Join us for Trivia Night, with DJ Trivia Mercer County every Wednesday at 7pm!

$1 off drafts till 7pm.

Our good buddy Seth Verba will be the host of our open mic nite.

ALL INQUIRIES email [email protected]

-Property open at 5pm.
-Sign up starts at 5:30
-Music 6pm-8pm
-NO DRUMSETS – Hand drums/percussion ok.
-No foul language or content. We love our family environment.

Bill Deasy and Dave Brown, the founding duo behind the beloved folk-rock band The Gathering Field, bring their signature blend of heartfelt songwriting and masterful musicianship to Big Rail Brewing April 4th. As the band’s lead singer and songwriter, Bill Deasy has captivated audiences with his evocative lyrics and soulful voice, while Dave Brown, the band’s lead guitarist, has shaped their sound with his dynamic, expressive playing. Together, they strip their songs down to their essence, delivering an intimate and powerful performance that showcases the deep musical chemistry that started it all. Whether revisiting Gathering Field classics or sharing new material, Bill and Dave create a night of music that resonates long after the final note.

A traveling troubadour born and raised in the hills of rural western Pennsylvania. Alyssa’s music is unmistakable, with influences that span across many genres. Her lyrics bring you into the heart of the steel mills and the bucolic landscape of rural America.

Raised on country music in a working-class family, Alyssa started playing guitar at the age of twelve and writing songs throughout her high school years. She attended college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she studied fine art and graphic design. While attending college she began performing original songs at local open mic nights. For a few years after college, Hankey worked as a graphic designer and began playing solo acoustic shows on the weekends.

In 2018, she decided to quit her job and pursue music full time. Since then, Alyssa has released various albums and embarked on several cross-country tours. She also formed the Alyssa Hankey Band, a four-piece band that combines folk, country and rock. You can find them playing in and around the Pittsburgh area. Hankey has also shared the stage with artists such as The Clarks, The Steel Wheels, The Wildwoods, Warren Zeiders and Charles Wesley Godwin.

Influences: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, John Prine, Tom Petty, Chris Stapleton, Johnny Cash, Allman Brothers Band, Neil Young and many more!

You’ll find her music on Itunes, Spotify, Bandcamp, Google Play, Youtube, etc.

West Park Road is an all acoustic four piece using duet vocals intertwined with violin melody lines backed up by guitar and a unique and entertaining take on percussion. Coming from four very different backgrounds has led to an eclectic mix of music from Simon and Garfunkel to Imagine Dragons, Dolly Parton to Matchbox 20.

Come join us, Saturday, April 12, for another night on the Sprague Farm! Open 1-7pm.

Big Rail Brewing & Sprague Farm did a beer collaboration! Brian Sprague helped us recreate the old Spragues Favorite “Spraguer Logger”. It will be available on draft and available in a very limited amount of 4pk bottles.

Live Music Featuring:
Company Townes 4-7pm

Any donation that you can make will go directly in the pockets of Sprague’s and paying the musicians. We’ll just do an honor system- no wristbands or hand stamping will be used. It’s not required to donate but greatly appreciated to help keep lights on!

Company Townes

Company Townes is a cosmic country & western band from rural Northwestern Pennsylvania. Following their debut album, Canyon(2016), Co.Townes released a collection of reimagined Townes Van Zandt classics entitled “Van Zandt” in April 2019. In 2024 the band completed their second run supporting Dwight Yoakam and opened for Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives. They are currently recording their third full-length album of original songs brimming with psychedelic visions and Western myths.

Influenes: Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, The Byrds, Ennio Moriccone, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Johnny Horton, Marty Robbins, Townes Van Zandt

Always gritty, soulful, and sweet, this Pittsburgh-based guitarist is a respected performer who continues to expand his journey and make new fans and friends along the way.

Jimmy Adler is a bandleader with charisma and magnetic stage presence who has played many styles that are always steeped in the blues, yet always stamped with his unmistakable touch.

As a curator and bandleader of weekly Blue Monday performances, Jimmy has supported many of the region’s most well-respected musicians showcasing his ability to organize and deliver exciting shows with a variety of guests.

As a singer and leader of his own band, Jimmy plays mostly original songs from his 5 CDs that are steeped in the roots of Americana music.

Although based in Pittsburgh, Adler has thrilled audiences from the West Coast, over the pond to France, and many points in between. Jimmy is a live-wire entertainer who packs passion and energy into every performance!

