The Best in Regional Talent!
The Housatonic Stage will feature Emerging Artists and Masters from Connecticut and beyond.
2025 Housatonic Stage Performers
(Bios at bottom)
Thursday
4:30 Still Pickin’
5:30 Billy Boucher’s Bluegrass Band
6:30 John John Brown
7:30 Open Mic w/ John Kaluzynski & The Leftovers
Friday
11:00 Ironwood Drive
12:00 The New Students
1:00 The Spring Hill Rounders
2:00 Stillwater
3:00 The Jeff Horton Band
4:00 The New Students
4:45 Break
5:30 Hitch & the Giddyup
6:30 The Hosmer Mountain Boys
7:30 Zydeco Revelators-Dance
Saturday
11:00 The Coal-Fired Ramblers
12:00 Audrey Mae
1:00 Queen City Cut Ups
2:00 Railroad House
3:00 The Hosmer Mountain Boys
4:00 Audrey Mae
4:45 Break
5:45 Too Blue-Dance
7:30 Bards of Gungywump-Dance
*All performers and schedules subject to change
Audrey Mae features the duet harmonies of bluegrass veterans Peter Winne and Joe Delillo accompanied by the tasteful stylings of banjo player Joe Lemeris and fiddle & mandolin player Sam McDougle. Despite being a generation a part, Winne and Delillo evoke brother harmony groups such as The Stanley Brothers, The Bluesky Boys, The Everly Brothers, and yes even the Beatles. Named after Delillo’s mother, and Alabama belle named Audrey Mae, the band delivers a brand of bluegrass that is at times high octane and at other times just plain….lonesome.
Bards Of Gungywamp (BOG) is a lively folk group from southeastern CT, infusing traditional Celtic Dance Tunes, Sea Songs, Bluegrass, and more with infectious energy. Their sound features a driving rhythm and sawing fiddle, guaranteed to get your feet moving and bodies dancing. The members formed one winter for a hometown St. Patrick’s gig and have since traveled the hills and valleys of New England, bringing their vibrant performances to Irish Pubs, Renn Faires, Ceilis, and Festivals. BOG draws on their namesake to tell stories that weave modern sound with history and tradition, always encouraging the audience to join in the dance.
Billy Boucher’s Bluegrass Band: This folk group is a captivating blend of incredibly talented musicians, each hailing from diverse musical backgrounds. Together, they concoct a mesmerizing sound, infusing banjos, kazoos, washboards, and even rubber chickens into their repertoire, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Their renditions of beloved bluegrass, folk, gospel and rock classics resonate with every soul, leaving you with a warm nostalgia that’s hard to resist.
Hitch & the Giddyup was formed in 2014 as a pick-up band hosting a monthly bluegrass night at a tavern in Black Rock, CT. It didn’t take long for them to coalesce into something more, as the five members discovered an uncommon chemistry, camaraderie, and interest in making original music, combining elements of bluegrass, country, folk, and rock to create a unique musical gumbo. Hitch continues to perform steadily, relentlessly, and joyfully-always adding new songs along the way and searching for new surprises to wring out of the old ones.They are set to go back into the studio in 2025 with a large road-tested batch of dynamic new tunes.The band is comprised of CT musicians, Dan Carlucci(guitar/vocals),Bob Csugie (bass/vocals), Pete Kaufman (banjo/vocals), David Kaye(mandolin/dobro/pedal steel/vocals),and Kenny Owens (drums/vocals).
The Hosmer Mountain Boys: The Hosmer Mountain Boys are a retro bluegrass band that is quickly rising in the New England Bluegrass scene. Keegan Day and Simon Brogie met at Mando Camp North in Charlton, MA, in 2018 at age 16 and instantly discovered their mutual passion for Flatt & Scruggs. Rounding out the band is Cathy Bumgarner Day on fiddle and Tom Bowman on bass, both staples in the New England Bluegrass Music scene for decades. They were voted the “Fan Favorite” at the 2023 Podunk Bluegrass Festival, performed in Lexington, KY on WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, and performed across the pond in 2024 at the Battlefield Bluegrass Festival in Naseby, England.
