The Brooklyn Country Music Festival










8 days of New York City's finest country music
at Freddy's Backroom and Buttermilk



Band Bios:

vince allen Vince Allen started playing music when he was ten years-old and his Mom bought his first drum set. After spending his early teenage years banging away to a radio in a basement buried deep in Atlanta, Georgia's suburbs, he played in a string of high school punk bands. Now Vince is playing venues around New York City realizing he should have done this a long time ago. Mixing acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and a jazz rhythm section with melodies rooted in traditional Southern folk and bluegrass, Vince's sound captures what is beautiful about where he comes from and what stirred him up and moved him away.


The American String Conspiracy arose out of jam sessions between guitarists Gary Keenan and Brian Boyles in 2003. Their idea was to form an alternative model for a band, a circle of sympathetic string musicians with a love for American songs in their various traditions—blues, country, r&b, folk, rockabilly, punk, anything that sounded good on acoustic strings. Since their debut performance as a quintet in October, 2003, ASC has regularly performed in NYC clubs, developing a body of songs (both originals and covers), a range of performing ensemble options from duo to septet, and a loyal and growing audience of fellow musicians and listeners as they carry folk traditions into the 21st Century. ASC members bring a wide range of musical and artistic experience into their collective efforts. No player has to make every rehearsal or show, and no two shows are the same, but the string band sound remains consistent as ASC picks, strums and twangs its way through songs by (among others) Stephen Foster, Fats Waller, Hank Williams, Charley Patton, Sparkle Moore, Tommy Johnson, Aretha Franklin, Jo Stafford, Cindy Lauper, Kurt Cobain, Gary Keenan, and those prolific geniuses Trad and Anon. 


Banjorama! Take 3 parts Brooklyn Jugs, add one part Whisky Rebellion, mix in as many banjos as possible, including but not limited to tenor banjo, 5-string banjo, banjo ukulele, and plectrum banjo, and you've got the banjo blues orchestra that is Banjorama! While their instruments may not vary, their styles certainly do. From the tropical blues stylings of singer-picker-harpist Ernesto Gomez, to the Irish airs frequented by picker Terrence McCafferty, to the hits of the 1870s & 1970s favored by singer-picker-shaker Alex Battles, you'll always have a footstompin' goodtime listening to these happy-go-lucky cats play backed by the fine jugwork of Arturo Stile.




Battlestar America (acoustic) Battlestar America's fearless team was conceived in the 70's as an elite fighting unit, and spent the last quarter of the 20th century  training in seclusion to become a superior bionic ninja cowboy unit capable of defeating Dr. Destructo and his army of vampire robots.  Now that Dr. Destructo has been abolished, this unstoppable team turns its attention to taking our country back from the clutches of corporate zombies with country-hip-hop music "so fat it needs its own zipcode". B-Star will do a very special acoustic show. Expect some honkytonk classics and no-so-classics. Expect something just a little different.  "Rocking two turntables and a fiddle, Battlestar America will get you bobbing your head until your neck turns red." Vibe Magazine, December, 2004.


jug addicts Bill Carney's Jug Addicts apply the twinning principal utilized by Ornette Coleman's early 60s groups  and the  Max Roach's Double Quartet to the  jug band idiom. The result is a particularly robust and raucous jug band sound free of any archival obsessiveness. Comprised of jug  band veterans culled from the Don't Look Now Jug Band, MetroPolecats, and Pork Chop, the Jug Addicts' repertoire draws from early jazz, tin pan alley, ragtime, and string band music, along with the classic jug band canon. Their cd, "Cynthia's Kitchen" was produced by so-called Sixth Stroke, JP Bowersock, the NYC rock band's guru and sensei.



Blue State Band Combining the groove of Rockabilly and Western Swing, the heart, soul and longing of Country Music, and a contemporary, urban sensibility, Blue State Band wants to make you dance. Singer and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lisman has played for several years on the roots music scenes in New York and Chicago. He's been heard at Uncommon Grounds and Lapiz Lounge in Chicago and at Freddy's Backroom and the Baggot Inn in New York, among other places. Lead guitarist Matt Walsh recently returned to NYC after a stint in Nashville, where he played guitar with artists such as Will Oldham, Miles Zuniga (from Fastball), and Carey Kotsionis (a member of Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminal Starvation League). While in Nashville, Matt got his song "Just Like Jones" recorded by 70's country music star Del Reeves. Del even played the song on the Grand Ole' Opry, which is broadcast nationwide on cable network CMT.Matt lived in NYC during the late '90s, when he played with his own group Matthew Guadalupe and The Regulars. The Regulars recorded a CD in 1999 with instrumental and vocal help from local roots music legend Greg Garing as well as steel guitar and fiddle help from Larry Campbell of the Bob Dylan band. Lincoln Schleifer, bass player extraordinaire for Donald Fagan among others, produced.