Simply put, Jimmy Adler has great style, tone, and feel, and his playing is very satisfying.

Ellen Pieroni is a soul jazz saxophone player and multi-instrumentalist from Buffalo, NY. She has been playing the saxophone since she was 8 years old, and has been a sidewoman in a multitude of bands (including Folkfaces and Buffalo Afrobeat Orchestra) for over a decade. Pieroni’s smooth-infused soul jazz band Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul, or EoS, was recently featured on NPR’s All Things Considered as one of three “jazz stand outs” for the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest, where Felix Contreras said that “soul jazz is alive and well with…Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul.”

Although the group is inspired by artists such as Grover Washington Jr., King Curtis, and the Crusaders, EoS puts an emphasis on new original music. The sound is driven by Pieroni’s captivating and soulful melodies, supported by thoughtful improvisation from all members over deep pocket grooves. “When [Ellen] takes her solo, it really warms my heart because I hear the same soulfulness of Cannonball, or any of the sax players who played with Ray Charles back in the 50s, or the more contemporary alto saxophonist David Sanborn.”- Felix Contreras, NPR’s All Things Considered

Sparked by a mutual love of the band Stuff, The Encyclopedia of Soul was founded in 2022. The band’s first recording, I Know That’s Right (Live at The Beat Barn), featured local legend Darryl Washington (brother of Grover Washington, Jr.) on drums. On recordings and on stage, the band features a rotating cast of talented collaborators, including Adam Bronstein (guitar), Isaiah Gethers (drums), Dom Missana (bass), James Benders (bass), Jacob Nicholson (keys), Tyler James (keys), and Marvin Cj Smith (keys).
Pieroni has released two albums with EoS: The Encyclopedia of Soul, Vol. I (2023) and Soul Vacation (2024). The band has played the GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, the Rochester Lilac Festival, and the Erie Jazz and Blues Festival. EoS has shared the stage with Bernard Purdie, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, BoomBox, and Sophistafunk; and Ellen recently had a reel of hers shared by Vulfpeck with the caption “800 grit sandpaper… smooth.” In addition to her music career, Pieroni is a music educator, teaching full time for 9+ years in the Buffalo Public School district, 8+ years as jazz band director at Bristol Hills Music Camp, and 3+ years at the Community Music School. She is also a promoter of local music with her company, Lavender Haze Collective.

“Bill Toms is a poet, a soul-shouter and guitar slinger with one foot in the gutter and an eye on the heavens above. And man, does he front a great rock n’ soul band!” – Will Kimbrough/

While it’s hard to put a finger on any one sound that defines “American music,” the compositions of Bill Toms are as close a template as any. The Pittsburgh native, along with his band Hard Rain, delivers a sound that takes the greatest of America’s most beloved genres and melds them into a poetic representation of the best the country has to offer. Bill Toms captures the American conscious with thoughtfulness, honesty, and a groove that keeps the tail feathers moving. 

Toms launched his musical career in 1987 as lead guitarist of Pittsburgh’s legendary band Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers, During that period, he opened for and played with such legendary names as The Band, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. While playing guitar, co-writing, and adding backup vocals for the Houserockers, Toms and the band recorded six studio albums and one live concert album. In 1995, The Houserockers released American Babylon, which was recorded and produced by Springsteen himself.

As a solo artist, Toms has opened for the likes of Buddy Guy, Levon Helm, Marshall Crenshaw, , Steve Forbert, and Dan Baird.
He’s plotting a string of regional east coast dates to support the release of the single “I Fulfilled My Dream“, in 2024.
For more information and tour dates, please visit www.billtoms.com

Big Rail will not be open for business on Easter Sunday.

We’re happy to be hosting East Main Church for their Easter service again this year!

Details will be forthcoming.

With a nod to the past and glance to the future the Dirty Grass Players are keeping alive the long history of bluegrass while pushing the traditional genre into the next generation.

The Dirty Grass Players are an energetic explosion of old-time pickin’, coloured with an inventive, newgrass hand, that is given lyrical life by their soaring vocal harmonies that exist on an ethereal plain. They live at the crossroads between the traditional, which is the backbone of what they do, and the progressive with their innovative forward-thinking approach. The Dirty Grass Players, with their steady, workman-like precision and loose adventurous spirit are a band that can both confound Bill Monroe and cause him to smile uncontrollably. Their music is progressive, traditional, experimental, imaginative, and at its core, Dirty.

