On Saturday, January 27, 7pm, the Williamsville Hall hosts Rockin’ The River: Three Duos and One Night of Hand-made Music to benefit the Williamsville Hall and the Rock River Players featuring members of Demolition String Band, The Cucumbers, and Bard Owl—all with local roots. Bands’ members Elena Skye and Boo Reiners, Jon Fried and Deena Shoskes, Annie Landenberger and T. Breeze Verdant are all seasoned performers and creators who are coming together to swap songs and stories for a memorable winter’s evening of music.
With a shared passion for country, roots rock, bluegrass and mountain music singer/songwriter Elena Skye and multi-instrumentalist Boo Reiners front Demolition String Band. have released seven albums and played clubs and festivals across the USA and Europe, with a special passion for Ireland where they have toured annually since 2014. Billboard Magazine says “Demolition String Band’s members are master instrumentalists, lyricists and entertainers.” With a collection of tasty original songs and unique covers Demolition String Band can rock the dance floor with their electric quartet or as an acoustic duo or trio, playing and singing old-school style around a single microphone, juggling banjo, mandolin and guitars, and topped off with their taut harmony vocals.(elenaandboo.com).
Music from The Cucumbers (Jon Fried and Deena Shoshkes) features intimate vocal harmonies and charming songs with roots in acoustic folk, pop and new wave. Jon and Deena began performing in the streets in Paris and Rome in the early ’80s. They started a rock band and found a home in the indie pop scene in Hoboken, NJ. Their songwriting has been called “direct and artful,” by the New York Times, Deena’s voice “…incredible: kidstuff and wisdom merged,” by the Village Voice. Their songs have been recorded by Jackson Browne, Dar Williams, Marshall Crenshaw and featured in films and TV. The Cucumbers’ latest album “Old Shoes” (2023) has been included on several “best of 2023” lists. (www.thecucumbers.net)
Bard Owl is Annie Landenberger, who, at 6, memorized an entire double album of Mitch Miller favorites to sing for her parents’ dinner guests, and T. Breeze Verdant, the boy who lay in bed belting out Elvis, Little Richard, and military tunes at the top of his lungs. Mitch and the military have gone their separate ways, but the two have merged to create a rich eclectic playlist of old tunes, new, originals with Verdant on guitar, vocals, stomp box; Landenberger on vocals and percussion. “They’re the kind of singers who, like other artists we grew up singing along with, know how to embrace and gather an audience into the warmth and generous spirit of their music. Their love for each other permeates every song; humble and heartfelt melodies invite us to join in and it’s healing just to listen,” says folklorist/performer, Montana Miller.
Admission is by suggested donation of $15—all of which is to be divided between the Williamsville Hall and the Rock River Players. Additional support is welcome and no one will be turned away for inability to contribute. The Williamsville Hall, 35 Dover Rd., Williamsville, VT is heated and ADA compliant.
Contact: Annie Landenberger, verbatimvt@gmail.com, 802-451-6283