Acoustic Long Island

We ended out our 13th Annual Deepwells Music Festival the same way we ended our first outdoor concert 13 years earlier – with Long Island’s most prolific band, Miles To Dayton. The M2D recipe is simple: four-part vocal harmony, clever songwriting, improvisational violin and cello, and an infectious rhythm section that stirs up the creative stew. Having built a large grass roots following of fans young and old, Miles to Dayton has headlined performances at the Patchogue Theater and sold out the Boulton Center, with notable gigs at the Paramount Theatre, Great South Bay Music Festival and the NoFo Rock and Folk Festival. They’ve been the featured artist at the Acoustic Long Island Podcast and Summer Concert, emerging artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and have performed in intimate listening rooms such as Club Passim in Boston, and the Living Room in NYC. Equally at home in the acoustic or full band setup, m2d has shared the stage with the likes of The Infamous Stringdusters, Rhett Miller, The Subdudes, Jorma Kaukonen, The Dirt Farmer Band, Tom Paxton, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and Richie Havens, to name a few. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

After our first act, Sir Cadian Rhythm, set the energy on full tilt, our second act took it to an even higher level. Kerry Kearney, a slide guitar master, plays and works his instrument to limits that amaze even the most seasoned musician or cultured music fan. The sounds Kerry creates from his vintage, stock and custom made guitars are as unique as his song writing and original melodies. Kerry was voted “Best Guitarist of 1999” by the LI Voice and “Bluesman of the Year 2004” by the LI Blues Society. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Long Island Sound Award (L.I.S.A.) from the LI Music Hall of Fame and most recently, in 2013, he and his band mates were each inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

The first of three featured acts for the night, Sir Cadian Rhythm kicked things off in grand style with an amazing set of their originals including their highly touted single, “Not Quite Done Yet”, which went viral on social media platforms and has accumulated close to a half a million streams on Spotify since its release. The hit song was featured in the blockbuster video game “Nascar Heat 2” this past fall. The bands song “Run Around Town” was also featured in the film “Back in the Day” starring Alec Baldwin. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

It was a beautiful day for our 13th Annual Deepwells Music Festival, this year featuring 100% Long Island talent. The great weather brought out a crowd of over 700 people which pretty much created the perfect setting for an awesome concert. Warming up the night was Long Island singer-songwriter, Katie Pearlman. Give a listen. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

Our August concert was on a really hot night, but we all chilled to the sounds of Toronto’s The Young Novelists. The Young Novelists craft contemporary folk songs with harmonies reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel or The Civil Wars. Their last album “made us strangers” earned them a number of accolades including a Canadian Folk Music Award for New/Emerging Artist and the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award. They were also finalists in the New Song Music Competition and won the Grassy Hill CT Folk Songwriting Competition. This husband-and-wife duo balance tender harmonies with darkly poetic lyrics. When their songs go to their heaviest depths, they are always balanced by their obvious enjoyment for making music together. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Warming up our August concert was Long Island native, Andrew Fortier – joined by his two children Andie and Cole. Together they’ve been writing and touring as the group “Tricycle.” Andrew Fortier is a New York composer and performing songwriter whose urgent voice weaves stories of a life in progress through truthful, heartfelt lyrics and haunting melodies. Andrew has worked with legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin producing international New Zealand soprano and songwriter Hayley Westenra, who sang Andrew’s original song “I Say Grace” with the London Philharmonic, with Westenra selling over 2 million albums and giving him a great complement from a Broadway stage in New York. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Jesse Terry is an internationally touring, award-winning singer-songwriter whose intimacy with audiences, sincerity, and approachability has solidified him as a favorite at festivals and live venues nationwide. With four full-length albums under his belt, The Runner, Empty Seat On A Plane, Stay Here With Me & Stargazer, Terry’s lyrical mastery, emotional depth, and soothing voice have often been compared to the likes of Ryan Adams, Jackson Browne, Paul McCartney and James Taylor, reaching deep into listeners’ hearts to envelope them in shared joy, sadness, love, and unrelenting hope. The Grand Prize winner of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest and The CMT/NSAI Song Contest, he has garnered worldwide acclaim including the elite honor of performing for US and NATO troops stationed at Thule Air Base in Greenland, and an official endorsement by Stonebridge Guitars International. Person by person, state by state, country by country, his fans, supporters, and colleagues have grown exponentially in the past few years, including at multiple gigs where he opened for major artists such as Darrell Scott, Paula Cole, Tony Lucca, Red Molly, Kim Richey, Liz Longley, and founder of Jefferson Airplane, Marty Balin. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