Buttermilk Channel are Alan Friend and Chris Seymour. 2 banjo players + 2 guitarists + 2 vocalists +1 concertina player + 1 dulcimer player = 2 (not 8) great instrumentalists and singers.  They perform traditional songs and tunes from America to the British Isles.  They will thrill you with their wonderful vocal harmonies and inspiring instrumentals. Alan Friend plays banjo, guitar and concertina, and sings traditional songs from America and the British Isles.  He is a member of the old-time band “Chelsea  String Band” and the contra-dance band “Contrapolitans”.  Alan has performed solo and with various bands at festivals, coffee houses and radio stations from West Virginia to Montreal.  He has also given many banjo and ballad workshops.  Alan is an Executive Board member and past President of the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club. Chris Seymour sings an eclectic variety of traditional and contemporary songs, from tragic ballads to humorous ditties, from hard-hitting political commentary to old-time gospel. He accompanies his warm baritone on banjo, dulcimer and guitar.


hank cash The CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree was created to give folks a chance to sing and play the tunes of two of country music’s greatest artists and composers, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. Born at the 1st Annual Brooklyn Country Music Festival, the CasHank has been a monthly fixture at Buttermilk ever since, and will be celebrating its 1 year anniversary at this fine establishment. Expect to see some of your favorite folks who have performed throughout the festival as well as visits from surprise guests. Four chords. No plugs. All welcome.


9pm Christian Gibbs has an assortment of hats in his Brooklyn apartment. On top of an old brown bookcase there is a Stetson, a few old rancher hats, some prized fedoras, and other thrift store acquisitions. With his forthcoming release, Parade Of Small Horses, it is easy to get an idea of which hats were worn in between takes. Incorporating pedal steel, layered acoustic and electric guitars, harmonica, wurlitzer, piano, mandolin, drums, bass (and the occasional cello), the new L.P. was recorded entirely in New York with his band sometimes referred to as The Cardia Bros. Perhaps his most cohesive record yet, Parade of Small Horses manages to build on the eclectic energy of its predecessor The Pinkermen Set while producing a singular, heartfelt overture in the increasingly cluttered soundscape of American Music. The mood of this record can be due in part to half a year spent on the property of Big Pink (where the Band had once lived and recorded Bob Dylan’s The Basement Tapes). The wooded confines of the Catskills provided a serene backdrop as Gibbs had just come off tour. When the living situation came up he jumped at the opportunity to get out of the city for a while. He moved his recording equipment into the guest house of Big Pink which he refers to as “Little Pink” and began writing and recording demos for what would evolve into Parade Of Small Horses. “Christian Gibbs never settles down. As his lyrics detail surreal and troubled visions, the music wanders amid countryish rock, cracked cabaret oompah and elaborate Beatles-flavored ballads” – NY Times “Gibbs shows off both his songwriting smarts and the high caliber of his musical compatriots on The Pinkermen Set.. The lyrics throughout bristle with sharp focused intensity flowing with an ease that belies the care taken in its creation.” –No Depression


The Crevulators: Raw. Hyper. Rowdy. Addictive. All words that might describe a good country band...or a good punk rock one. Or, in the case of a band like The Crevulators, a little bit of both. Take a simple, swinging beat; add some straight-up guitar and bass, and a touch of sweet baritone harmonies; throw in a rough drawl peppered with just the slightest taste of snot, and the result is a scrappy little trio that kicks out enough infectious, happy energy to take on a squad of session men twice their size.





The Defibulators are a well rounded hodge-podge country band. Combining two singers with great harmonies, banjo, pedal steel, a doctor on the upright bass, a fiddle prodigy from tennesse, a kid from new orleans on the snare, who backs us up with snare to bring you a little gritty, high energy, heart thumpin' tonk.  And Erin sings the hell out of those ballads.





East River String Band
John Heneghan began playing guitar at age five and became completely bitter and jaded about the idea of trying to play any kind of modern music very soon thereafter. The only band of note that John has played in is Oatmeal Banana, which after enjoying a brief stint of success in the mid 90s, was quickly crushed by the downtown music scene and disolved quietly into obscurity. Being unable to co-exist with modern man, John decided to form his dream band- the East River String Band- in 2004. ERSB is the only band he can really enjoy playing in due his brutal contempt for all modern music. John likes 78's, vintage instruments, his dog Junior, and his best gal Eden. He dislikes nearly everything else.



