Event Type : Free Concert

Ruby draws upon a lifetime of experience as a songwriter and live performer, creating a unique collaboration of musical styles including elements of her Appalachian roots, classical training, rock, blues, country, jazz and old-time music to forge her own original genre of American Roots music she’s coined “Mountain Soul.”

EASE plays a diverse and eclectic brand of Americana music.  With songs ranging from  traditional folk songs to sophisticated blues songs of the 20’s and 30’s; from Bob Wills to Hot Tuna; from polkas to the Grateful Dead; from bluegrass to the Devil Makes Three; from country classics to the outlaw country favorites; and many spaces in between, you are never sure what you will hear.

The one constant, though, is an emphasis on musicianship, a sense of humor, a looseness, and love of playing a wide range of American music that is enjoyable to listen to as well as to play. 

Listening to EASE reminds you of sitting on the back porch, the living room, or around the fire and hearing your friends play good time music. This is American String Band music for the 21st century.

Singer-songwriters from Grove City.

Catro is a dynamic group featuring Tammi Dahl Matthews on vocals and David Kana on tenor sax. The rhythm section is Dave Morgan- bass, Glenn Schaft-drums and Mark DeWalt- keyboards.
Catro’s appearance at Big Rail will include fresh interpretations of classic holiday music plus pop and jazz favorites from all eras of the American songbook.

theCAUSE is a band consisting of 5 Pittsburgh musicians who have all been around the proverbial block.  Playing tunes from Grateful Dead, Phish, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and MORE, including some very tasty originals, theCAUSE packs a punch while still paying close attention to the delicate touch. The players are Eric “Pappy” Weingrad on guitar and vocals (Double Dose, Pappy’s Blues Junction), David Tauberg on bass and vocals (Powers Run Band, Hard to Handle, Cherylann Hawk),  Mike South on drums (Left for Dead, Sticky, Russ Lauf Band) and, joining us in 2008, Pittsburgh blues veteran Jill Paone Simmons brings a whole new dimension to theCAUSE on vocals and continues to rock with us today. Jill also fronts the all female Dead band Brown Eyed Women .  Kip Lieber on keyboards, who also performs with Fungus.

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

The six-stringer song singer from Erie, PA.

Pittsburgh-based Bastard Bearded Irishmen is one of the most entertaining and energetic live shows today. Their sound is an original, ferocious blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic music, mixed with punk, gypsy and high-energy rock n’ roll.

The six-stringer song singer from Erie, PA.