinhardt, Captain Beefheart, and Ween. All-original tunes that encompass a variety of sounds. Beautiful and melodic, upbeat and catchy, dark and angsty. Brooding ballads filled with all the adventure of a fantasy epic.

https://www.facebook.com/paxtormusic

Seth Faergolzia

Ever since his days as the mastermind behind critically-acclaimed avant-boho outfit Dufus — whose landmark 2003 ROIR album 1:3:1 was described by AllMusic’s Jesse Jarnow as “the kind of record that could potentially change a listener’s life” — Seth Faergolzia has blazed colorful trails into modes of expression we couldn’t have foreseen even when Dufus were being hailed as “freak folk” innovators. Now, whether leading his current 18-person ensemble 23 Psaegz, performing as one half of the duo Forest Creature, or taking the stage as a one-man tornado of sound, Faergolzia continues to shake musical conventions until they froth over and explode.

When Faergolzia first emerged out of lower Manhattan at the turn of the millenium, he cut a Wonka-esque figure as a trailblazer committed to pursuing his muse on the fringe of the fringes, quickly distinguishing himself as a flamboyant visionary with a penchant for bending minds. Naturally, the surface absurdism of his output drew comparisons to likeminded iconoclasts like Captain Beefheart, Zappa, Ween, and Mr. Bungle. But where his music was once celebrated as a vibrant example of what happens when a musician turns a genre like folk upside down and inside out, over time Faergolzia has come to represent something of a genre unto himself.

With a body of work that now exceeds 20 albums and appearances in over 20 countries with the likes of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Animal Collective, Dufus alum Regina Spektor, Jeffrey Lewis, The Moldy Peaches, etc., Faergolzia is yet again poised to put another spring in the step of his global following with his latest longplayer Tin Wood Soldier. Building on Dufus’s joyful credo, the new album sees Faergolzia harnessing his wild experimental streak more than ever into bona fide tunesmanship that, at times, even approaches a tenderness unseen in his early work.

Onstage, he remains as boisterous as ever, his booming voice and equilibristic phrasing at the center of a whirring kaleidoscope of sound. In his new live show, Faergolzia draws from new material, electronic samples, loops, improvisations, and choice selections from the Dufus vault — a full and varied cross-section of the peerless oddball muse that has delighted audiences, collaborators, and critics alike for over a decade.

https://faergolzia.com/

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

The Starlite Combo

The Starlite Combo is a rockabilly trio hailing from the Rochester, NY area. Doing their part to keep the spirit of Sun Records alive, performing Rockabilly and Rock n’ Roll, and tracing a direct line from the music of classic artists such as Elvis, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, and Gene Vincent, all the way up through more recent artists like Ronnie Dawson, Brian Setzer, and JD McPherson

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094865004572

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Danni Nicholls

Hailing from the ancient market town of Bedford, England, growing up on the American roots music of her Anglo-Indian grandmother’s record collection, singer/songwriter Danni Nicholls has been paving her way in UK Americana for over a decade, building a loyal fan base and much critical praise. Having recently been granted a three year visa to live and work in the USA, newly based out of Nashville TN, she intends to do the same stateside touring and creating her fourth full length studio album.

With the wind still in her sails from three consecutive Americana Music Association UK award nominations (Album, Artist and Song of the year in 2017, 2018 & 2020 respectively) plus extensive tours and opening slots with the likes of Lucinda Williams and The Secret Sisters plus many more, Danni, her powerful, arresting voice and her dynamically poetic original songs are ever-gaining presence and reach.

As a child, Danni dreamed of travelling to Nashville, her ‘spiritual home’ as she describes it. After a chance meeting of musician and producer Chris Donohue who was in the UK performing with Emmylou Harris at the time, Danni’s dream came true and she was invited to make a record with Chris and the cream of Nashville’s crop in East Nashville which resulted in 2012’s A Little Redemption. The pair went on to make Mockingbird Lane together in 2015. Both albums garnered rave reviews and feature some of Danni’s musical heroes including Al Perkins (Dolly Parton, The Rolling Stones) Will Kimbrough (Emmylou Harris) and Steve Fishell (Albert Lee, Wille Nelson).

