Alex Castle
A fearless, clever songwriter with a knack for making dark and uncomfortable topics effortlessly funny, Alex is equally at ease on comedy or music stages, keeping things fun and funny with (as the Village Voice put it) “carefree (and sometimes careless) charisma.” (Still not sure if that’s good but it was nice to be noticed.)
Alex won the Judges’ Choice Award at the 2016 NEW YORK FUNNY SONGS FESTIVAL’s 50 FUNNY SONGS competition and founded the firebreathing 10-piece funk monster that is THE GET IT.
In 2024 Alex released PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY, END TIMES, a darkly amusing reflection on pandemic isolation, despair and recovery, as well as a Christmas collaboration with Marco Benevento, "You Better Believe."
sweet petunia
Sweet Petunia, composed of Mairead Guy and Maddy Simpson, are an alt folk duo based in Boston. Over the years, the duo have grown into their own as both powerful songwriters and harmonizers as well as lightning quick players, beginning every set with explosive double banjo action. Unapologetically queer and unafraid to get loud and angry, they craft music that is informed just as much by their contemporaries in Boston’s punk & DIY scene as it is steeped in rich folk tradition.Maddy Simpson plays banjo, guitar, sings, writes songs, and books a boatload of shows! Her musical interest began with a CD copy of The Essential Simon and Garfunkel, and keeps on growing every day.https://www.sweetpetuniaband.com
Mairead Guy is a Boston-based vocalist, banjoist, guitarist and songwriter. Their life in music began in their hometown of Richmond, VA where they grew up in a family of musicians. Their environment nurtured a deep connection to both the Old Time and Irish American pub scenes. In 2017, they moved to Boston where they earned their degree in Songwriting and Performance at Berklee College of Music. Mairead brings the same philosophy to teaching that they do to performance: that everyone on earth can be called to make a joyful noise. Through their work, they aim to foster community and empower their students to build connections with others through music. 
The Lucky 5
The Lucky 5 is a hard-swinging jazz band that blends 30’s and 40’s style swing with gypsy and Parisian flavors to create a unique blend of music that stands by itself. Combining originals and creative reworks of old standards, The Lucky 5 continues to be a favorite among music lovers young and old alike.
The band is comprised of highly seasoned touring musicians, having been part of The Hunger Mountain Boys, Lauren Ambrose & The Leisure Class, and traveled, performed and recorded with artists such as Neko Case, Iris Dement, Bobby Previte, Del McCoury, Jim Lauderdale, just to name a few.
The Lucky 5 brings verve, high energy, and an unpredictable impulse to the tradition of jazz from the 20's, 30's and 40's, grooving deeply, and keeping feet moving on the dance floor.
willie lane
Lane, a 30-year-old picker currently based in Western Massachusetts, plays an extremely loose, primal, noisy type of improvised and extra-heavy dirt-blues.
Undercover Cameo
Lucas Neil and Olivia Charlotte are Undercover Cameo. The duo has appeared as opening acts for Josh Rouse, The Carleans, Kat Wright, Ryan Montbleau, Will Evans, Nick Bosse, and The Wolff Sisters and has gained entry into The Rhode Island Folk Festival, Hartbeat Music Festival, Next-Up Music Festival, Mystic Folkways Festival, and more.
Milton
A songwriter’s songwriter, known for his lyric craft, distinctive voice and soulful songs steeped in classic rhythm & blues, pop, jazz, folk and country, Milton first gained notoriety in his hometown New York City when his song “In The City” became a hit on New York’s WFUV radio. His live performances, which include material from every one of his albums, are praised for their wit, humor, and captivating charm.
Milton has toured extensively throughout the states since 2005, as a headliner and appearing as support for his hero and mentor Chris Smither, in addition to shows and tours with Joan Osborne, Steave Earle, Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Sonny Landreth, Colin Hay, Kat Edmonson, Josh Ritter and many more.
In late 2019, Milton premiered his 5th and finest album Studio City with a sold out show at City Vineyard NYC. The album, a veritable tour de force of songwriting and studio craft, features 12 ultra-catchy, concise tunes ranging in style from Sinatra-esque full orchestra swing, to Sgt. Pepper-like whimsical comedy to vintage country and New Orleans rhythm and blues. In concert, Milton and his ultra-sharp band of NYC veteran session players deliver the songs seamlessly with Milton’s own graceful live arrangements.
Glori Wilder
Glori Wilder is back at The Dreamaway Lodge for a soulful night of original music. Accompanying herself on piano and guitar, Glori shares stories of life lessons, triumphs and tragedies through her lullaby lyrics and passionate voice.