The Dirty Grass Players formed in 2015 with guitarist Ben Kolakowski and mandolinist Ryan Rogers at a series of informal picking sessions in the Baltimore area. The band quickly started to garner attention in the area, culminating in them winning the competitive Charm City Bluegrass Festival Battle of the Bands in 2017. The band’s original bassist and fiddler left shortly after and they solidified around the addition of bassist Connor Murray. In 2024, Sam Guthridge joined on banjo and the band reemerged as a powerful four-piece.

Since then they have released two albums, 2020’s Beneath the Woodpile and 2023 Shiny Side Up and established themselves as one of the most exciting young bluegrass bands around. With their high-octane shows they have become a mainstay on the festival circuit, being invited to play at some of the the most prestigious gatherings from coast to coast including Delfest, Grey Fox, Kingman Island, Hot August Music Festival, Dark Star Jubilee, Ramble Fest, First Class Music Fest, and many others.

Their latest album Shiny Side Up, produced by The Travelin’ McCourys’ Coldy Kilby, continues to further the evolution of bluegrass with its hard-driving sound that showcases the progressive, darkside of bluegrass with its forward-looking, non-traditional playing and songwriting. In its praise of the album, Bluegrass Unlimited says, “Shiny Side Up validates the arrival of the Dirty Grass Players onto the scene and shows bluegrass is in good hands going forward.

We are the Z Street Band. We met playing at open mics just north of Pittsburgh. We cut our teeth On the streets of Zelienople Pennsylvania. After spending months busking at local festivals and fairs, we started booking gigs around town. We’ve been touring the greater Pittsburgh are for two years now. Our influences include traditional music of all kinds. We play bluegrass, Irish traditional, gospel and lots of stuff to sing along too. Catch us at your favorite brewery soon!

Blues/rock guitarist Jeff Fetterman delivers the promise to keep the blues alive and well. Influenced by blues greats such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and BB King, he plays with a fiery passion that has earned him the nickname “Boss of the Blues”.

“Fetterman is literally unstoppable. The American guitarist and singer/songwriter confirmed once again, through his new album Southern Son, to be one of the most inspired, talented, and versatile blues/rock and funk artists of the current generation. Jeff Fetterman at his absolute best!” Gio Pilato Bluebird reviews

Born and raised in small-town America in Bradford, PA, Jeff began his musical journey at age of 13. Decades later he has received numerous awards for his playing and writing.

Jeff has also received endorsements with Zemaitis guitars and Nicola brand strings. He has played with some of the greatest blues musicians in the business that include Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ana Popovic, Joe Louis Walker, Jimmy Vaughan, Samantha Fish, Chris Duarte, Steven Stills, and, Robert Randolph.

For Jeff, the end of the road is nowhere near in sight as he continues to play and write music and tour.

Jim Donovan and The Sun King Warriors are best described as a blend of rhythm heavy roots rock, with a strong dose of big barreling drums. Think bluesy Zeppelin-esqe bombast, Santana style percussion with wild Avett Brothers energy.

At a Sun King show, you can expect to dance, sweat and have the time of your life.

The band’s music has garnered radio airplay throughout the US and Canada, and has appeared on Billboard’s Americana chart multiple times.

The band plays regionally at festivals and clubs throughout the mid-atlantic and have opened for 10,000 Maniacs, Donovan’s former band Rusted Root and many others.

Jim Donovan, the band’s founder and writer brings almost three decades of experience to the Sun King Warriors. As a member of the popular 90’s band Rusted Root, he helped shaped the group’s sound and toured with legendary including The Grateful Dead, members of Led Zeppelin, Carlos Santana and the Allman Brothers.

He also co-authored the band’s biggest hit, “Send Me on My Way,” which has been streamed over 100 million times on Spotify and used as the wakeup music for NASA’s Mars rover.