April 2019 saw the release of Danni’s third studio album The Melted Morning. Produced by Jordan Brooke Hamlin (The Indigo Girls, Lucy Wainwright-Roche) at the idyllic woodland studio MOXE, Nashville, TN. The record offers a new direction and very different sonic landscape than previous releases. Haunting, intimate and atmospheric, this album was a deeper dive into Danni’s truth and perspective.

Having been invited to perform all over the world at prestigious events and festivals such as Cambridge Folk (UK), Tønder (Denmark) and Americanafest (USA), Danni is no stranger to the big stages which she loves to fill with her strong voice both literally and metaphorically. Writing songs with messages of hope and healing plus citing the likes of Brandi Carlile and KT Tunstall as important personal and musical influences, she is proud to be counted amongst the increasing list of LGBTQIA+ identifying artists and recognizes the importance of representation.

With comparisons to artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Brandi Carlile and Roseanne Cash, Danni’s vibrant, captivating performances are all but guaranteed to melt your heart into the soles of your boots. Her passionate delivery, captivating voice, mesmerizing guitar skills and charmingly engaging between-song banter compel you to fall under her spell.

“Her passion for her craft is unparalleled. Her depth of emotion, commitment to the song, and ability to go deep makes her a rare artist”
Jed Hilly, Director of the Americana Music Association

“I absolutely love the elegance and beauty of her music” – Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

“Smoky soul, folk-pop and heart-wrenching alt-country, all in a rich voice” – Q Magazine

“Sumptuous…a warm wry line in confessional songwriting” – UNCUT

“An artist full of wisdom and soul” – Maverick Music Magazine

https://www.danninicholls.com/

Adrianna Noone

Adrianna Noone is an indie/folk/americana singer-songwriter born and raised in Rochester, NY. Her songs tell tales of love and heartache, blending indie and rock with a slight yankee twang. She formed her band at the start of the pandemic in 2020 and has since played at the Rochester Lilac Fest, Party in the Park, Buffalo’s Thursday & Main, and Babeville. At 25, she has sung with with Brandi Carlile, opened for Lyle Lovett, and continues to tour the northeast and Midwest solo, with her band, or previously as 1/6 of the Rochester-based band Public Water Supply

https://adriannanoone.com/

Cover: Special Low Dough Show: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Chris Duarte

The Chris Duarte Group emerged on the scene out of Austin, Texas in the early 90’s and gained notoriety after wowing a packed room of industry insiders at the South X Southwest convention. In the wake of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s passing, Duarte quickly gained a National reputation as young man imbued with a playing style comparable at times to the late guitarist. After fielding interest from a number of labels, Duarte signed to Silvertone Records and his debut album “Texas Sugar/Strat Magik” reportedly sold in excess of 100,000 units in the United States, no small feat for a blues/rock guitarist. This coupled with Duarte’s strong commitment to touring, was the impetus for Chris’ winning the “Best New Talent” in Guitar Player’s 1995 Reader’s Poll. He also finished fourth in the magazine’s “Best Blues Guitarist” category that year behind legends Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and B.B. King.

https://duarte.rocks/

Tickets: $25 and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the door

Doors 6pm, Music 7:30pm

Loren and LJ Barrigar

Loren Barrigar

Loren started playing guitar when he was only four years old, and by the time he was six, played the Chet Atkins hit “Yackety Axe” in front of thousands of country music fans at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He went on to study with Jimmy Atkins (Chet’s brother) which led to a touring career with his family band from Nashville to Las Vegas. Since settling down in Central New York, he has been in constant demand as a studio musician.

​Loren's finely-honed songwriting skills have launched his melodies on NBC’s #1 rated show “ER”, “The Young and The Restless” and on a Christmas CD with BB King and Patti Labelle. He has performed with some of the best acoustic players in the world including Stephen Bennett, Richard Smith, John Knowles, Muriel Anderson and Loren’s friend and mentor Tommy  Emmanuel, the Australian guitar sensation. He has also recorded with Multiple Grammy winner and legendary producer Lloyd Maines.