Opening our July concert was The Whispering Tree. At the heart of The Whispering Tree are singer/songwriter Eleanor Kleiner and multi-instrumentalist Elie Brangbour. With their deep-reaching sound, haunting vocals and vivid lyrics, this Franco/American duo have been captivating audiences around the world since meeting in London. Keyboard Magazine said The Whispering Tree “tastily combines wistful folk, mellow rock, and pinches of gypsy jazz and bluegrass into a compelling compilation of tightly written tunes” and Deli Magazine deemed them “one of the most talented duos to take stage in NYC.”

With a new setup of electronics and string accompaniment (Kelly Hallorin on violin and Rachel Coats on upright bass), Seth Glier amazed our Deepwells audience with some of his new material as well as some old favorites. His latest release, Birds, is steeped in conflict and contradiction; there’s grief and loss, but also strength and resilience; doubt and dismay, but also a sense of optimism as Glier confronts heavy topics and wrestles them into the daylight. The album began taking shape after Glier lost his brother, Jamie, who died in October 2015, and inspired a TED Talk performance that Glier gave in 2016. The songs range from personal to political, and are bound together by the awareness that our world is a fragile place. He has quickly become known for his passionate live sets and powerful command of both piano and guitar.

Ethan Pierce opened our June concert with his trademark passion and vocal skills. From the Philly area, this singer songwriter counts as his influnces Damien Rice, Ray LaMontagne Sam Cook and Otis Redding He has performed at such notable places as the World Cafe Live as well as the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

The featured artist for Deepwells’ May concert was Heather Maloney. Massachusetts writer and song-singer Heather Maloney celebrates the release her 2018 EP, Just Enough Sun. The six songs (five new originals and a cover of Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”) were recorded as mostly single-take, live performances in a room where instruments bled into vocal mics and vocals into instruments. The result is a raw and deeply vulnerable collection songs that follow Maloney’s literate and often heartbreaking exploration of family history, childhood dreams and the adulthood realities that butt-up against them; loss, misogyny, unrequited love, poverty, and even the moral dilemma of sending monkeys into space for the sake of science. The daughter of a psychotherapist and a carpenter, Heather’s songwriting is equal parts introspective and relatable. Photo courtesy of Eric Ilasenko

Opening our May concert was the amazing Dan Whitener – Born and raised in Washington, DC, and a current player in the New York / New Jersey / Pennsylvania scene, Dan Whitener has hit the Billboard Bluegrass charts as a banjo player with both Emmy-nominated bluegrass-hiphop band Gangstagrass and Philadelphia’s own Newgrass Americana band Man About A Horse. Dan’s latest solo project is Crossover, a five-track international collaboration recorded with some of the finest talent in North America. The EP includes entirely original songs, several of which were co-written with family, and Dan on guitar and vocals.

Our featured act for April was The Brother Brothers – Their sound is striking and undeniably captivating. Often leaning towards the darker, moody elements of Appalachian folk, and bluegrass traditions, their songs are laden with near perfect sibling harmonies or unison singing, compelling writing, and imaginative arrangements. They tour as an acoustic duo: David on cello and guitar, and Adam on the 5-string fiddle. With individual storied music careers under their belts, the brothers have finally teamed up to bring their experiences together. They Released their EP Tugboats in January 2017 and are planning to release their follow up full length album in Fall 2018. “The Brother Brothers have been in this together for life, and their familial connection comes through in the music, harkening back to some of the greatest family harmonies ever made. They approach their poignant and often charming songs with an almost startling sense of ease, and the tight harmonies are enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. Their ability to pull the listener into their quietly energetic musical journey is a joy to behold. I can’t wait to be out on the road with Adam & David and hear their heart wrenching songs and spot on harmonies night ...