Press quotes:

“Jim Donovan and Sun King Warriors are one of the most eclectic and exciting bands to come out in some time…” -The Washington Times
“Sun King Warriors channel unabashed enthusiasm into a series of songs that are both rowdy and rejuvenating…” -Relix Magazine

When music is given the benefit of instinct, imagination and inspiration, the results are guaranteed to be good. So it ought to come as no surprise that the critically-acclaimed Annapolis Maryland-based trio, appropriately dubbed Pressing Strings, has infused those elements within their musical mantra the beginning. The band —Jordan Sokel (Guitar/Vocals), Nick Welker (Bass, Vocals), Justin Kruger (Drums, Vocals) and Austin Day(Keys, Guitar) can trace its origins to Sokel’s initial fascination with some iconic influences, among them, the usual suspects — Dylan, Marley, Simon, Withers, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, etc., as well as some more under the radar artists like Taj Mahal, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Nick Drake.

Fascination became fulfillment once he picked up the guitar and started writing songs. That’s when his course became clear. After growing up in New Jersey and Arizona, he eventually moved to Arnold, Maryland to attend high school and eventually university at Salisbury University. However once there, he found he began having doubts about his career choice. That’s when he made it his mission to pursue his musical muse. Still in college, he formed Pressing Strings with one of his buddies. Those early efforts, beginning in 2006, found Sokel’s desire and determination taking hold, eventually coalescing into a career that now spans seven albums — Where We Are (2008), Episodes (2010), Pressing Strings (2012), Life of a Tree (2013), Owe the Source (2015), Settle In (2020) — and two EPs — Most of Us (2016) and Morning Takes (2021), and they moist recent “…And I for You.”

FREE SHOW!

Chet Vincent and the Music Industry:

Bio –

Chet Vincent and the Music Industry is a rock n’ roll band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For fans of George Harrison’s soul, Neil Young’s dirt, Gram Parsons’ country, and Tom Petty’s jangle.

https://chetvincent.bandcamp.com

Molly Alphabet:

Bio –

Molly Alphabet is a country singer-songwriter from the backwoods of Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA. She and her band play original music inspired by the sounds of classic country, folk, and honky tonk. Her full-length album Broken Record was released on vinyl in December 2022 as part of the Get Hip Folk Series. Stay tuned for a new album in the next year – for fans of Dwight Yoakam, Dolly Parton, and John Prine.

http://www.mollyalphabet.com/

Covering hits from the 1950s to today across rock, pop, blues, country, and more! We bring the best of every decade and genre to life. Join us for a musical journey that spans generations. Follow for updates on our latest shows and releases!

Kindred Valley is a band toeing the line between Americana, Indie Folk, and Folk Rock. Hailing from West Virginia they combine their appalachian culture and roots with personal stories and experiences to create sounds and lyrics that grip the listener and bring them into the artists’ inner worlds.

“This-That & The Other Thing” has been entertaining western PA for the past thirteen years! With “This-That & The Other Thing” you get the best of all worlds; three lead vocalists, both male and female, super three part harmony, solid, danceable music and a compact three piece band that has the power to play outdoor festivals and at the same time fit in to small venues where space is at a premium. We also provide an “unplugged” acoustic version of the band for occasions that call for that. Michelle plays bass, Tony plays guitar, and Vince plays drums. Check out our extensive song list that is filled with an incredible variety of classic rock favorites, mostly from the 60’s and 70’s, but is also sprinkled with more contemporary hits as well as a few country favorites! You won’t find another band in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area that can perform the variety that we can.

Fusing blues, roots, jazz, and ethnic music into their unique style, Lori Russo and the Uppercuts are veterans of Pittsburgh’s music scene. Their eclectic sound is a flavorful gumbo reflective of each members’ distinct background; all coming together to produce a fresh, dynamic, and exciting musical voice heard at venues and festivals throughout the region.

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lori Russo fronts the band and plays bass with John DeCola on organ, piano and accordion, Evan Balzer on guitar, Brendan Kennelty on drums, and Kelly Parker on West African percussion.

I have been playing the Blues for over 35 years starting with the
Zipper City Blues Band,with Dave Steele, Dennis Wieland,Brian Whitney we ran for 9 years in 1992 i formed the Rodger Montgomery Blues Band and have had it since. Along the way I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Johnny (Clyde) Copeland,Otis Rush, i spent a year in the trenches playing with Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers, Lonnie Shields,and John Brim. I released the critically acclaimed Album Rodger Montgomery Blues Band in 1993 which has been heard all over the world. In 1996 I played on Big Jack Johnson’s Album “We got to stop this killing”
2002 I wrote the Song “The Forgotten Ones” for the NAACP video production company the whole video is accompanied by My Music.
2012, and 2014 Winner in the Blues category for the Rock Erie Music Awards REMA’s

Free Show!