   In 2010, Loren made a guest appearance at The Chet Atkins Appreciation Society {CAAS} in Nashville with his pickin' pal from New Zealand, Mark Mazengarb. His solo concerts include favorite songs from seven decades, as well as his originals all featuring exciting guitar work and memorable vocal stylings.

https://www.lorenbarrigar.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ljbarrigarmusic

Jed Curran

Jed Curran, popular singer-songwriter and veteran of Rochester’s acoustic music scene. From hosting open mics to playing sideman, he’s paid his dues while sharing his life stories and love of music through his songwriting.

“One of my least favorite things to do is write about myself in a promotional sort of way. I'd much rather reveal the intimate details of my life hidden behind the cover of three or four chords and some form of melody line. I can however tell you this much about myself. I fell in love with music at a very early age. My first guitar memory is watching my uncle Chuck open a christmas present from his wife. It was a blonde 56 Telecaster. It took my breath away at the age of six. I've been around music in one way or another ever since. I've had that very same guitar on an extended loan and used it on a cut of my first solo CD called 'Morning Pages'. I wrote my first meaningful song after the breakup of my first marriage and the second meaningful song after the passing of my mother some 15 years later. It was through these experiences I discovered the wonderful therapeutic healing powers of song writing. I sent one of my songs to a friend in Nashville, Bat McGrath and recieved some great inspiration and encouragement from him to 'keep writing'. Well I took that advice and contnued to write. I feel that the songs I have recently recorded are of value and worthwhile. I also feel that as long as I keep writing and keep my heart open that my best work is in front of me. I write about the things in my life that move me. I write in a storytelling kind of style. I beleive that there is a thin line that seperates the mundane from the profound and that the two things which erase that line are Heart, and Attitude.” Jed Curran

https://www.facebook.com/jed.curran

Tickets: $20 and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

The Blue Barn Cats

The Blue Barn Cats

The Blue Barn Cats are Rochester folks playin’ Hot Club style Gypsy Jazz. Enjoy the sounds of Jesse (guitar), Blaize (violin), Karl (guitar), Glen (clarinet), and Ben (bass).

Providing an eclectic mix of instrumentation and vocals, the group specializes in great American songbook standards with new takes on old classics.
For fans of Django Reinhardt and The Djangoners.

The Blue Barn Cats (@thebluebarncats) • Instagram photos and videos

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Stew Cutler Trio

In a career spanning over 4 decades, jazz/blues/gospel guitarist/composer Stew Cutler has established himself as a bandleader, composer and teacher. With 7 record releases to his credit as a bandleader and countless sessions as a sideman, Cutler’s prolific career is a walk-through musical history.

Stew Cutler was born and raised in New York City and through his innate musical talents, found the guitar at an early age. The guitar and Cutler were destined to be together and at 19 years old, Cutler landed his first job with blues legend Z.Z. Hill. Over time, Cutler immersed himself in studying music and soon thereafter was working with instrumental avant-garde artists Bobby Previte and Eliot Sharp. Cutler moved to Woodstock, NY and worked with bassist Harvey Brooks along with many well-known artists that were emerging in that musical kaleidoscope. 

Cutler has worked as a sideman with many musical greats including Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett, Fontella Bass (featured on Bass' Grammy nominated album No Ways Tired), Earl King, Jimmy Castor and many more. Cutler has also worked with jazz greats David Sanborn, Bill Frisell, Lester Bowie, Charlie Hunter, Wayne Horvitz to name a few as well as artists as diverse as Meatloaf, Jeb Loy Nichols, David Fanshawe, Sweet Georgia Brown, and Jimmy Dale Gilmore among others. 

https://stewcutler.com/home

Cover: $15

Special Thanks to Bop Shop Records. Check out https://bopshop.com/about-us

Doors 4pm, Music 9:15pm

The Lustre Kings boast a devoted international fanbase and continue to perform over 150 dates a year, including regular stops at nightspots, festivals and casinos like Tip Top Deluxe, Skinny Dennis and The Continental Club; Viva Las Vegas, Heritage Folk Festival and the Rockin 50s Fest; and the Potawamoti Hotel. Gamsjager, a Gretsch guitars endorsee who has taught for the National Guitar Workshop, has been a guest at prestigious venues ranging from Kennedy Center (Washington DC) to the Montreal Jazz Fest. Atlanta’s Creative Loafing got it right when they said, The Lustre Kings have a sound so powerful, it leaves listeners hungry for more.”