The Flanks They say it isn't easy being the hardest working band in show business. That's why the Flanks don't even try. As far back as 2002, the legendary Flanks have been playing in and around New York, converting everyone within shouting distance to belief in theirall-spit-and-no-polish country jug stylings. Most of their songs areoriginals, the others are forgotten old-time gems. In sweet, crowd-pleasing harmony, the Flanks sing about shady characters, questionable goings-on,regrettable sets of personal circumstances, petty thievery, chemicalimpairments, and hitting on recently divorced women.





The Harmony Bros. return to the KCO. They were the first band to play the first show and we’re glad they are back. The music of Jerry and Charlie is in the grand tradition of brother duets a la Louvin Brothers and Everly Brothers with rich, high harmonies. Along with their golden voices, their main instruments are mandolin, guitar, and 5-string banjo. The Harmony Bros. have been around the block a few times and have been playing this kind of music since they were kids. Their repetoire includes several styles of playing: fingerpicking, straight bluegrass, country blues, flatpicking, gospel, and country western. The Harmony Brothers are sure to be a special treat, so don’t you miss ‘em.


kings county opry Jessica Rose: Jessica Rose caught the sweet stage fever at the tender age of 14 whenshe sang Patsy Cline's Crazy at a grimy piano bar somewhere in California. Since then she's toured extensively through the U.S. and ourfriendly neighbors to the north, Canada. Steeped in a love of true grit singers from Emmylou Harris to Nina Simone, the highlights of hercareer have been opening for the legendary Willie Nelson, one of her longtime heroes, and singing at Lorretta Lynn's ranch in Tennessee. She now resides in Brooklyn with her handsome and faithful dog, Ocean.





kings county opry Kings County Opry: Every third Thursday of the month, The Kings County Opry swings into Freddy’s Backroom with an eclectic set of genuine country music chosen by Dock Oscar of Sweet William. In July, the Kings County Opry presents the following fine artists to kick off the 2nd Annual Brooklyn Country Music Festival.

The Lonesome Prairie Dogs are a band of rockin’ hillbillies based mainly in Jersey City, who play the music of Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and other greats of country, rockabilly, rock ‘n roll and related genres, plus their own original compositions. Described by one observer as “super vintage,” The Lonesome Prairie Dogs aim roughly for a Sun sound, with a lineup of Steve “Luke” Lonesome on acoustic guitar and vocals, “Hellcat” Heidi Lonesome on upright bass and vocals, “GUItar” Mike Lonesome on Telecaster, and Jun “Sticks” Lonesome on snare and cymbal. (He’s a boy named Jun, by the way.)  In their hearts, they long to cruise Memphis in a ’59 convertible or ride the range like old cowpokes on bright and windy days. And it shows.



(Jan Bell with members of) The Maybelles firmly believe they very well may be the spiritual daughters of such greats as Hazel Dickens, Memphis Minnie, Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and of course Mother Maybelle herself. It may also be more than co-incidence that Bob Dylan was on tour in northern England at the time of Ms. Bells conception. However, none of this has been proven by DNA testing. Perhaps Bell's approach to the harp rack is proof enough...The genetic line does not stop there - long lost cousin Gillian Welch has been unknowingly copying Carpers' vocal stylings for years now. Carper, virtually unknown, does not seem to mind - preferring to labor in obscurity. She is currently focussing on perfecting a more Leadbelly-esque edge, combined with Peggy Lee-ish subtleties.



Michael Daves Bluegrass Mob The Michael Daves Bluegrass Mob plays roof-raising string band music, as much in touch with the psychotic, trance-like Applachian mountain fiddling roots as with the notion that the early Bluegrass heroes - Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, andothers -- embodied the visceral, iconoclastic essenceof rock n' roll before its time.  Led by Daves onguitar, mandolin, and tenor vocals, the group features a rotating cast of New York's top traditional musicians. 


john pinamonti John Pinamonti Born in LA and raised in the suburban wilds of San Antonio, TX and Portland, OR, John has been playing guitar, writing songs and trying to sing for more years than most folks can remember.  After spending 4 years on the road with African drum master Obo Addy's band (a time he refers to as "Rhythmic Grad School"), he relocated to the urban wilds of New York and has proceeded to record and perform his own brand of American roots music.  He plays in venues all over the 5 boroughs in a variety of solo and band configurations (a recent week found him in the Bronx at an Irish bar on Thursday, then a venerable pub in Brooklyn on Saturday and finally a hip little bar in the East Village on Sunday). His 3rd CD was released in late 2004.   Of his talents, Performing Songwriter says:  "His dead on sense of humor, no nonsense approach to lyrics and instrumentation, and his ability to wear his heart on his sleeve while staying gruff and detached make his songs prepossessing and addictive".  Finally, he is also a closet Mets fan.