Bobby Sweet w/Pete Adams & Lara Tupper
Singer-songwriter Bobby Sweet is an engaging storyteller and dynamic performer. The Berkshire native and sixth generation musician has received praise for his Country-Americana style and story songs about real life. Stylistically, Bobby’s music resides somewhere between John Prine, Jackson Browne, and a countryfied Bruce Springsteen, with a hint of Texas Swing. Between 2008 and 2016, Bobby toured the US and Canada as lead guitarist with Arlo Guthrie. His travels with Guthrie included performances at Carnegie Hall, the New Orleans Jazz Fest, and Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, among many other landmark venues. Bobby’s songs have aired on many hit television series, such as Nashville, Touched By An Angel, Walker Texas Ranger, CSI, and Judging Amy. He has released seven solo albums to date. He will be performing with his trio featuring pedal steel guitarist Pete Adams and vocalist Lara Tupper.
Vaguely Pagan w/ will lawrence
Wes Buckley, Brian Kantor, Miles Lally, known as Vaguely Pagan, keep an audience moving with their brand of toe tappers, hippy spinners, you name it, but at the end of the night, they kind of just play soul music. You can see, hear and feel them enjoying themselves. The original songs veer into psych, folk, jam and rock territory and the cover songs are the ones you forgot how much you loved to hear. Hop on the train and boogie down to your new favorite jams.
snake & the rabbit
Originally from San Diego, Snake and the Rabbit use the lessons they’ve learned on the road to create their unique blend of Americana music. Their music is heavily influenced by Psychedelic folk, American blues, Outlaw Country and lo-fi Rock. The result is a sound they call COWGIRL SURF. The band, husband and wife Brett and Leanna “Lee” Patterson, have been married since 2010 and playing as Snake and the Rabbit since 2020.
Simone Stevens & Phil roebuck
Simone Stevens is a singer-songwriter based in the Hudson Valley. After years of honing her skills and recording countless songs in New York and L.A., Bonsai, her latest musical project, received praise from outfits like Paste and Spin magazine. The debut record was produced and recorded by Dan Molad and Pete Lalish (Lucius) and featured pedal steel extraordinaire Greg McMullen (Geln Branca, Trixie Whiteley.)
footings w/lady pills
Footings is a vehicle for the songs of Eric Gagne, mostly performed by several musicians, but sometimes, and in this case, just Eric solo. Gagne started his musical career in the experimental instrumental band Death to Tyrants in 2003, touring on an alternative circuit of town halls and basements alongside New England hardcore icons like Ampere. Then in 2008, he launched the quieter, folkier Redwing Blackbird with fellow guitarist Austin Wright, playing the same DIY circuit as Death to Tyrants only unplugged; the band recorded three-full length albums between 2010 and 2013 when Wright left the band. Gagne then played briefly with a solo project called Passerine and started Footings with Candace Clement and Elisabeth Fuchsia in 2012.
Since then, Footings has made five albums, toured with Marisa Anderson and played as Bonnie Prince Billy’s back-up band in 2022. Celebrated tastemaker Byron Coley once wrote, “Gagne’s songs and deep vocals, often the core of the band’s operation, combine the literary qualities of a heavy reader with the observational data of a poet.”
Gagne is also a mainstay of the underground music scene in Northern New England, booking a diverse and adventurous bill of artists at Keene, NH-based Nova Arts and curating the excellent Thing in the Spring Festival in Peterborough and Keene for the last 17 years, most recently with Stephen Malkmus and Califone headlining.
Lady Pills is the indie pop rock solo project of Ella Boissonnault known for raw, introspective songwriting and dynamic, emotionally charged performances. Formed in Boston and now based in Providence, Lady Pills blends sharp lyricism with a distinctive sonic edge, weaving together elements of punk, grunge, and lo-fi pop.
She describes her most recent album, Renowned in the Roaring Twenties, as a concept album. “It’s kind of a reflection on the post-pandemic treatment of musicians and artists,” explains Boissonnault. “There’s that self analysis of, why am I doing this? Is it a job I need or am I reframing it for why I love it? And through all that, it includes observations of the music industry through this new lens of living through 2020 and the few years after.
Liz Queler, Seth Farber & Joey Farber
Partners in marriage and music, Liz Queler and Seth Farber are both three time Grammy nominees. As children of musical parents and parents of a musical child, they started bringing their son Joey on stage with them when he was a tot. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, now living in LA, Joey’s back to make music with his folks at their favorite haunt in the hills. With individual credits including appearances at Newport Folk Festival and Carnegie Hall (Liz), Sofi Stadium and Saturday Night Live (Joey), the conducting podium of numerous Broadway shows and 10 years as music director to folk legend Odetta (Seth) - they blend and communicate as only a family band can. Heavy on harmonies with influences from Appalachia, bluegrass and gospel, their music is infused with a rock sensibility, creating a soulful cross between Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Emmylou Harris and John Mayer. The Queler/Farbers have eight CDs between them. Their CD "The Edna Project" set 21 poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay to music, and became both the inspiration and score for "Still Will Be Heard" - their first theater piece, commissioned and produced by Peak Performances at Montclair State Univ. (NJ) and again at The Mondavi Center at UC Davis. They've toured extensively, were featured on Rosie O'Donnell's HBO special "A Family is a Family Is a Family” and the 2019 PBS tribute to Pete Seeger. Liz and Seth were Cliff Eberhardt’s band for many years, and they are also both members of children’s rock sensation “Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could”. Liz and Seth founded and run Urban Garage, a free monthly teen open mic and guided jam in NYC. www.lizqueler.com @joey.farber
Chris Murphy
In another era, I would have played square dances, been a court musician, or a circus fiddler, and loved every minute of it,” says veteran LA violinist and songwriter Chris Murphy, whose spirited and haunting original music bends genres and even centuries with ease.