https://www.lustrekings.com

Cover: Special Low-Dough Show- Ten Bucks at the Door

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

Brian Lindsay Band

Brian Lindsay delivers an inspired roots-rocking record that is filled with swagger and inspired performances.  Backed by his veteran band and some of New York’s finest musicians, they burn through 10 songs in his trademark conceptual format. With his lyrical craftsmanship, he transports the listener to places and times, bringing a renewed sense of hope and purpose to a world...that is long over-due for revival. 

Following the success of Lindsay’s first 3 LPs, The Crossing, Esperanza, The Monkey, The Tango and the Boogaloo, which all had songs that were added to over 150 Triple A format radio stations nationally, critics agree this LP, REVIVAL is his finest.

The Brian Lindsay band has shared the stage with The Smithereens, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Shooter Jennings, Donna the Buffalo, Willie Nile, Poppa Chubby, The Outlaws and The Little River Band, to name a few.  

 https://brianlindsay.net/

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Cloudbelly

The group is fronted by singer-songwriter Corey Laitman, a former member of the NYC antifolk scene and Signature Sounds record label, whose ethereal poeticisms are delivered in a spellbinding voice that tips its cap to Sufjan Stevens and Joni Mitchell in equal measure. Laitman is joined by guitarist and ambient sound sculptor Sam Perry (SVIP), and drummer, producer, and sound mangler Nate Mondschein (who often works under the moniker of Best Mann).

Cloudbelly’s music has been recognized by the Kerrville New Folk Competition, New Song at Citizen Vinyl, WBUR Tiny Desk Roundup, and Signature Sounds Record Label. The band has played Green River Festival, Arcadia Folk Fest, and Meadowlark Festival, sharing the stage with Bonny Light Horseman, Sean Rowe, Josh Ritter, and many others. Next up for the band is an extended US tour beginning in February 2024 in support of their new album.

On their latest project, their sophomore LP i know i know i know, the group (along with frequent collaborator/bassist/keyboardist/string arranger Reed Sutherland) merges their individual superpowers to create a collection of tracks that flirts with experimentalism without ever abandoning its tether to a recognizable emotional bedrock. The record features everything from hook-heavy indie rock anthems to tender folk ballads, left-of-center art-pop odes to hypnotic, haunting meditations; but each highlights Laitman’s unique ability to send listeners spiraling into reverie, only to grab them by the collar and set them back on solid ground. 

Corey wrote the bulk of i know i know i know in the aftermath of the consecutive, tightly-timed implosion of two formative relationships. The album is - among other things - a document of their sincere effort to grieve; to remember; to take stock; to get angry; to forgive; and to reconcile the painful necessity of those relationships coming to an end. 

The album’s title (drawn from the chorus of its second single, “Handfuls”) points to that knife’s edge divide, between the understanding of the way things are, and the seeming impossibility of embracing it. i know i know i know––acceptance and hesitation packaged in a single turn of phrase. It’s about confronting the fact that when it comes to healing and recovery, we are both the poison and the medicine. It’s about being present with the parts of ourselves that are in pain. 

The bones of i know i know i know were recorded at Ghost Hit Recording in West Springfield, MA, with additional layers added and manipulated over the subsequent months from Nate’s production studio, Echo Base, in Mount Holly, VT, and Reed’s home base, The Barn. The album was mixed by Andrew Oedel at Ghost Hit, and mastered by Anni Abigail Casella.

CLOUDBELLY (cloudbellytheband.com)

https://www.facebook.com/cloudbelly

Braden Bodensteiner

https://bradenbodensteiner.bandcamp.com/

Jimso Slim

https://www.jimsoslim.org/

Special Low-Dough Show-Ten bucks at the Door

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

An Intimate Evening with Blues Great and Rochester Music Hall of Fame Member...