Alyssa Dann opened our April show with her pristine voice and evocative song crafting. A 16 year old singer songwriter raised in the legendary artist enclave of Woodstock, NY, Alyssa is the daughter of acclaimed producer and session musician Mark Dann and his wife, Lisa Klotz. In 2016, she received a youth scholarship to the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference and received favorable reviews in the pool of professional singer songwriters. She continues to build her repertoire and hone her performance and songwriting skills. Photo courtesy of Kerrianne O’Dwyer

The second of our three main acts at the 2017 Deepwells Music Festival,  Matt Nakoa is an internationally touring singer/songwriter, recently appearing at The White House, throughout India, and regularly with folk icon Tom Rush. Growing up on a small goat farm in rural NY State, Matt discovered music as a means of teenage escape and trained to be a concert pianist. Matt was ultimately accepted as a vocalist to Berklee College of Music where he studied alongside soon-to-be Grammy winners St. Vincent and Esperanza Spalding among others. After school, Matt landed in NYC’s vibrant piano bar scene. There he quickly became a star performer at Manhattan’s famous Brandy’s Piano Bar, with lines waiting outside the door each Saturday night. Across the board his song craft has garnered awards, including a win at Kerrville Folk Festival’s prestigious New Folk Competition. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

The final act for the 2017 Deepwells Music Festival was a band from Yonkers, NY – Spuyten Duyvil. Seeing a Spuyten Duyvil (pronounced “SPITE-en DIE+vul”) show for the first time is like “throwing a cherry bomb into a lake” (Rich Warren, WFMT). It wakes you up. Their brand of original and traditional American Roots music blends Olde Time, Blues, 2nd Line, Bluegrass, and Folk Rock with a pinch of Punk Rock energy to create a uniquely modern mix. Lead by song-writing couple, Mark Miller and Beth Kaufman, this six piece powerhouse brings barn burning energy to venues throughout the East Coast and Midwest. Drop them on a large festival stage and they electrify the crowd. Place them in a listening room and their stripped down acoustic sets connect powerfully. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

The Deepwells Music Festival featured three main acts – the first of which was a Canadian group called Durham County Poets. Durham County Poets grew out of the lively music scene in Ormstown, Quebec, a town that was once called Durham county. They first performed at the Branches and Roots folk festival in 2011 and soon after released their debut album, ‘Where the river flows’ in 2012 with drummer/producer John McColgan at the helm. In 2014, amidst a busy year of shows, interviews and even some television, their second album, ‘Chikkaboodah Stew’ was released . With plenty of material still to be recorded and the creative juices still flowing, the Poets are forging ahead in hopes of leaving their stamp on Canadian music. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Our 12th Annual Deepwells Music Festival opened with a one-hour showcase featuring local Long Island singer-songwriters – including Chris J Connolly, Jess Chloe, Nick Patrick Johnsen and Kate Van Dorn. Photo Courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Here’s the second half of our August concert which was a lovely co-bill featuring Kirsten Maxwell and Rachael Kilgour. Based on Long Island, Kirsten Maxwell has made great strides since diving head first into her career. She is often compared to Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Joni Mitchell, for her soaring vocals and retro-folk style. Kirsten gives everything to her live performances and has been described as “making love to the audience”. Although her self-taught guitar chops are minimal, she plays with such delicacy and taste that the guitar seems to be extension of her body. Her delivery creates a level of intimacy that welcomes new audiences in like old friends. With a quick wit and commanding stage presence, Kirsten gives the impression of being more accomplished than her 24 years. In April 2015, she independently released her debut album, Crimson. It has been met with great success and fans await her highly anticipated EP, to be released this Spring.

Our August concert was a co-bill of artists Rachael Kilgour and Kirsten Maxwell – two artists who often collaborate together and who Dave had seen perform together at last year’s NERFA (North East Regional Folk Alliance). Here’s more on Rachael. Stay tuned for Kirstens performance. Rachael Kilgour is a Minnesota-based songwriter and performing artist whose sincere, lyric-driven work has been called both brave and humane. The 2015 grand prize winner of the esteemed international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, Kilgour has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center and by the ASCAP Music Cafe at the Sundance Film Festival. She was also a finalist in the 2015 Telluride Troubadour Contest. A versatile performer, Kilgour has shared stages with the likes of indie artists Haley Bonar & Jeremy Messersmith as well as folk legends Greg Brown, Cheryl Wheeler & Catie Curtis.