prince lefty Prince Lefty and His Ramblin’ Kings Prince Lefty grew up in New York City. He moved to Austin, Texas as a member of a rap band and came back a pedal steel player.  Upon deciding to put together an outfit to play his favorite honky tonk songs, he called his pal Dish to play bass. Dish happened to know a certain guitar playing Rick Donner with a voice like an angel. Borrowing awesome drummers from The Hold Steady, Winterville and Beetroot (most recently Jason Mills), Prince Lefty, with his Ramblin' Kings have done just that. With help from musical librarian friends, a selection of the best honky tonk music recorded over the golden era of country music has been compiled in the form of a rotating set list of about 50 tunes. Plenty of Buck, Merle and George classics as well as deep cuts by them and other lesser known artists are sure to please everyone from the wide eyed new comer to the scrutinizing traditionalist.


Radio Ghost Town
is Ryan Wells' country-rock band from New York City. They dig deep into the raw, dirty, roots of rock 'n' roll...into the drunken soul and easy heartache of country. Often likened in sound to many of the lost "heroes" of country-rock, Radio Ghost Town plays beer soaked, down and out, heart on your sleeve, alt-country ditties to any and all who will listen. They bring a little salvation and whiskey to all the sinners out there.





sweet william Sweet William hails from the back woods of Brooklyn, drawing from the very roots of country music and then some. Sweet William is a band that digs deep into the roots of country music with the heart of Hank Williams, the soul of Steve Earle, and a touch of Uncle Tupelo. Listening to Sweet William you’d swear you were punching in hits from a bygone era jukebox at a forgotten truckstop. Running the gamut from honky tonk barnburners to bottom-of-the-beer-bottle weepers to alt-country rockers, Sweet William delivers high harmonies, lonesome sounds and raw-energy country songs that are sure to make believers out of the most cynical of Indy Rockers.



Roulette Sisters Megan Burleyson, Mamie Minch, and Meg Reichardt first met up in the late winter months of 2003. After playing just a few songs together, they immediately knew something good was cooking in their unique stew of guitar, resonator, and washboard. Megan, Mamie, and Meg became excited with the idea of forming an all-girl trio with three singers in the tradition of the Boswell Sisters and Andrews Sisters, and turned on knowing they could play great kick-ass music without cranking amps louder or piling the most notes into a guitar solo. Over the past year, the girls have been building up a repertoire that incorporates much of the American music they love. They play old time country, like the Original Carter Family and Merle Haggard; old blues, like Bessie Smith, Leadbelly, Pink Anderson, Memphis Minnie, and Papa Charlie Jackson; as well as traditional ballads by Stephen Foster and original compositions. And the list keeps growing! Look out for the Roulette Sisters debut CD release in early 2005.


Sheriff Uncle Bob An accomplished dobro player and singer of country and bluegrass songs, you may have seen Sheriff Uncle Bob as the leader of the weekly Old Time Jam at the Baggot Inn, or possibly performing onstage as leader of the Nieces and Nephews, or as a sideman in the popular group UncleF***er, but whatever the venue, expect a wonderful helping of sweet country music from the man with the badge.






sweet william Sweet William hails from the back woods of Brooklyn, drawing from the very roots of country music and then some. Sweet William is a band that digs deep into the roots of country music with the heart of Hank Williams, the soul of Steve Earle, and a touch of Uncle Tupelo. Listening to Sweet William you’d swear you were punching in hits from a bygone era jukebox at a forgotten truckstop. Running the gamut from honky tonk barnburners to bottom-of-the-beer-bottle weepers to alt-country rockers, Sweet William delivers high harmonies, lonesome sounds and raw-energy country songs that are sure to make believers out of the most cynical of Indy Rockers.




Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. is the little trio with the big hillbilly sound.  For just over two years now, the "SIT & Die" boys, as they're known, have been producing quality-built "ballads, boogies, & blues", as says their motto, in a lively hillbilly style that's made the bottles bounce on the tables of some of New York City's swellest joins. Consisting of singing accompanied by rhythm and "take-off" electrified guitars and the beat of the doghouse bass, the boys offer up a mix of both original compositions and those of Rhythm & Blues, "rock-a-billy" and Country & Western artists that they just happen to like. They do their best to really put on a show, dress sharp as a tack, and are rarely (okay, never) at a loss for words when faced with an audience. In the end, won't you kindly consider Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. to satisfy you most exacting hillbilly music needs?