JOE BEARD and Very Special Guest: Gian Carlo Cervone

Born and raised in Ashland, MS, guitarist Joe Beard grew up with the Murphy brothers, one of whom later found an international following as Matt "Guitar" Murphy. Guitarist Nathan Beauregard lived with Beard's cousin, so he was surrounded by aspiring and veteran blues musicians while growing up, and he began singing at an early age. Beard became interested in playing guitar via the Murphy brothers, who sat in with a young B.B. King when he played at the Roosevelt Lake Club. Beard began to learn guitar at age 17 from Ernest Scruggs, a neighbor, before heading to Chicago. Beard moved to Rochester, NY, and from time to time would visit one of his brothers in Chicago. He quickly became enamored of the blues being played in clubs there by people like Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson. Beard sat in with John Lee Hooker one night and received encouraging words from Hooker, and also later sat in with his idol, Muddy Waters.While in Rochester, he formed the Soul Brothers Six, playing bass and singing, but he didn't perform in public on guitar until 1965. Beard befriended classic blues guitarist Son House, who was a neighbor in Rochester, and played a concert for students at the University of Rochester in 1968. Beard worked as an electrician by day and would occasionally play out at night and on weekends for most of the '60s on through to the '80s. He has a reputation as one of the best local players around, and though he may not be a household name in other parts of the U.S., he toured Europe in 1983 and did studio and stage work with Buster Benton, Lafayette Leake, and Memphis Slim. At the famed BK Lounge, Beard and his backing bands opened for Bobby Bland, Albert King, and others.

https://www.facebook.com/joebeardblues

https://www.facebook.com/gian.c.cervone

Special thanks to our friends, Doug Camp and Cicero Ryland Jr..,true music fans.

Cover: $10

Doors 6pm, Music 7:30pm

“Special Listening Room Show” feat. Jed Curran and Jeff Riales and Fred Vine

Jed Curran

Jed Curran, popular singer-songwriter and veteran of Rochester’s acoustic music scene. From hosting open mics to playing sideman, he’s paid his dues while sharing his life stories and love of music through his songwriting.

“One of my least favorite things to do is write about myself in a promotional sort of way. I'd much rather reveal the intimate details of my life hidden behind the cover of three or four chords and some form of melody line. I can however tell you this much about myself. I fell in love with music at a very early age. My first guitar memory is watching my uncle Chuck open a christmas present from his wife. It was a blonde 56 Telecaster. It took my breath away at the age of six. I've been around music in one way or another ever since. I've had that very same guitar on an extended loan and used it on a cut of my first solo CD called 'Morning Pages'. I wrote my first meaningful song after the breakup of my first marriage and the second meaningful song after the passing of my mother some 15 years later. It was through these experiences I discovered the wonderful therapeutic healing powers of song writing. I sent one of my songs to a friend in Nashville, Bat McGrath and recieved some great inspiration and encouragement from him to 'keep writing'. Well I took that advice and contnued to write. I feel that the songs I have recently recorded are of value and worthwhile. I also feel that as long as I keep writing and keep my heart open that my best work is in front of me. I write about the things in my life that move me. I write in a storytelling kind of style. I beleive that there is a thin line that seperates the mundane from the profound and that the two things which erase that line are Heart, and Attitude.” Jed Curran

https://www.facebook.com/jed.curran

https://www.facebook.com/Jedcurranmusic/

Jeff Riales

Born in Memphis, TN, Jeff Riales has been writing and performing music for most of his life, and his style on the guitar and piano are as unique as the songs he creates. Jeff has performed as the opening act for John Hiatt, Chris Smither, Delbert McClinton and more. His songs are played on local, national and international radio and available on TouchTunes digital jukeboxes.

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.riales

https://www.jeffriales.com/

Fred Vine

Fred Vine is a singer and fingerstyle guitarist from Rochester, NY.  He is a master of “Piedmont” style and Delta bottleneck slide guitar. His versatile guitar techniques are displayed in a repertoire rich with traditional blues, compelling instrumentals and captivating  songs.

Fred’s musical tastes are eclectic. A performance could include acoustic blues, jazz, original compositions , American Songbook and contemporary songs. His influences are rooted in bluesmen  Rev. Gary Davis, Robert Johnson, Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Jelly Roll Morton and certainly Chet Atkins.  With a stage presence that is laid back yet engaging and witty, he easily connects with his audience.