Jeff Horton Band: Jeff has been playing Bluegrass in New England for almost 50 years. The two-time inductee into the Rhode Island Bluegrass Hall of Fame is known for his fine bass playing and versatile singing voice. Though the band carries his name, all of the members contribute lead vocals. Matt Carlin came to MA to learn from Russ Barenberg and never left. His deft and imaginative guitar playing captivates audiences. He is featured in the JHB on guitar, electric guitar, and mandolin. Gary Beekmann has been playing music for most of his adult life, playing bass, guitar, dobro, mandolin, and a little banjo. Joan Eliyesil is on banjo. Joan loves the traditional as well as old R&B and jazz standards. And then there’s L. Stroker Rogovin on accordion who introduces a lifetime of influences as diverse as Zydeco, Cajun, Tex-Mex, soul, bluegrass, and R & B to the Jeff Horton Band.
John John Brown: No Depression calls John John Brown’s debut album The Road”a blend of astute Americana accompanied by a quiet, reflective glow”, while Americana UK said his newest release is “so well written that every song could be a short story”. Post to Wire noted that “John Prine is a clear influence in the way Brown rolls astute observations and a humorous slant into his lyrics”. In recent years, John John has been chosen as a Kerrville New Folk winner and an Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Most notably, in concert, he is known for mixing storytelling songs with the visual arts creating “an imaginative musical performance woven into a unique visual experience.”Seeped in good storytelling and finger-picking melodies, John John Brown seems to have discovered part of the mystery that surrounds the great singer/songwriter tradition.
The New Students perform original songs in an eclectic blend of folk, roots, bluegrass and Americana traditions. Tight three-part harmonies, skilled instrumentation, and thoughtful lyrics make up their signature sound that has been delighting east coast audiences for over a decade.Together they have recorded three studio albums of original songs and one “almost live” album recorded remotely while in quarantine in 2020. Combining poetry with conscience, humor with integrity, and—most of all—classic with modern, The New Students evoke the pioneering spirit of the 1960s. Truly, they are new students of an old school.
Railroad House is a six piece band featuring lush 2, 3, and 4 part vocal harmony and playing a diverse blend of Americana music, from straight ahead Bluegrass to Western Swing, and more! They are based in the Metro-west Boston area in Massachusetts, and have played all over New England for parties and beyond.
Spring Hill Rounders are a Boston-based country-grass trio who play the classics and originals with drive, delight and style.
Still Pickin’ is a Connecticut based bluegrass trio comprised of CT country music veteran Dennis Sheridan on acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle and vocals, Patricia McDonald on bass and vocals and Lou Alexander on banjo, guitar and vocals. The Still Pickin’ repertoire includes bluegrass favorites, some good ol’ country songs and notably, a number of original tunes.The year 2024 was another notable year for Still Pickin’. Our original composition ‘HopeValley’ took FIRST PLACE at the Annual Podunk Bluegrass Festival songwriting contest! We are humbled and grateful for this recognition and appreciate the work of the song-writer’s competition judges who selected us for this honor! Still Pickin’ has released three CDs of their music (Hope Valley, On With The Show andSouthbound). The CDs include some traditional bluegrass/country selections as well as Still Pickin’ originals.
Too Blue: There’s something for everyone in a Too Blue performance. Sweet harmonies and sizzling instrumentals are at the heart of a repertoire filled with bluegrass, country, swing, and jazz. Creative musicianship brings thoughtful arrangements to life, while delivering a spontaneous and entertaining show.A mainstay of the New England Bluegrass scene, Too Blue has performed at festivals in the Northeast, including the Podunk Bluegrass Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and Joe Val Bluegrass Festival. Based in New York and Connecticut, Too Blue is Joan Harrison (banjo, vocals), Betsy Rome (guitar, vocals), Michael Sassano (mandolin, vocals) and Jamie Doris (bass). Austin Scelzo of On The Trail and Rock Hearts and David Chernack of County Line and Strawberry Wine will be joining the band on twin fiddles!
Zydeco Revelators: Bounce to the happy beat of the Zydeco Revelators! They play Zydeco & Cajun-inspired dance music from Louisiana. Groove to the spicy gumbo of Cajun accordion, electric guitar, and smokin’ rhythms. Get ready to dance all your blues away…They’ve been makin’ folks dance since 2014, and their albums have been played all over the world!