The End of America is a band of friends, singers and travelers who blend three-part harmony with rock and Americana. The Philadelphia-based outfit masters a style that resonates with fans of Ryan Adams, CSNY and Dawes. All frontmen of previous bands, Brendon Thomas, James Downes and Trevor Leonard met on tour in 2005. They went on to form a trio that highlights their vocal chemistry and captures the raw honesty of their performances. TEOA recently released their debut LP (self-titled), a follow-up to their previous EPs, Shakey and Steep Bay. The new album was written in the wake of a series of close calls: one involving a van accident on tour, and the other when drummer Jarrod Pedone was involved in a hit-and-run that left him in a coma for months. Fortunately the band walked away unscathed, and Jarrod made a stunning recovery. The following winter all members relocated to Philadelphia to write and hone their new sound. Joining forces with longtime friend and engineer Dave Downham in the producer’s chair, the band tracked 11 new songs at nearby Gradwell House Recordings in Haddon Heights, NJ. With the album released, the band is gearing up for a full year of touring. Anyone who has seen TEOA can attest ...

Opening our July concert was the incomparable Lois Morton. Lois is a performing songwriter who has delighted audiences throughout the New York metropolitan area for the last few years with her abundant charm and humorous songs of social commentary. Reinventing herself in retirement, Lois has gone from being an educator and therapist to a singer-songwriter with a rapier wit and a surprisingly contemporary approach. Her show “As I See It” highlights Lois’ original, often hilarious songs which encourage us to laugh at ourselves, while she also brings to life the legendary Edith Piaf in a lecture-cabaret program featuring songs and stories. She has released two CDs of original songs – As I See It and 20th Century Girl.

In a career that spans five decades, 24 albums and three GRAMMY® awards, Hudson Valley Troubadour Tom Chapin has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway, as well as working extensively in films, television and radio. As a music-maker, the multi-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist has maintained two long and productive parallel careers, both as a highly respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children’s music. In both roles, Chapin has established a reputation for insightful, heartfelt songcraft and effortlessly charismatic live performances. The New York Times called Chapin “one of the great personalities in contemporary folk music,” while Billboard called him “the best family artist around” and described him as “totally captivating.” His new adult CD, simply titled 70, finds the songwriter full of vitality and brimming with excitement. Songs of social activism address fracking, the importance of art classes in school and ecological issues, resting perfectly beside heartfelt appreciations for family and friends. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

Opening our June concert was Providence-based Seamus Galligan. He draws inspiration from artists such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and John Martyn. For the past several years, Galligan has done what aspiring musicians do – write and play…repeat. He’s spent countless hours working on material until he feels it’s strong enough for him to stand behind, constantly pushing himself to improve on his craft. When he felt ready to share his music, Galligan started frequenting the open-mic scene and taking local gigs wherever he could find them. His hard-work has begun to pay dividends as he recently took home the grand prize at the prestigious Lizard Lounge Challenge Main Event in Cambridge, MA. He has since opened for Ryan Montbleau at the historic Club Passim and performed at both the Sandywoods Folk Festival and the New Bedford Folk Festival.  This past May, Galligan embarked on a successful three week “DIY” tour of the UK where he opened for Tom Robinson at Club Karamel in London and performed a set at the prestigious Ruby Sessions in Dublin, IE. He is currently working on his follow-up EP. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

Headlining our May concert was Philly’s favorite bluegrass band, Man About a Horse. This 5-piece bluegrass band brandishes strong ties to the folk music tradition, with a progressive streak that informs their original songwriting. Bridging generational boundaries, Man About a Horse is equally at home picking in concert parking lots and performing on stage at some of the nation’s finest bluegrass festivals.  They released a studio recording in 2015 (“The EP”) that earned national airplay. The band opened the main stage of the 2015 Philadelphia Folk Festival, and has shared bills with the likes of Donna the Buffalo, Steve ‘N’ Seagulls, Wood & Wire, and others at renowned venues around the East Coast. Their music has been featured on blogs such as The Key, the Random Tea Sessions, and Ear to the Ground. Photo courtesy of Dave Dircks.