Fred has several recordings to his credit. “Mister Freddy Blues” (a compendium of roots blues), “Crystal River Blues” (a mixed bag of jazz, blues and contemporary), “Cruising on the Belle” and “Genesee Delta Stomp”, which showcases Fred’s original music. As a seasoned performer, Fred has shared the stage with Muddy Waters, John Hammond, Guy Davis, Dave Van Ronk and many others. 

https://www.facebook.com/people/Fred-Vine-Music/100063655251979/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

Will Hoge

Will Hoge is a mainstay of 21st century rock & roll, carrying the torch for a blue-collar sound rooted in ringing Telecaster guitars and anthemic songwriting. He makes music for roadhouses and rallies, for car stereos and dive-bar jukeboxes, for Saturday night hell-raising and Sunday morning comedowns. In an era of social media influencers looking to fast-track their way to fame, Hoge has proudly taken the long way around, dedicating himself not to the destination, but to the journey itself.

 The trek continues with Wings On My Shoes, the twelfth studio album in a career whose milestones include Number One hits, Grammy nods, major-label record deals, and hard-won independence. Written amidst the doom and gloom of a pandemic that brought his touring schedule to a standstill, it's a record that seeks out silver linings, emphasizing bright moments over looming darkness. For Hoge, Wings On My Shoes also marks a recommitment to the amplified Americana sound that's earned him a global audience, as well nods from Rolling Stone, Forbes, and NPR.

 "I always want to embrace change — to accept new things artistically— but at the end of the day, I can try to run from this idea that I love good, guitar-based rock & roll music, or I can wear that badge of honor," he says. "I'm in the 'wearing the badge of honor' phase now."

 He wears it proudly with songs like "All I Can Take," a fast 'n' furious blast of bar-band bombast that he recorded in a single take. "Dead Man's Hand" slows the tempo but deepens the groove, with Hoge delivering a Springsteen-sized story of desperation and dirty business dealings. "John Prine's Cadillac" celebrates life and love with power chords, cymbal crashes, and a nod to Hoge's songwriting hero, while "It's Just You" remakes the jubilant jangle of Buddy Holly's best work into a heartland-rock love song.

 Recorded during a week's worth of live performances at Nashville's Sound Emporium Studios, Wings On My Shoes spotlights the chemistry shared by Hoge and his group of hard-touring road warriors: guitarist Thom Donovan, drummer Allen Jones, and bassist Christopher Griffiths. Hoge pulls triple-duty as the album's writer, frontman, and producer, while guest multi-instrumentalist Joshua Grange adds touches of pedal steel and organ throughout. Featuring few overdubs and zero studio trickery, Wings On My Shoes stands tall as a document of a hardscrabble band at work, wearing its rough edges with pride, sweating and stomping its way toward rock & roll redemption.

 "There are common things we all love — the Beatles, the Stones, the Mount Rushmore of rock music — but everyone brings their own influences to the table," Hoge says of Wings' lineup, whose members previously joined him on Tiny Little Movies and My American Dream. "Allen comes from a punk-rock background. Christopher is a Detroit native with Motown influences. Thom loves Johhny Marr and does great things with guitar effects. As we're arranging the songs, I'm encouraging these guys to push a little bit and help steer. I don't want to make a record where I play everything, because that defeats the whole purpose of ensemble playing. I'm trying to incorporate everyone else's gifts into what we're doing."

 At its core, though, Wings On My Shoes remains a songwriter's record. Hoge began writing these 10 songs months into the Covid pandemic, his world rattled by the isolation that came with the world's shelter-in-place recommendation. "I was a mess," he remembers. "I didn't realize how much this touring lifestyle had afforded me a certain level of built-in vulnerability and connection with people. Normally, you get into a van with a group of musicians, and you naturally hang out during the weeks that follow, and there's a communal aspect. There's a feeling of being connected. I'd gotten used to that, and without it, I went through something of a nervous breakdown. I needed to recenter myself."