Two Man Gentleman Band plays original, old-time music at a reasonable volume and a lively pace. They adorn themselves in the well-tailored fineries of yesteryear, and present the passerby with over nine unique sounds: two voices, guitar, bass fiddle, banjo, lead kazoo, tenor kazoo, and the occasional whistle. Embracing ancient and modern themes, their compositions appeal to listeners of all proclivities. The Gentlemen were born in the Fall of 2002, when longtime friends Andy Bean and Fuller Condon (known also as The Councilman) first carried their instruments into New York City's Central Park. The park-going public received them kindly, showering them with kind words and coinage despite The Gents' then-meager repertoire (about 15 minutes of original material). Bean and The Councilman concluded that the park benefited from the presence of old-time music, played quickly, by men in suits. They vowed to make it a habit.



Uncle Leon and the Alibis Once in a while an act comes along that is so unsavory in its content, so Neanderthal in its execution, so basely moronic in its very existence that, like a grisly collision between a circus train and a prison bus, it becomes an unintentional freak show, at once alluring and horrific, hilarious for all the wrong reasons. Such is the case with Uncle Leon, a bald, creepy-crooning never-was who obviously took his Mojo Nixon albums a little too seriously. His backing band is pretty good, but unless you’re the sort of dive-bar creep who enjoys gutter-quality, brick-handed meditations on the alleged joys of big butts, monster trucks, or drinking booze, avoid this degenerate at all costs.



warren malone of cutters Warren Malone Orchestra Originaly from Manchester England, Warren spent time in Ireland, before moving to San Francisco in 1993 where he played constantly for 5 great years and recorded his first album Spit n kisses which featured members of the Tori Amos band (or so I'm told). A return to England and another album Hummingbird in 2000 led to an opening spot for David Gray. Other gigs have included openings for Bert Jansch, Chip Taylor, The handsome Family, Centro-Matic and many more. He now lives in New York and has a new album Moon June Spoon available through the mail order page at www.glitterhouse.com.  His influences include Steve Earle, Sean Hayes, Norman Blake, Doc Watson, Neal Casal, The Carter Family, Bill Monroe and so many more. “The first record I put on was Hank Williams and The Drifting Cowboys, I was 4 years old and I remember the MGM lion spinning on its yellow label.”


wisslerfamily The Wissler Family formed when Matt Wissler and Linda May Wacker began a series of drunken impromptu concerts in the Wacker living room comprised exclusively of Stevie Nicks covers.  From such auspicious beginnings, The Wissler Family has grown to include members Tim Woods and Tom Mayer, who, in turn, seek to uphold a tradition begun by scribbling lyrics on a shoe box. Influenced by such attitudes and artists as The Carter Family, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Prine and Iron Maiden, The Wissler Family fuses their traditional folk style with varying songs from all eras of both country and rock music. This raw yet fun approach to their favorite songs is at the core of The Wissler Family's unique brand of folk music.   



Alex Battles' Whisky Rebellion The Whisky Rebellion is Alex Battles.  The Whisky Rebellion performs original songs, by turns funny and bittersweet, in the classic country style.  Battles writes these tunes with the help of his grandfather's tenor banjo.  His major songwriting influences are Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Tom Waits and Willie Nelson.  The Whisky Rebellion contains anywhere from 1-7 members, depending on venue constraints and the weather.  He things funny thongs.










The Y'all Stars met at and grew out of Brooklyn's Ponkiesburg Pickin' Party, founded in 2000 by Barbara Brousal.  The Y'all Stars play country and bluegrass classics by the Louvin Bros, Bill Monroe, and Blue Sky Boys.  They are Fran Leadon and Charles Puckette on vocals and guitar, Diane Stockwell on vocals and fiddle, Ben Fraker on vocals and mandolin, Andy Cartoun on banjo, and John Cleveland on bass. They have played live shows on WKCR and at the annual Howl Festival and play once a month at the Parkside Lounge.





Younger Sister Band
Brian and Jessica grew up on the same block.  Twenty - four years later, they are devoting their time to writing music instead of building submarines out of old lawnmower parts, as aresult of mystical consultations in the Far East.  In betweenthis time, Fletcher and Jessica have have harmonized for elevenyears right through Italy, New York and South Africa.  Asfurther luck would have it, after Brian and Joe met three timesthey began to remember each other, and destiny brought Joe intothe circle from the south Bronx.  Last but not least, Bobo waslured from his woodsy hovel and a renounciation of all worldygoods with the promise of deep yankee country!  What is deepyankee country?  A mix of esoteric mysticism, American musicaltradition, and endless academic research into the meaning of life.