It was a rowdy night for our May concert – babies talking, fire sirens going off, and an especially perky crowd. Dave had some “special” news to share, then the music kicked off with singer-songwriter, Alice Howe. Treasured by audiences across New England and the Pacific Northwest, the Boston native joins a soulful, impeccably tuned voice with crafted poetry. Her songwriting is rooted in place and memory, raised on old English ballads and 1970s California folk yet entirely her own. Her fourth solo album, You’ve Been Away So Long, will be released in early 2017. “Alice is always a hit whenever she opens for me. I could listen to her sing for hours. Her voice is beautiful as a bell, classic in that Joan Baez way, transporting, wistful…her vocal mastery and musicality are beyond her young years and her songs stay in my head for days.” -Antje Duvekot. For more on Alice, click here. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

Our featured act for April was Oliver the Crow, an exciting new duo from Nashville. Kaitlyn Raitz (cello, vocals) and Ben Plotnick (fiddle, vocals) have been making folk music for the majority of their lives. Though they’ve only started playing Folk, Bluegrass, Appalachian and Stringband music together this past year, they have a combined musical resume that speaks to a lifetime of dedication to these styles and more. Individually, they’ve made their respective marks playing with countless artists across North America. From Jazz, to Country, to Classical, and everywhere in between, they’ve appeared on dozens upon dozens of professional albums. They’ve played in bars for 10 people, or at festivals for 40,000. The relationship between the violin and the cello is age-old and has been proven time and time again, but as soon as Kaitlyn and Ben began to play and sing together, it became clear that something was different. Decades of experience as chamber musicians helped them to blend instantly, but it’s their spontaneous, energetic yet subtle approach to folk music that sets them apart. For more info on Kaitlyn and Ben, go to www.kaitlynandben.com. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Opening our April concert, Scott Krokoff quickly drew in our Deepwells audience. A native Long Islander, Scott weaves elements of folk rock & country pop into confessional and compelling Americana. Scott’s latest record, 2015’s Realizations & Declarations, Vol. 2, received rave reviews praising Scott’s “graceful tales of morality and perseverance” (The Vinyl District) and “music in the vein of 1960s and ’70s songsmiths, but also recalling hot up-and-comers like Father John Misty” (PopDose). Scott has opened for Elle King and Grace Weber, toured from Vermont to Nashville, played in Belgium for his biggest fan, and received radio airplay throughout the US, Canada and Europe. For more info on Scott, go to www.scottkrokoff.com. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Michael Braunfeld is, first and foremost, a storyteller. His songs capture the everyday triumphs and struggles of ordinary people. His characters – though trapped in the particular circumstances of their own lives – appeal to a universal audience. Michael was welcomed into the Writers’ Night Family at The Bluebird Cafe in 2014 and in 2016 he was named a finalist in the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition. Whether addressing topical issues or sharing personal stories that often leave his audiences feeling that he has somehow, in some way, invaded their privacy, Michael’s performances combine a powerful guitar style with a seemingly endless supply of urgency. And he has a pretty sneaky sense of humor too. For more info on Michael, go to michaelbraunfeld.com Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Opening our March concert was Sophie Buskin. Sophie is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. Following in her father David’s footsteps (and contrary to his suggestion that she go into a more lucrative career like arbitrage) she has fallen into the wonderful world of acoustic music  – she and father perform together as BUSKIN. And after being inspired by the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference this fall, she has begun to step out and perform her own songs solo. Her website and first CD are expected out in early 2017. Photo courtesy of Steve Caputo.