Madison Hughes, All That I Am

Madison Hughes has always explored the spaces between genres. From prime-time TV performances of rock & roll hits to viral covers of modern-day country singles, she’s spent years building her own sound, enjoying the journey as much as the destination itself. All That I Am marks her arrival. Rooted in Americana, blues, indie folk, and contemporary country, it’s a wide-ranging debut record that highlights not only the vocal chops that first earned Madison a national audience but also the songwriting skills that have turned her into one of Nashville’s newest exports.

Shot through with Southern storytelling and organic production, All That I Am is as broadly diverse as the musician who made it. Raised in an entrepreneurial household in Jacksonville, Florida, Madison grew up attending her mother’s local music festival, where she played some of her first shows as a teenager. Also on the bill were acts like Shovels & Rope, Drew Holcomb, and Lera Lynn — artists who all brought a modern edge to the traditions of American roots music. Inspired to pursue her own creativity, Madison studied digital film production in college, where she honed the skills that would help her grow a large following on TikTok before moving to Nashville during her 20s.

“I’ve always been a late bloomer and an old soul,” she says. In Nashville, though, she discovered a newfound sense of self-assurance and musical drive. Madison’s acoustic covers of songs by Morgan Wallen, Bruce Springsteen, and the Eagles helped her build a viral audience, and she took that momentum into the writing room, where she teamed up with some of the city’s best songwriters to create a catalog of material that was every bit as strong as her voice. She also reconnected with one of her earliest mentors, Lera Lynn, who agreed to produce Madison’s full-length debut album.

All That I Am is inspired by a broad range of sources: the Black Keys’ bluesy swagger, Chris Stapleton’s southern stomp, JJ Cale’s rootsy rhythmic shuffle, and Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand-era Americana. Tying that mix together is a songwriter who’s never been afraid to embrace the full spread of her influences. “I’ve gone through so many phases before coming to this album,” says Madison.”By mixing everything together, I was able to find my original sound. There’s country. There’s rock. There’s blues. It’s a crossover sound that feels like me.”

A crossover sound, indeed. On “Nobody Knows Your Love,” Madison shares the spotlight with duet partner Brent Cobb, trading harmonies over an atmospheric swirl of acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and brushed percussion. It’s a cinematic ballad for rainy days and quiet mornings, a mood that’s echoed by tracks like “Gypsy Wings” — a soft-hued song about leaving home and chasing down new horizons — and the breezy “Mystery Highway.” Meanwhile, songs like “Losing the Grip” and the titular “All That I Am” dish up plenty of groove and grit, while a stripped-down cover of Blind Melon’s “No Rain” showcases a lifelong appreciation for the rock music Madison inherited from her father.

Together, these are vividly detailed songs about life, love, and the courage it takes to strike out on one’s own. On a record filled with gorgeous production from Lera Lynn and her guitar-playing husband, Todd Lombardo, Madison’s voice is the standout instrument, capable of effortless phrasing and a smoky, soulful delivery. Even so, her songwriting is what truly steals the spotlight, with Madison working alongside some of Nashville’s best co-writers — including Lynn, Lombardo, Matt Rogers, and Andrew Combs — to craft a mix of introspective autobiography and lush, nuanced narrative. She may call herself a late bloomer, but here, she’s in the full flower of creativity.

All That I Am marks the culmination of a long journey toward self-discovery, stocked with songs that find Madison exploring her sound, her voice, and her place in the world. She’s not conforming her music to some pre-existing category. Instead, she’s creating her own. “I took a bunch of meetings with record labels when my Morgan Wallen cover went viral, and the experience taught me that it’s so important to know yourself as an artist.” That strong sense of self-discovery pushed Madison to embrace her independence and make an album without the constrictions of a major label. “It’s important to speak up in the writing room and craft something that’s yours,” she adds. “It’s important to learn how to trust yourself, and that’s where this album came from. It came from me. I’m so glad I didn’t try to be like someone else because that wouldn’t be honest.

BSY is taking this fun and feisty mixed level yoga class to Big Rail Brewing! The brewery will be opening early just for us, but space is limited and tickets will go fast, so grab your spot now! 