Murphy grew up in an Irish-Italian family near New York City, surrounded by the disparate sounds of his neighbors’ traditional music: Italian mandolin songs, pulsing Latin rhythms, and bracing Irish rounds. Eventually falling under the spell of late, great multi-instrumentalist David Lindley (Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan) Murphy went on to explore Turkish and Indian music at Bard College, and studied composition at Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory of Music.
Since then, Murphy has hypnotized crowds in more than forty US states, done extensive tours of England, Belgium , and The Netherlands, and amassed a breathtakingly deep catalog of over 500 works. His over fifteen original albums—including 2023’s brilliant “The Road & the Stars”—boast A-list players from the Tom Waits band, Wilco, X, The Desert Rose Band, Elvis Costello, and the Buena Vista Social Club.
“To me, music is liquid,” Murphy explains thoughtfully. “I’ll twist and turn, and hammer and mold, and shape, cut, and paste the music to create a fresh experience for my audience at all costs.”
Rounders Revival
Rounders Revival invites you to share in an evening of light-hearted and uplifting acoustic music steeped deeply in the folk-americana traditions of universal story telling and soulful harmonies.
Join in for the Rounders renditions of singer-songwriter favorites and inspired originals.
Instagram: @roundersrevival
Lizzie and the makers
Lizzie & The Makers’ sophomore studio album, Dear Onda Wahl, embroiders their potent Southern-tinged rock with roots, soul, dream-pop, and ethereal elements to spawn something all their own. It’s one of those rare records that combines single-minded artistry with broad commercial appeal.
Created around the dusky yet soaring timbre of force-of-nature frontwoman Lizzie Edwards, Dear Onda Wahl was produced by Grammy winner Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince) and Cure guitarist Reeves Gabrels (Tin Machine, Bowie). Their influence ensures an intriguingly adventurous, hugely dynamic – and occasionally otherworldly – take on the traditional.
Defying her constant comparisons to Janis Joplin, the classically-trained Edwards, 5-time official showcasing artist at SXSW, former Pleasantville Music Festival MainStage performer, summons a heartfelt, nuanced mezzo-soprano shaped by Memphis soul legend Ann Peebles, Heart’s Wilson sisters, and jazz icon Billie Holiday. She’s assertive, yet vulnerable; defiant, yet proudly flawed.
the glass hours
The Glass Hours are American songwriters Megan Barbera and Brad Armstrong. Combining influences from Megan’s Colorado mountain roots and Brad’s Birmingham, AL southern roots, the Americana/Country Folk duo met in New York’s Hudson Valley in Summer 2022 and began writing and performing together immediately. They recorded their first album the following spring.
Their self-titled debut album was released by Cornelius Chapel Records in March 2024, and several songs from the album were featured by Americana UK, The Bluegrass Situation and Americana Highways. The duo was invited to play NYC’s Underwater Sunshine Festival, an annual music showcase curated by Adam Duritz, lead singer for Counting Crows. From there, they self-booked two national tours in 2024 and began writing their second album while on tour in the West.
The Glass Hours second album, Chapel Glass, was recorded in November 2024 at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, MS. Chapel Glass is set for release September 19, 2025. It was co-produced, engineered and mixed by Clay Jones (Al Green, Modest Mouse.) and includes Matt Patton (Drive-by Truckers, Laura Jane Grace) on bass, and Jason Lucia (Blue Mountain, Galactic Engineers) on drums.
Jude Roberts
Jude Roberts writes and performs evocative folk songs with authenticity and grace. His music is a melodically rich tapestry of woven language. Jude's song, "Suzanne", written for Holocaust Survivor Tommy Wald, was featured in the 2022 PBS documentary "We Remember: Songs of Survivors"; as was an earlier composition entitled "I Don't Need To Tell You".
A 2018 Falcon Ridge Folk festival Emerging Artist, Jude writes songs influenced by English, Irish and Appalachian folk music, with touches of baroque and Romantic-era classical pieces and European folk/pop. A unique amalgam of style and talent, Roberts draws the listener inward and invites them to dive deep.
Jude is working on a new full-length record, entitled "Sun Signs", set for release in fall 2024. To learn more about this project, visit:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sun-signs-the-new-record-by-jude-roberts#/
Having traveled extensively throughout Europe for performance and pleasure, Jude launched a project leading music-focused retreats to Greece in October 2019. These tours will resume in 2025.
“He fingerpicks with the delicacy, assurance and color of Nick Drake; sings with the bell-like clarity and gentle high end of a lost Finn brother; and writes Anglo- and pop-inflected folksongs with the offhand grace and deceptive sophistication of early James Taylor, Richard Thompson or Sir Paul himself.” -John Burdick, HV1 Art and Music,
Sasha k.a.