This performance was recorded live at Deepwells Mansion on October 5, 2016. Driven by their own sensitive, well-rendered tunes and sterling vocal harmonies, Jill and Kate are a dynamic singing and songwriting duo with the pipes, poise, and personalities necessary to build an explosive career in their home base of Nashville, Tennessee. While Jill and Kate are best known as former background singers for award-winning vocalist, Kelly Clarkson, Jill Pickering and Kate Rapier have emerged from the background to become a forefronting pair. In the process of taking the next step toward their long-term goals, Jill and Kate joined Jann Arden for select dates throughout Canada. This distinct opportunity has opened doors, eyes, and ears to the talent of the duo, helping them not only garner professional relationships, but exposing them to unique fan bases who immediately recognized the duo’s talents. For more, go to jillandkate.com. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Warming up our October concert was the DuPont Brothers. Zack and Sam DuPont are a Burlington, VT based indie-folk-americana duo. Since the start of the band in March of 2013, the brothers have toured heavily throughout the Northeast, Mid Atlantic, South and Mid West in an independent pursuit to get their songs to as many ears as possible. Their travels have opened doors to festival appearances at SXSW & Grand Point North in addition to performances in support of some of their musical heroes including Bahamas, Blake Mills, Sturgill Simpson, Ben Sollee, Langhorne Slim, Chris Eldridge & Julian Lage and Jerry Douglas to name a few. This past year, they have been working on a new studio album with VT producer, Michael Chorney and a hand picked cast of local musicians. Their sophomore full length and first ever vinyl release, A Riddle For You, was released on June 3rd 2016 and is available on all the digital music hubs. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Julian Velard’s performance recorded live at the Historic Deepwells Mansion on September 7, 2016. With a style The Sunday Times calls “catchy but complicated; a surprisingly rare combination,” Julian Velard is piano-pop tunesmith recalling Stephen Sondheim or Randy Newman at the peak of their talents. With 4 albums of original material under his belt, he’s toured internationally alongside the likes of Jamie Cullum, Paul Carrack, and Amy Macdonald. His quirky, native new york, piano-man sound has found its largest audience in Holland, where he headlined Amsterdam’s legendary venue, Paradiso. His comedic timing and musical stylings have made him a regular on The Howard Stern Show and NPR’s Ask Me Another. For more, go to julianvelard.com. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Our September concert was kicked off with “Dave’s Top Ten New Names for the Summer Concert,” followed by our “Little Billy Riddle” segment, – which was delivered this time by it’s namesake, Little Billy (yes, the son of our esteemed sound man, Billy). We don’t always share our intro monologue silliness, but this one was “ready for primetime.” Finally, warming up the night with her pristine vocals and masterful song crafting was Long Island’s own, Cassandra House. Enjoy! Photos courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Matt Nakoa was our featured artist for the August concert at Deepwells. “Between his piano chops, charismatic stage presence, and heartfelt originals on guitar, Matt Nakoa drops jaws.”, says The Boston Globe. From a small goat farm in Central NY, Matt trained as a concert pianist before attending Berklee College of Music as a vocalist. After school, Matt landed in NYC’s piano bar scene and began attracting capacity crowds each Saturday night. Now, toting multiple albums and songwriting awards, Matt tours internationally; recently performing at The White House and regularly with folk icon Tom Rush. Visit www.mattnakoa.com for what’s new! Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Opening our August show, Robinson contributed his unique energy and soulfulness to a performance that had the crowd asking for more. Robinson Treacher is a powerfully dramatic NYC acoustic singer/songwriter whose writing style, as well as his live performances, reflect the influence that classic soul and blues-based music has impressed upon him. His passion and emotional grit burst through every aspect of his music. For more on his music, click here.

This performance was recorded live as part of our 11th Annual Summer Concert Festival. With an eclectic song catalog and category-defying organic/electronic sound, people are taking notice of ATC.  They were 2015 Billboard Hot 100 Fest performers with The Weeknd and Justin Bieber, placed on the NPR Hot 100 List for SXSW, named Guardian UK Band of the Day, won Best Indie Alternative Song for “You Know Me” in the Independent Music Awards, and have over 15 million Spotify plays. ATC’s music has been licensed by Bose, MTV, NBC, ABC, Disney, Verizon, Toyota, and many more. The band started 2016 with showcases in Park City at Sundance with ASCAP, Toyota Music Lodge, and Cisero’s. They followed this up with their first Sixth man Rock Boat cruise with bands like Bronze Radio Return, Jukebox The Ghost, and Michael Franti. An Official act again this year at SXSW, ATC played showcases for McDonalds, the Grammy Museum, and was featured on Jeff Regan’s Alt Nation playlist of bands to watch at this year’s festival. Air Traffic Controller’s third album, BLACK BOX, was released on March 11, 2016. The new album features “People Watching,” “On The Wire” and “What You Do To My Soul.” ...

Recorded live at our 11th Annual Summer Concert Festival, Miller’s Crossing is a bluegrass band based out of Long Island, New York. Miller’s Crossing prides itself on the original material each member brings to the band’s repertoire. They strive to play bluegrass music the way they feel it, and the result is a fresh outlook on the music while not getting too far away from it’s roots. A premier release of the CD “Adirondack Rail”, by Marjorie Kelting and Ronnie Feinberg, is an example of some of the material performed by Miller’s Crossing. For more, click here.