For over 20 years, Blues Attack has been an integral part of the Pittsburgh blues scene. Originally fronted by the amazing Jill West, Blues Attack has played around the country and were the third place winners of the International Blues Challenge in 2005. Although we have lost our friend Jill, Blues Attack is carrying on. The core trio of Gregg Krupa on guitar and vocals, Hank Raffetto on bass, and Nicky ‘No Shoes’ on drums remains in place (also known as the Bo’Hog Brothers) and has been joined by the talented ‘Big Sexy’ Jack Sanso on harmonica and vocals and rhythm guitar player Jimmy ‘MG’ Tassone. The band has won the Pittsburgh Blues Challenge a total of 5 times and Gregg Krupa is a two time winner of the best blues guitar player award from the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania.

Gallatin Hall is a 3-piece acoustic act that blends rock, folk, and bluegrass to give a modern take on a classic Americana style. With rich harmonies, rotating instrumentations, and vivid songwriting, Gallatin Hall delivers an engaging performance that constantly offers new styles and sounds.

Music has guided Driftwood to hallowed ground many times since its founding members, Joe Kollar and Dan Forsyth, started making music as high schoolers in Joe’s parents’ basement. Whether the Upstate New York folk rock group—which today also includes violinist Claire Byrne, bassist Joey Arcuri, and drummer Sam Fishman—are converting new fans on a hardscrabble tour across the country or playing to a devoted crowd at hero Levon Helm’s Woodstock barn, the band’s shapeshifting approach to folk music continues to break new ground. And yet in many ways Driftwood’s latest work, the transformative December Last Call, finds the group coming home. 

Recorded in that very same basement where the Driftwood dream began, December Last Call lyrically reflects on the recent past, musing on the ways the group grew up, together and apart, through curveballs like new parenthood or pandemic shutdowns. But sonically, the band’s sixth album looks confidently to the future, experimenting with new sounds while staying true to the bluegrass roots that built them. Across the album’s nine tracks, the band often leans into hard-rocking electric guitars and driving percussion: On “Every Which Way But Loose,” we get a foot-tapping beat and a sweeping chorus, and on “Up All Night Blues,” the band shines with an ambling, sing-along-able reflection on the challenges of new motherhood. But other tracks, like standout closer “Stardust,” take a simpler route, allowing bare-bones vocals and acoustic instrumentals to underpin a deeper emotional message.

One of Driftwood’s biggest differentiators—and perhaps its biggest strength—is the sheer breadth of talent in its lineup, with Claire, Joe, and Dan all contributing as songwriters and vocalists. This creative push-pull, where each selects songs to share with the group and record together, bakes vulnerability and collaborative spirit into every recording. “It’s at the heart of what we do,” says Dan. “Everybody has a strong love for songs, for songwriting, and we each appreciate everybody else and the way that they contribute to that.” 

While 2019’s acclaimed Tree of Shade tapped Simon Felice as producer, the band opted to self-produce this latest effort, leaning into their creative impulses and striving to capture their distinctive live energy. Figuring out how to channel that on-stage intensity into a recording has actually, in many ways, been a lesson in restraint. “When I look back at the things we were writing and playing, oh, I don’t know, 10, 12 years ago, they were really arranged: a lot of you do this here, we’re going to do this there, we’re going to break down, we’re going to do a big build,” Claire explains. “These days, it’s more like, ‘Let’s play the song and just see what happens.’”

This approach makes all the more sense when you consider Driftwood’s live shows, which operate not only as effervescent, twang-studded musical parties, but also as reunions for their throng of devoted listeners—folks who have started to feel less like fans and more like something bigger. “They’re supporters. They’re friends,” explains Joe. “It’s crazy how much love we’ve got and how many wild situations on the road we’ve gotten out of because of those people.” Many of them are quite literally invested in the band’s future: December Last Call was a crowd-funded effort, and it wasn’t the band’s first. It’s as if every listener, ticketbuyer, album backer, and general band evangelist is in on Driftwood’s biggest secret: this whole band thing has endured for nearly two decades because it offers a kind of community you can’t get just anywhere.

“Driftwood is basically a beautiful friendship that happens to play music together,” says Joe. “I know it’s rare. I know I’m lucky to know these people and lean on them and go through these massive life changes together.” For Driftwood, each song is like a journal entry: cathartic to create, yes, but capable of unlocking new lessons—and when shared—forging new bonds. “We’re communal, right? Humans need to be connected,” Joe says. “And we get to have this special thing.”