 Hoge revamped his schedule, making time for daily blocks of journaling, exercise, and songwriting. He meditated. He practiced yoga. He read and wrote. "It was regimented and unsexy," he admits, "but it helped. There was a real focus on songwriting once again. Over the course of eight to nine months, that's where the music came from, and I got really excited about this new batch of songs."

 Those daily songwriting sessions yielded more than full-throttle rockers. On the acoustic "Whose God Is This," Hoge explores the middle ground between classic country textures and irreverent Bible School takeaways. "Queenie" finds him strumming a gentle salute to the strong, determined women in his life, while the stunning "The Last One To Go" — a career highlight, laced with gorgeous strings and interwoven acoustic guitars — tackles hard realities about marriage and mortality. Wings On My Shoes makes room for all of it, highlighting the diverse perspectives of a craftsman whose songs turn southern storytelling into universal sentiment.

 Years before Americana music received its own category at the Grammy Awards, Will Hoge was on the frontlines, helping to pilot and popularize the genre's blend of American roots music. With Wings On My Shoes, he distills that sound down to its strongest ingredients, steering himself from roadhouse rock & roll to southern soul, from guitar-driven grease 'n' grit to Tennessee twang, from amplified barn-burners to acoustic numbers. For Will Hoge, that's how you take flight, and Wings On My Shoes finds him flying high.

https://www.willhoge.com/

Tickets:$25 on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com and at the bar

Doors 11:30am, Music 2pm - 5pm

We’re opening at 11:30am for one Huge-ah St. Patty’s Party.

There’ll be drink specials all day and a Massive Post-Parade Bash from 2pm till 5pm with Live Celtic Rock by…

SISTERS OF MURPHY

They’ll be performing a musical blend of Celtic drinking songs and Rust Belt Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Sisters of Murphy

Sisters Of Murphy is a 7 piece Celtic-Rock band that hails from the city of Rochester, NY, USA.

Boasting a 20 plus year career of live shows and a host of original releases, "SOM" continues to write, record, and perform, sharing both their memorable songs and classics from legends of the "Irish" genre.

THE STORY OF SISTERS OF MURPHY

Silverdish Record's artists Sisters Of Murphy are a Celtic Rock band hailing from Rochester, N.Y. USA. Twenty plus years and 3 releases later, Sisters Of Murphy continue to perform, write, and record their fusion of Irish inspired Rock & Roll, drawing on traditional Celtic elements with lyrical themes that range from humor and fun, to passion and perception. Legendary 3HB brew master Geoff Dale calls SOM "The most fun band going in Rochester and it is not even close!" 

Sometime way back in the early 2000's, Rochester, N.Y. natives, vocalist Mark Tichenor and bassist Bruce Lish, decided to step away from performing their original rock music to form a Irish-Celtic themed party band to play gigs surrounding St. Patrick's day to celebrate their love for Celtic Rock, have some fun, and challenge themselves on stage. Their collaborative creation, Sisters Of Murphy, have since evolved to include 7 members, a legion of dedicated fans from years of live performances, and pockets of listeners of their discography around the globe. 

Musically, Sisters Of Murphy set themselves apart from their peers by writing songs that flirt with Rock, Traditional Celtic, Pop, and Alternative elements creating a modern sound that becomes a genre of their own.

In 2024, SOM continues to perform live, with shows scheduled this spring and summer. Live surprises include new original songs being introduced on stage at select shows as well as new cover songs from legends of the genre.

https://www.facebook.com/events/373087045472197/?ref=newsfeed

https://sistersofmurphyband.com/home

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

The Occasional Saints

Doors 4:00pm • Music 5:30pm

Yes, it’s the March “Third Friday” Happy Hour!!!!

Do NOT miss this monthly party!!! Great music by The Occasional Saints, Genesee Beer specials during Happy Hour, Prizes, T-shirt giveaways, “Big Papa Taco’s” Food Truck parked right out in front!!!