Recorded LIVE at Deepwells Mansion as part of its 11th Annual Summer Concert Festival. Lou Voodoo combines the vibes of New Orleans parades, Prohibition speakeasies, and modern urban streetcorners.  Their music captures the existential jazz/funk celebration of temptation, vice, love, superstition and the mysterious afterlife that we’re all headed toward.  Be prepared to move and chant and laugh and clap – and a sip of bourbon might be in order too. Hailing from Westchester, NY, Lou Voodoo is Dave Lewis on guitar, Ken Dircks on standup bass, and Rich Monopoli on drums.

Jocelyn has a hooky, lyric driven, acoustic sound that relates to artists like Ed Sheeran, Tracy Chapman, Megan Treynor, Nora Jones, etc. Just 18 Jocelyn has already performed at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café, The legendary Whiskey-A-Go-Go in LA (twice), as well as Omaha’s premier music venues, The Waiting Room and The Slowdown, and many other clubs and events. Possessing a magnetic personality and live stage presence Jocelyn is a unique and undeniable vocal and guitar stylist that is impressive at any age and absolutely stunning at hers. For more, click here.

Shotgun Wedding draws from a wellspring of country, Americana, alt-country, rock n’ roll, and the boogie-and-stride piano tradition. With reverent intentions and restless creativity, the five-piece band has boldly settled its own authentic homestead.The group boasts four very individual and accomplished songwriters and lead vocalists, and sumptuous four-voice harmony passages. Shotgun Wedding has garnered favorable comparisons to Asleep At The Wheel, Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks, Little Feat, Zac Brown Band, and Shooter Jennings. The band cites influences as diverse as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Speckled Red, Professor Longhair, AC/DC, Jim Campilongo, and Karen Carpenter. Shotgun Wedding is Dennis DelGaudio, guitar/vocals/bandleader; Wade Preston, piano/ vocals; Catherine Porter, vocals; Andy Cichon, bass/vocals; and Chuck Burgi, drums. The quintet has the rare distinction of being fulltime acclaimed musicians with impressive resumes pursuing a passion project out of sheer love of the music, their chemistry as a creative unit, and the deep bond of friendship they share. For more, click here.

The acoustic jazz ensemble, Rhythm Future Quartet has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Led by violinist Jason Anick and guitarist Olli Soikkeli, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms. With Max O’Rourke on second guitar and Greg Loughman on bass, Rhythm Future is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of a vital musical genre. Where the band’s self-titled debut album re-visited classic jazz and Gypsy jazz favorites, Travels, the quartet’s current release, concentrates on group originals that make captivating use of musical sources from outside the conventional Gypsy jazz terrain. Travels reflects both the accumulated knowledge garnered from the groups world wide touring as well as the international influences that inspired new rhythmic and harmonic possibilities within their compositions and arrangements. For more, click here.

Long Island artist, SEE, was there to get the night going for our June concert at Deepwells Mansion. It was a beautiful early summer night – the french doors were open and the audience was primed for a good time. Enjoy!

Goodbye Blue is an Americana duo featuring Charlotte Kendrick and Dan Rowe. The duo performs melodic and personal Americana-Folk reminiscent of story-telling artists such as The Weepies, Patty Griffin, and John Prine. In addition to their close personal relationship (they’re married), Charlotte and Dan have a longstanding and complimentary musical partnership. The duo previously made three albums together with Charlotte as singer/songwriter and Dan in the producer/arranger role. Now performing as Goodbye Blue, the current songs reflect a time of life that many can relate to, describing the joys and struggles of raising small children. Their current release, Worth the Wait, comes out on March 21st, 2016 on Wondermore Records. For more, click here.

It was a rainy Wednesday night, but somehow our loyal audience filled the seats for another intimate evening of live music. After posing the monthly riddle (presented by Billy’s son little Billy), Chris J Connolly took the stage and captured the audience with his unique blend of story telling and song crafting.