Colin has toured and shared stages with a “Who’s Who” of blues and rock artists including B.B.King, John Mayall,Marshall Crenshaw,Deanna Bogart,Scott Holt,The Outlaws,Long Tall Deb, Michael Hill, Chris Duarte, Everclear, Hubert Sumlin, and many others.

After opening for John Mayall on a multi-island tour of Hawaii in 2001, Colin became enamored of the people, culture and music and moved to the Big Island where he dove into the roots of the blues slide guitar;Hawaiian steel guitar.

Studying the music of past masters and with current proponent Alan Akaka, Colin became proficient on the instrument and continues to utilize it both Live and on recording sessions.

Originally from Bedford, PA, Coltt is an Appalachian songwriter, folksinger, published poet and author, and folklorist. He earned his MFA from Emerson College in Boston, MA & is currently a full-time musician.

Public Water Supply is Rochester, New York’s premier Alt. Rock/Indie Americana act. PWS consists of six university-trained musicians, blending distinctive songwriting, spectacular vocals, and incredible instrumentalists. The band members include: Iggy Marino, frontman; Karis Gregory, Jr., lead guitar; Alex Brophy, team captain and bass; Spencer Kornrich, bus driver and drums; Jordan Paresk, fiddle and vocals; all masters of their craft! The band has been seen on Fox Rochester, WXXI Connections, and Opening Tunings. PWS has performed in the Rochester Lilac Festival, Borderland Music Festival and Estival Festival.The group has boogied their way across the Northeast, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and New England states. Public Water Supply has sold out venues like Iron Smoke Distillery, Three Heads Brewery, and Buffalo’s Jackrabbit. PWS will pack a punch in the year 2024 as they tour their second album, General Strike.

Justin Howl is an internationally touring blues and roots singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player based in Chicago, IL, USA. Blues Blast Magazine called him a “strong singer” whose tunes “will strike a chord with you. . . . and are intelligent throughout,” in reviewing his debut album Justin Howl and the Salty Dogs. His second album, a solo acoustic project titled Wanderlust, was released in December 2020 and hailed by Music Connection Magazine as “wonderfully weird. . . . cool and vibey. . . . topped off by Howl’s warm and rangey vocal presence.”

“Joe Kaplow and his group follow in the footsteps of Wilco, Dr Dog and Kurt Vile, in that Kaplow’s poignant writing is elevated to a powerful, swirling sonic forest of interesting choices.”

Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters understand that to stay relevant, country and Americana—like any long-running musical genres—must be unceremoniously leveled from time to time. Blasted by a cold steel wrecking ball, and reassembled into new forms atop the rubble. And what better moment for a scheduled demolition than with all of planet Earth in a holding pattern, straddling the deep
chasm between past and future. Into this void arrives Heavy Denim, an album that artfully sidesteps any slavish, formulaic adherence to roots-music traditions.

“At the height of the pandemic” Dittmeier says, “it became clear to me that—with everything we’d been through—there was going to be a different mind coming out the other side. As a band, we decided we weren’t going to try to go back and replicate who we were, or the reality we were living before covid. A lot of people were fixated on getting back to quote-unquote normal, but to me it
seemed pretty obvious that wasn’t even on the table.”

Forcing themselves out of their comfort zones, Dittmeier & the Sawdusters began stripping back their roots-rock bluster and leaving room for new textures: drum machines, loopers, synths. Heavy Denim finds Dittmeier and the Sawdusters fearlessly reinventing their sound. The album is in the tradition of Dire Straits’ spacey, synth-anchored early-’90s country curveball On Every
Street; Alabama Shakes’ transformation from gritty Southern neo-soul revue to danceable indie-rock darlings on Sound & Color; and the symphonic R&B and art-folk Sturgill Simpson wove on the astral
loom that is A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. With its refreshing creativity and sonic adventurousness, Heavy Denim is one of those rare and wonderful records that expands the boundaries of its genre.

Hailing from the Great Lakes region, Ohayo brings together their diverse experiences and musical backgrounds to create a sound that is both fresh and timeless. The band’s debut album, Now & Later, is a testament to their collaborative spirit and passion for music. Recorded at Moonlight Audio in Columbus, Ohio, the album features a range of styles and influences, from rock’n’roll to country and soul. With their catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and infectious energy, they are a must-see for music lovers everywhere.