The Occasional Saints

Playing primarily original songs by keyboard player P. V. Nunes, the Occasional Saints brand of music is New Orleans blues and swing. The band is: P.V. Nunes on keyboards and vocals, Carmen Verzillo on lead guitar, Jay Chafee on bass, Michael Verzillo on drums, Rick McRae on trombone, and Mark Bradley on sax.

https://www.occasionalsaints.com/

Cover: $5

4pm till at least 8pm

Thursday Happy Hour with Rahn D’Agostino - Local, Regional, National, World, Sports, and Weather

$3 Genny Pounders!

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Peter Case

“I try to take things I love and use them in a new way,” said triple Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Peter Case of his 16th solo album Doctor Moan. Case brings his considerable songwriting ability to an 11-song collection, largely performed on piano, including his first solo recorded instrumental. Released by Sunset Blvd Records on March 31, Case’s piano-based songs are emotionally, sonically and stylistically rich.

As a founding member of the early punk era trio The Nerves, in 1977 Case toured the nation sharing bills with the Ramones, Mink DeVille, Pere Ubu, and Devo. The Nerves single “Hanging on the Telephone,” was covered by Blondie. In 1979, Case formed the Plimsouls, a record-breaking live act in California, recording albums for Planet/Elektra and Geffen. Their independent single, “A Million Miles Away,” entered the Billboard charts and remains a garage rock standard, performed by bands around the world. The band performed in the cult classic film Valley Girl and the Nerves and Plimsouls timeless teenage rock ‘n’ roll continues to appeal to fans of each new generation.

After the Plimsouls, Case rediscovered his musical roots on his self-titled solo debut, produced by T-Bone Burnett. The New York Times declared Peter Case the best album of 1986. It earned a five-star Rolling Stone review and a Grammy nomination. As one of the first songwriters of his generation to turn from rock music toward an acoustic sound, Case also helped usher in what became known as American music.

Peter Case

Ben de la Cour

With songs that explore life's murky corners and shadowy characters, Ben de la Cour's music occupies the intersection between gothic Americana and dark, gritty folk. It's a sound fueled by the stories and struggles of its creator, a lifelong searcher who's never been afraid to shine a light on his own demons.
Born in London and raised in Brooklyn, Ben experienced a coming of age when he left home at seventeen to become a farm worker, a janitor, a boxer in Havana, and in his own words one of the laziest and most inept bouncers and bartenders in history. After logging several years on the road with various metal bands Ben followed his muse to New Orleans before landing in Nashville in 2013 where he found a community of simpatico musicians and songwriters who weren't afraid to chase down their own musical horizons.
Albums like Ben's 2012 debut, Ghost Light and 2018's career shifting The High Cost of Living Strange chronicled not only that deep sense of restlessness but also his various attempts to wrestle his own vices into submission. The result is a haunting, harrowingly personal version of folk music that earned praise from outlets like American Songwriter and NPR. Ben was named a Kerrville New Folk Winner shortly after the 2016 release of Midnight in Havana and began maintaining a regular presence on the road, playing more than 100 shows a year. In a genre that has become increasingly polished and pop friendly throughout the 21st century, his stark tales of heartbreak, supernatural menace, God and the ever present specter of death seem to harken back to folk's roots, making him a modern torchbearer of a classic sound.

https://www.bendelacour.com/

Tickets: $25 and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com and tonight at the bar

Doors 4:00pm • Music 9:15pm

Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul

Ellen Pieroni is a seasoned sax player, multi-instrumentalist, music educator + promoter. She has been playing the saxophone since she was eight years old and has been a sidewoman in a multitude of bands for about a decade. Pieroni has contributed to many projects over the years.

Her current project – Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul (EoS) – presents a refreshing brand of smooth-infused soul jazz. Although the group is inspired by artists such as Grover Washington Jr., Freddie Hubbard, King Curtis, and the Crusaders, EoS puts an emphasis on new original music.

Sparked by a collaboration between Pieroni, Adam Bronstein (guitar), and James Benders (bass) over their mutual love of the band Stuff, the Encyclopedia of Soul was formed in a basement in February of 2022. The trio worked through the rough drafts of Pieroni’s original compositions and found a sound that was uniquely their own. In April of 2022, the trio connected with what is now the band’s current lineup with the addition of Tyler James (keys) and Isaiah Gethers (drums).

https://www.facebook.com/ellenpieronisax/

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