Recorded live on April 6, 2016 at the historic Deepwells Mansion in Saint James. Ramblin’ Dan Stevens performs a mix of traditional finger style blues, americana and originals and has entertained audiences throughout the United States, Germany, UK, Canada and US Virgin Islands. His unique style of “bottleneck” slide playing popularized by early Mississippi Delta bluesmen includes use of a homemade, three stringed “Cigar Box Guitar” and one stringed “Diddly Bow”, both primitive blues instruments. A finalist in the International Blues Challenge on Beale St. in Memphis TN and protege of the legendary folk and blues icon Dave Van Ronk, Dan has been lauded as a raconteur and for the authenticity of his approach. Dave’s career has recently been highlighted by the release of the the Coen Brothers movie, “Inside Llewyn Davis”, set in the Greenwich Village scene in the sixties. Also, Dan plays regularly in the New York City Subway System in locations such as Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. For more on Dan’s music, click here. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Recorded live on April 6, 2016 at the historic Deepwells Mansion in Saint James. Join Dave and Billy as they kick off the 2016 concert season, in spite of Donald Trump holding a rally just miles away. To warm up the show, Kayla Stockert shared her amazing voice and songwriting skills. Give a listen! Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg.

Recorded live on October 7, 2015. Considered by many to be the consummate songwriter, his songs take the listener on an emotional journey. Family, relationships, human nature or contemplation of life’s choices. O’Malley’s songs are universal, often written with a subtle humor. His latest CD, #4, was produced by Pete Kennedy and features newly written beauties and a couple of classics. His music and songs have been featured on scores of radio stations nationwide and around the world, including, WFUV, WSHU, WFDU, WNTI, WVIA, WFCR and WUSB, in the east, to KRCL (Salt Lake City, Utah), KZSC (Santa Cruz, Ca.), in the west, as well as, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Germany! “His soft voice and gentle finger style on the guitar enthralls the most jaded listener. The warm and intimate melodies that he crafts beautifully frame the direct and honest stories that he tells” – Huntington Folk Music Society For more on James, click here. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Recorded live on October 7, 2015. Tommy was the very first musical artist to be featured at our concert series, which back then was called Acoustic Long Island and took place at Cool Beanz Cafe in Saint James. There were about 15 people in the audience and the music was incredible. We could tell from that first night that we were on to something. Tommy had appeared many other times through the tears and is one of our favorites. Among many other musical accomplishments, Tommy is the guitarist for the famous Little Wilson Band. For more on Tommy’s band, click here. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg

Recorded live on September 2, 2015. “I was born on the side of the mountain” — sings the opening line of Carl Anderson’s new album Risk of Loss. Born at home in rural Virginia’s Wolftown and raised in Charlottesville, Carl grew up at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains. Son of a wandering, freighthopping father and a mother who worked two jobs to support the family, Carl understood the importance of hard work at an early age. His house was full of music, with parents who sang old folk songs and kept Joni Mitchell, Stephen Foster and Jim Reeves on the stereo. Carl has quickly become a staple at Virginia festivals, logging two appearances each at Campout East and The Festy Experience in addition to Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Misty Mountain Music Fest, Red Wing Roots and Crozet Music Festival. He was selected as a finalist for Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s “Telluride Troubadour” songwriting contest and thereafter recorded a Daytrotter session. Twenty-seven years old and living in Nashville, Tennessee, Carl often performs as a duo alongside his wife Ellen. The couple hopes to tour extensively throughout the country and share songs with whomever is willing to listen. Carl’s evocative ...

Recorded live on Sept. 2, 2015. Raised as the youngest of four children in a big musical family in Swainsboro, Georgia, Bragg lived in a number of Southern musical capitals – Athens, Atlanta, and Nashville – before settling in New York in 2004. Her music is consequently a seamless hybrid of her southern Americana roots and the downtown New York singer-songwriter community of which she became a key member before moving to Nashville in December 2013.Tattoos and Bruises follows her sophomore release, Sugar (2007), which was produced by Darius Jones, and recorded in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Her debut album, Certain Simple Things (2004), was co-written, engineered and produced in Athens, Georgia, by Dave Haywood (Lady Antebellum). Winner of the BandPage/ZooLabs Music Residency Contest (2014), Telluride Troubadour Competition Honorable Mention (2012), International Songwriting Competition Honorable Mention (2011), Mary’s music has been compared to Patty Griffin and Mindy Smith. For more on Mary’s music, click here. Photo courtesy of Howard Greenberg