Tiger Maple String Band is an energetic collection of talented musicians dedicated to continuing traditional and original old-time music. With a home base in Northwest Pennsylvania, a rural setting gives plenty of inspiration towards the continuance of acoustic music. The band features Justine and Alison Parker on fiddle, Barry Smith on banjo and vocals, and Fred Parker on guitar and vocals.

The sound of Tiger Maple String Band has rich historical and cultural values, beautiful harmonies, hot old-time fiddling, and a full-body richness that only acoustic instruments and clear vocals can bring. The band draws its inspiration from a variety of different musical directions, with old-time Appalachian tunes as a central focus. These fiddle tunes, mountain ballads, murder ballads, coal-mining songs, and beautiful originals make up a set that leaves a lasting impression on their audience. Folks walk away with big smiles and good feelings of friendship and love.

Always gritty, soulful, and sweet, this Pittsburgh-based guitarist is a respected performer who continues to expand his journey and make new fans and friends along the way.

Jimmy Adler is a bandleader with charisma and magnetic stage presence who has played many styles that are always steeped in the blues, yet always stamped with his unmistakable touch.

As a curator and bandleader of weekly Blue Monday performances, Jimmy has supported many of the region’s most well-respected musicians showcasing his ability to organize and deliver exciting shows with a variety of guests.

As a singer and leader of his own band, Jimmy plays mostly original songs from his 5 CDs that are steeped in the roots of Americana music.

Although based in Pittsburgh, Adler has thrilled audiences from the West Coast, over the pond to France, and many points in between. Jimmy is a live-wire entertainer who packs passion and energy into every performance!

Simply put, Jimmy Adler has great style, tone, and feel, and his playing is very satisfying.

A traveling troubadour born and raised in the hills of rural western Pennsylvania. Alyssa’s music is unmistakable, with influences that span across many genres. Her lyrics bring you into the heart of the steel mills and the bucolic landscape of rural America.

Raised on country music in a working-class family, Alyssa started playing guitar at the age of twelve and writing songs throughout her high school years. She attended college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she studied fine art and graphic design. While attending college she began performing original songs at local open mic nights. For a few years after college, Hankey worked as a graphic designer and began playing solo acoustic shows on the weekends.

In 2018, she decided to quit her job and pursue music full time. Since then, Alyssa has released various albums and embarked on several cross-country tours. She also formed the Alyssa Hankey Band, a four-piece band that combines folk, country and rock. You can find them playing in and around the Pittsburgh area. Hankey has also shared the stage with artists such as The Clarks, The Steel Wheels, The Wildwoods, Warren Zeiders and Charles Wesley Godwin.

Influences: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, John Prine, Tom Petty, Chris Stapleton, Johnny Cash, Allman Brothers Band, Neil Young and many more!

You’ll find her music on Itunes, Spotify, Bandcamp, Google Play, Youtube, etc.

Forged in the fires of small town Pennsylvania comes a rock band, the likes of which you have never seen! Check us out, contact us for booking, and fly high!

“Birds of a feather, rock together!”

Ben Gage is an Americana musician from Akron, OH. Ben Gage grew up in the rust belt of Northeast Ohio, spread out in the countryside along the great Lake Erie. His roots run deep alongside the hard working blue collars that Ohio has to boast. That tenacity, love of family, and respect for a long day can be seen in his music. In Fall of 2021 Ben quit his job in the tech-sector to pursue music full time. Now he travels the US sharing stories and songs and always collecting more.

Folk and Blues music gives us a way to hand along a story, and it’s what fuels Ben’s songwriting and the reason he includes the listener. The best story sets aside the complexities and focuses on honesty. You will find yourself feeling as though you’ve heard his songs before even if it’s your first time. 

To him music has always been a social endeavor. When not playing solo he has The Ben Gage Band, including Dan Socha (Guitar), Brant Novak (Upright Bass) and Spencer Cindia (Drums).

Tropical soul reggae from the island of Pittsburgh.

“Homegrown Rock & Soul.” The Jaded Lips is a trio from Altoona, PA. Performing a high energy blend of garage rock, soul & indie that is full of hooks. Unique yet familiar.

Appalachian Rock + Jamericana from West Virginia.

We know you’re eager to see the lineup, and trust us—we can’t wait to share it! But some very exciting last-minute things are happening, so we’re pushing the announcement back just a bit.

Big things are coming. Lineup drops APRIL 4th! Stay tuned… it’ll be worth the wait.