Music has been the nexus of Sasha’s life. Growing up in the rustic beauty of Western Mass, the son of a folk singer and political activist, Sasha’s childhood was steeped in acoustic guitars, protests, and tall trees. Sasha started playing clarinet in 2nd grade and soon he was holding down the drums for his band’s debut at Northampton’s JFK Middle School All School Party.
Sasha attended Oberlin College where he majored in Music Theory. Upon graduating, Sasha served two years as the music teacher, band director, and choir director for the New Hingham Elementary School in Chesterfield, MA.
In 2014, Sasha moved to Austin to pursue a MM in Music Education at the University of Texas at Austin. While in Austin, Sasha formed the indie-folk group American Dreamer (featuring his wife Courtney on cello). American Dreamer is represented by the Texas Commission on the Arts and was a 2021 Sonic Guild grant recipient. The band has performed at the Old Settler’s Music Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, Fischer Fest, and been featured on KUTX and Sun Radio.
In 2017, Sasha signed a publishing deal with Victory Records/Another Victory Publishing. His music has been featured in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint and in a promo spot for Food Basics. Sasha’s 2020 debut album Family received praise from Americana Highways, Austin 360, The Bluegrass Situation, KUTX, Elmore Magazine, and No Depression.
In 2022, Sasha returned to Western Mass to be close to family and start the music program at Rise Preparatory Academy in Springfield. In New England, Sasha has been featured in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Greenfield Recorder, and Mass Live and performed at the Green River Festival, Back Porch Festival, Sunflower Festival, Lenox Loves Music, Summer On Strong, and countless clubs, breweries, and wineries.
“With a rolling beat, Sasha K.A will ease you in and surround you with remorseful,
yet somehow healing, vibes.” —Americana Highways
Christa joy & the honeybees
Americana with classic country flair, Christa Joy and the Honeybees hail from Easthampton, MA. The group includes Lisa Marie Ellingsen (lead guitar), Tim Bowles (pedal steel), Jason Smith (drums) and Tom LeBeau (bass). The songwriter’s fourth full length collection released in 2024, self-titled with her touring band, Christa Joy and the Honeybees. This release paints a versatile picture of the group’s talents—ranging from kitschy humorous gems like “God Gave Me Two Babies” and “Omens,” to emotional ballads like “Time and Luck” and the sparser indie flavor of “Again and Again.” Also included on the project, Producer Grant Wicks arranged a countrified cover of Pixies “Here Comes Your Man,” a shout out to local hero Black Francis.
Christa Joy is known for her strong sense of melody, resonant storytelling, and charming sincerity. She has played at many notable New England venues, including the Parlor Room, the Iron Horse and Club Passim. She has opened for some of her heroines, including Lucy Wainwright Roche, Meg Hutchinson, The Sweetback Sisters, Loudon Wainwright III, and Antje Duvekot. Perhaps more importantly, she is a Mom of three and a Forest Kindergarten Teacher in Western Massachusetts. You can follow her more closely on Substack and IG as Momsongwriter.
Originally from rural Massachusetts, Christa grew up in a teacher preacher truck-driving kind of family. Joy spent the earliest years of her songwriting telling stories of her rural upbringing, the illness and death of her mother, and the brokenhearted years that followed this loss. Impermanence, separation, and the fragility of human life were themes that figured prominently in her early collections of songs, Ready or Not (2012) and Daughter of Your Lost Art (2014). Then she became a Mom in 2015. That new little being demanded her presence and Joy turned her attention back toward this most precious world. She saw it all again for the first time and experienced it all through the soft constant awareness of her first child. In becoming a parent, Joy rediscovered her own inner magic. She began to lighten up, to laugh again, and took notes for the whole ride. These are the moments that brought together her third collection of songs, Get On, Heart! (2019) This album was highlighted by No Depression's "Crowdfunding Campaigns of the Week," and later released to a sold out Parlor Room in Northampton, MA. Most notably played on Signature Sounds Jim Olsen's "The Back Porch" radio show, Jim Neill's Jukebox, Texas Highway Radio Show, Blue Moon Kentucky, Keepin' It True Country, Nine Volt Heart, Vizaural Music, Country Routes News, and others.
5 Pound Horse w/ Daniel Kleederman
5 Pound Horse has created a regional and international buzz around electric live performances where anything’s on the table — French-language songs, banjos, marimbas, melodies from Africa and Ireland and anywhere else they draw inspiration. They’ve graced Berkshires institutions like The Dream Away Lodge and MASS MoCA’s FreshGrass Festival, appeared at Pittsburgh venues like the Thunderbird Music Hall and James Simon’s sculpture studio Pittsburgh PA, and thrown legendary parties at their home BarN in Williamstown, MA. They toured Europe in 2024 playing as The Durgas and 5 Pound Horse combined into one group. The band are poised to record their first EP with producer Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, etc).
Heart-stirring, original, and epiphany-inducing, 5 Pound Horse is ready to ride into a town near you for a night to remember. Saddle up!
Misty Blues
Band founder and lead singer, Gina Coleman, entered the music scene in the early 90’s as the lead singer of the folk/rock group Cole-Connection. It wasn’t until 1999 when she played a gospel singer in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of A Raisin In The Sun that she was steered down the path of blues. The lead actor in the production, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, told Coleman that he felt her... voice was well suited to sing classic blues. This sentiment was echoed by actor/singer, Mandy Patinkin, who sought her out after seeing the opening performance of the production. After actress Gwyneth Paltrow commented on her performance, Coleman knew a musical shift was imminent. Guitarist Jason Webster and bassist Bill Patriquin from Cole-Connection were on board and thus began Misty Blues.
With a deficit of blues music in the Berkshires at the time, they felt the musical change would be well received. Misty Blues pays homage to the older blues made popular by the bold and brassy women of its time, while still paying respect to classic male artists of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. The band hasn’t completely abandoned their musical roots; they have been known to perform classic rock and folk tunes infused with a healthy dose of the blues. Over the years, Misty Blues has produced ten albums. Today the core members includes Gina Coleman, Seth Fleischmann, Bill Patriquin, Ben Kohn, Rob Tatten and Aaron Dean.
Avi Jacob
Avi was born into a Jewish family in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. His father, historian Robert Michael, is the author of several books about the Holocaust. Jacob left home in his teen years to live in Boston. He spent the next several years developing skills as a songwriter and performer. While living in Boston, he was involved in the DIY music community The Whitehaus Family Record and released several amateur recordings with them. Jacob moved to Charleston, South Carolina in 2010 and began to focus on his professional career in music by playing small music festivals, and being featured in music blogs and samplers. Avi is a writer of the Diana DeMuth song "All the Liars" released in 2020
He unofficially released the song "Cannonball" in 2014 on social media.
In December 2015, he was brought to CMJ by the band Counting Crows who named him the best folk emerging superstar. He opened for Dr John in February 2016.
In March 2016, Avi was featured on A&R Report as an artist to watch.
Avi recorded his EP Surrender with Simone Felice (producer of the Billboard #1 Lumineers album Cleopatra) and members of the Felice Brothers.
In May 2020 Avi released a new album, Preservation, via Bandcamp.
Jacob is an independent artist, formerly signed to Skate Mountain Records, and related to popular ghost-folk songwriter Allysen Callery.
Niall Connolly
1977. The year that punk was born.With only hours left to spare it also produced a baby boy in the suburbs of Cork, Ireland, born with his ears piqued to the murmurs and clatter around him.As he grew the soundtrack changed. Nirvana on the Walkman. Leonard Cohen on his sister’s stereo. The surge of bands and songwriters emerging from the 1990’s Cork music scene. Later it became snippets of eavesdropped New York conversation. Tales of woe on the radio. The sights and sounds of tours across Europe.All of it gets woven into a tapestry of words. Then melody. Harmonies added in the studio. Electricity, sincerity, and humor on the stage. At the core of every Niall Connolly song is the story, one that unfolds a layer with each listen.
charming disaster
Charming Disaster is a goth-folk musical duo based in Brooklyn, NY, formed in 2012 by Ellia Bisker and Jeff Morris. Inspired by the macabre humor of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton, the murder ballads of the Americana tradition, and the dramatic flair of the cabaret, they write playfully dark songs about death, crime, myth, magic, science, and the occult.
Charming Disaster’s music has been featured on the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, they have toured the United States and Europe, and have opened for Rasputina, Voltaire, The Dresden Dolls. Recent appearances include Dragon Con, the Rochester Fringe Festival, Philadelphia’s Science History Institute, Cleveland's Wizbang Circus Theatre, and the Coney Island Sideshow stage. Their new album, THE DOUBLE, comes out on May 16.
pearla
Pearla is the project of Brooklyn-based Nicole Rodriguez, whose music radiates with indiscriminate awe—whether it’s the befuddling depths of nature or the profoundly strange spark of a dreaming mind—she takes it all as equal magic. Her debut album Oh Glistening Onion, The Nighttime Is Coming released on Spacebomb Records landed widespread acclaim from Pitchfork, NPR Music, Brooklyn Vegan, Consequence, Under The Radar, Talkhouse, Rough Trade Records, KCRW, and more. Pearla has played festivals including Wille Nelson's Luck Reunion, Nelsonville Music Festival, and SXSW, shared bills with San Fermin, Kacy & Clayton, A.O. Gerber, and Miss Grit, and performed sessions for WNYC, Paste, and Daytrotter among others.
“Rodriguez folds together boundless curiosity with heady reflection; her record is as captivated by modern life’s intricacies as it is curious about what exists beyond them.”
—Pitchfork
“a fantasy painted with wonder and sorrow, and she seamlessly guides listeners through dense crescendos transitioning into sparse acoustic moments with masterful restraint.”
—Consequence
"folksy and philosophical…Annie Dillard-esque" —NPR Music (New Music Friday)
“The immaculately decorated folk and clever lyricism of New York’s Nicole Rodriguez lingers on the mind.” —Rough Trade (On The Rise)
“ a quirk-filled joy to explore… will yield its charms to you slowly over repeated listens” —Under The Radar
“beautifully realized indie pop and folk tracks augmented with touches
of country twang and stirring orchestration” —Brooklyn Vegan
Tyler Nail
Hailing from the Appalachian foothills of North Carolina, Tyler Nail is a dynamic folk musician and compelling storyteller. Weaving intricate guitar work with profound lyrical depth, his performance is an authentic blend of Americana, folk, and roots music. Since 2008, Nail has built a reputation for his intimate live shows and songs that explore themes of family, personal journeys, and human connection. His two-part album, Family (2025), dives into the lore of his lineage, blending nostalgic hometown sensibilities with captivating but simple tales of his family and ancestry. A recent Rhode Island transplant since 2024, Tyler was nominated for "Favorite Americana Act" and "Favorite Singer-Songwriter" at the 2025 RI Motif Awards. He has opened for notable artists like Jim Avett (father of The Avett Brothers), Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale, renowned NC acts American Aquarium and The Hackensaw Boys, and was a featured artist at Connecticut's Black Bear Americana Fest 2025 alongside headliners Howie Day and Shawn Mullins.
Footings and Jack Mackelvie
Footings releases ruminative, resilient The Worm Moon
Fifth full length for the New England folk rock trio is out August 1 on Feeding Tube and Don’t Live Like Me Records
“How can we move forward when we’re going nowhere?” asks Eric Gagne in opening lines of The Worm Moon, his fifth full-length as Footings. The album takes its name from the March full moon, which signals the first stirrings of life, kicking off an annual process of rebirth and regeneration that shoots up through the cracks in winter’s desolation to bring growth and hope. The Worm Moon marks the beginnings of a slow process, full of fits and starts and reversals, where it’s not always obvious that conditions are improving. In that way, it’s an apt metaphor for the struggle that shaped the folk rock band’s latest album, out August 1 on Feeding Tube and Don’t Live Like Me Records.
“I’ve always liked the idea of the worm moon,” said Gagne. “It means that even when things seem stagnant, we’re always growing. To me, that’s the only real constant. We should always be reevaluating ourselves and understanding how we're interacting with the world.”
Like its namesake, the album came out of a long, desolate period, where world events like COVID and personal issues around love and loss cast a pall over any attempts at creativity. But like a northern New England spring, the songs came anyway and on their own schedule. Gagne recorded the bulk of it with Ben Rogers at Loud Sun Studios in Southern New England. Later, an additional, all-out rocking session with Charlie Chronopoulos at the Glass Factory in Wilton, NH, produced the album’s closing track “I Won’t Go.” Charlie Chronopoulos mixed the album, and Will Killingsworth at Dead Air mastered it.
The songs on the album build lush but sparing textures out of acoustic instruments, primarily guitar, bass and drums, drawing on a slightly configured band, which can range, in live performance, from a solo act to a quartet. As before, Rick Rude’s Jordan Holtz plays bass, and Candace Clement of Western Mass legends Bunny’s a Swine sings and plays guitar alongside Gagne. However, there’s a new drummer in Mia Govoni, a Berklee grad with impressive chops. And though long-time Footings violist Elisabeth Fuchsia (Bonnie Prince Billy, Ryan Davis Band) still layers Gagne’s songs with keening, swooning strings on several of Worm Moon’s tracks, she has moved out of the area and is no longer a member of the band.
These bandmates have become an integral part of Gagne’s writing process. “The nice thing about Mia and Jordan and Candace is that I can play them a song and I know that by the time all three of them are done, the song is going to be a million times better,” he says.
Gagne started his musical career in the experimental instrumental band Death to Tyrants in 2003, touring on an alternative circuit of town halls and basements alongside New England hardcore icons like Ampere. Then in 2008, he launched the quieter, folkier Redwing Blackbird with fellow guitarist Austin Wright, playing the same DIY circuit as Death to Tyrants only unplugged; the band recorded three-full length albums between 2010 and 2013 when Wright left the band. Gagne then played briefly with a solo project called Passerine and started Footings with Candace Clement and Elisabeth Fuchsia in 2012.
Since then, Footings has made five albums, toured with Marisa Anderson and played as Bonnie Prince Billy’s back-up band in 2022. Celebrated tastemaker Byron Coley once wrote, “Gagne’s songs and deep vocals, often the core of the band’s operation, combine the literary qualities of a heavy reader with the observational data of a poet.”
Gagne is also a mainstay of the underground music scene in Northern New England, booking a diverse and adventurous bill of artists at Keene, NH-based Nova Arts and curating the excellent Thing in the Spring Festival in Peterborough and Keene for the last 27 years, most recently with Stephen Malkmus and Califone headlining.
Jennifer Kelly
Music Night with Amy
Ever since the Berkshire Folk Society started meeting at the Lodge on Wednesdays in the 1950s for hootenanny night, Wednesday has been the night for a community music share on the mountain! We are seeking a rotating, diverse cadre of music room hosts to welcome and invite musicians and keep the circle flowing. Wednesdays, of course, starting around 8. Please contact hello@thedreamawaylodge.com if you are interested in hosting.
Vudu Sister (Solo)
Keith J.G McCurdy, a Motif Award-winning musician and veteran of the historic Newport Folk Festival (2013), is the frontman of the Providence, RI-based dark folk ensemble, Vudu Sister. As a French-American singer/songwriter and an internationally touring musician, McCurdy has performed solo acoustic tours in Europe, including in countries like Italy, France, and Germany. When performing solo, he presents the powerful core of the band’s sound with his vocals and a dynamic combination of baritone and standard guitars.
With over two decades of performance experience, McCurdy’s work is a unique fusion of influences, from '90s grunge, European and Romani folk traditions, elements of Romanticism, and film scores and soundtracks. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Classics, he infuses his songwriting with literary depth, drawing from the weird fiction of H.P. Lovecraft and the poetry and myths of classical antiquity. This background is particularly evident on his critically acclaimed album, Burnt Offerings, a project funded by a Creative Projects Grant from URI, where McCurdy composed and arranged original songs entirely in Latin and Ancient Greek.
Vudu Sister has opened for notable acts such as Marissa Nadler and Rasputina and has been featured in arts segment interviews on PBS and NPR. McCurdy’s solo sets offer an intimate look into the powerful and distinctive songs that have earned Vudu Sister widespread recognition and critical acclaim. Vudu Sister has a catalog of four studio albums, with a fifth album, ADYNATA, scheduled for release in Spring 2026.
Hannah Bracken
Hannah’s vocals and songwriting range from dreamy to frisky. Mixing ethereal melodies with curiosity, wonder, and a lil’ silliness. Covers span influences like Cranberries to Lucinda Williams; Pixies to Neil Young.
Hannah is a singer, songwriter, guitar player from Hillsdale, NY who grew up in the Berkshires.
She is a member of folk-harmony trio Camellia and the folk rock band Gold Crush.
Music Night-songs of protest, old & new
Ever since the Berkshire Folk Society started meeting at the Lodge on Wednesdays in the 1950s for hootenanny night, Wednesday has been the night for a community music share on the mountain! We are seeking a rotating, diverse cadre of music room hosts to welcome and invite musicians and keep the circle flowing. Wednesdays, of course, starting around 8. Please contact hello@thedreamawaylodge.com if you are interested in hosting.
Dan Strauss
Dan Strauss is a seasoned, dynamic singer-songwriter whose work blends multiple musical genres with the introspective lyricism of alternative folk. Since emerging in the late 90s, Dan has steadily built a reputation for his evocative storytelling and memorable melodies. Over the course of his career, he has released seven albums, with *The Haze of Winter Flowers* being his latest, showcasing his continued evolution as an artist. As a dedicated touring musician, Dan regularly performs in New York City and throughout the Northeast, playing intimate house concerts, vibrant clubs, and serene vineyards. Notable venues he has graced include The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Daryl’s House, and Club Helsinki. Dan’s music has drawn comparison to artists such as Elliot Smith, Aimee Mann, John Lennon, Beck and Paul Westerberg.
Strauss continues to captivate audiences with his thoughtful songwriting and compelling performances, making him a respected figure in alternative folk and rock music.
Lucas Neil & Princess June
ABOUT LUCAS NEIL:
Known for his profound songwriting, ethereal vocals, and charming live presentation, Lucas Neil is widely considered the brightest new face in New England Folk Music. He is intent on creating an environment for loving and healing energies for every audience he encounters. Often accompanied by pianist Olivia Charlotte and mandolin player Sandy Allen, Neil's music is sure to fill your heart. Neil’s musical style, an acoustic blend of Americana and indie-folk, has a palpable sense of spiritual symbolism, storytelling, atmosphere, and gratitude for life.
Neil combines tastes of the great singer/songwriters of years past like James Taylor and Bob Dylan with the new-age musicality of acts like Gregory Alan Isakov, Blind Pilot, and Buck Meek.
Most important to the creation and experience of his music, Neil says, is an intimate relationship with our natural world, meaning the elements and creatures in our environment as well as our own psyche, bodies, and souls.
Neil has appeared on bills with Ryan Montbleau, Josh Rouse, Kat Wright, the Wolff Sisters and has been featured in such events as the Rhode Island Folk Fest, Hartbeat Music Festival, Blackbear Music Festival, Mystic Folkways, River Glow Arts Festival, and Rhode Island’s Conserfest, an arts festival that raises proceeds for the National Nature Conservancy.
Lucas Neil is also the leading man of folk collective ‘Undercover Cameo’ alongside Olivia Charlotte, Elizabeth Beisel, and Sandy Allen.
ABOUT PRINCESS JUNE:
Princess June is a mystic folk trio from Middletown, Rhode Island composed of singer/songwriters Myah Strauser (Whitefish, MT) Griffin Keeffe (North Kingstown, RI) and Telli Quinn (Middletown, RI).
With an emphasis on rich three-part harmonies, Princess June gets a great deal of their inspiration from bands such as The Mama's and the Papa's, Fleet Foxes, Fleetwood Mac, The Cowsills, Donovan, Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, and many more.
Outside of music itself, much of their inspiration is drawn from nature, spirituality, and the synchronicities of life. Mystic Folk has been described as "Cosmic lullabies for the soul"; with contemplative, uplifting lyrics and soothing organic instrumentals, Princess June delivers just that.
Princess June is recording their first studio album, Beyond the Fence, with producer, Steve Rizzo, at Stable Sound Studios in Portsmouth, RI. They have released four singles as of June, and plan to release the full length album on all streaming platforms and in CD format in summer of 2025.
katherine winston
From the rolling hills of New England, Katherine Winston is a Singer/Songwriter whose music is a blend of country, folk/rock, and pop. Inspired by musical icons like Stevie Nicks, Brandi Carlile, and Dolly Parton, Katherine's powerhouse vocals and raw emotional power have captivated audiences all over the country and beyond.
Katherine's journey in music began at a young age; her passion for performing was evident even as a child. Throughout her teens, she honed her craft by gigging at local cafes, bars, clubs and restaurants. This dedication led her to audition for Season 14 of American Idol, where she showcased her exceptional talent and earned a spot among semi-finalists. Following her American Idol experience, Katherine ventured to Los Angeles, immersing herself in the vibrant music scene of the West Coast. There, she collaborated with other musicians, wrote heartfelt songs, and recorded music, further refining her unique sound. After several years of growth and exploration, Katherine felt the call to return to her roots in the East to continue on her path.
Music Night at the Dream Away w/Rebecca & kristin
Ever since the Berkshire Folk Society started meeting at the Lodge on Wednesdays in the 1950s for hootenanny night, Wednesday has been the night for a community music share on the mountain! We are seeking a rotating, diverse cadre of music room hosts to welcome and invite musicians and keep the circle flowing. Wednesdays, of course, starting around 8. Please contact hello@thedreamawaylodge.com if you are interested in hosting.
Steve Adams & The Tangled Party (Copy)
Native Berkshirite Steve Adams and his revolving door of crack musicians love to play their blend of the California Cosmic country/rock, stemming from the 60’s sounds of The Byrds, and The Flying Burrito’s, but doesn’t worry much about genre, switching back and forth between Roots Rock, Costello-ish song writing, and traditional C&W.
As an accomplished song writer, who has lived the back and forth of interpersonal relationships, striking heartbreak, environmental introspect, and just having a good ole time, there’s the need to keep the party going! And in the end, people are left with questions….
Rounders Revival
Rounders Revival invites you to share in an evening of light-hearted and uplifting acoustic music steeped deeply in the folk-americana traditions of universal story telling and soulful harmonies.
Join in for the Rounders renditions of singer-songwriter favorites and inspired originals.
Instagram: @roundersrevival
paper anniversary
Paper Anniversary is led by husband and wife songwriting duo Katherine Slingluff and Andy Stuckey. Their songs are a blend of Country, Bluegrass and Americana that spotlight the highs and lows of being in a relationship. For this special performance at the Dream Away their band will be made up of their family. Their kids Maggie and Mo will be joining them on stage as well as dobro player Cole Rotante. Paper Anniversary's latest Single “I Blame You” was released in 2024 and you can listen to it anywhere you stream music.
Music Night with Amy
Ever since the Berkshire Folk Society started meeting at the Lodge on Wednesdays in the 1950s for hootenanny night, Wednesday has been the night for a community music share on the mountain! We are seeking a rotating, diverse cadre of music room hosts to welcome and invite musicians and keep the circle flowing. Wednesdays, of course, starting around 8. Please contact hello@thedreamawaylodge.com if you are interested in hosting.
Jordan Weller
Jordan Weller is a compelling force in contemporary music, blending sharp lyricism with raw, soulful melodies that cut straight to the heart. With a sound that moves effortlessly between introspective folk, gritty soul, and atmospheric indie, Weller crafts songs that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant. Whether on stage or in the studio, his performances carry an honesty and emotional depth that stay with listeners long after the final note. Jordan Weller isn’t just making music—he’s telling stories that matter.
Home Body
Synthesist Eric Hnatow and vocalist Haley Morgan make music as Home Body, harnessing light, sound, and movement to present a throbbing synth spectacle oozing with raw energy and emotional grit. Hailing from western Massachusetts, the duo plays with form and improvisation, enchanting audiences with their infectious spirit and danceable, moody electro-pop. Live, they punctuate their sound with manual light manipulation, reaching beyond their performance to create a high-vibration spectacle that is physically and emotionally moving.