The trees are budding, the birds have returned, and the third ever Burton Hall Hootenanny is just around the corner! On Saturday, May 21st Rural Soul Productions will once again host this wonderful musical event, bringing you a variety of music from some of the northeast’s finest talents. This time around, the list of great bands will include Dry Town Drifters, Gin Mill Julep, Wildwood Bluegrass Band and local favorites, Eastbound Jesus. In Hootenanny spirit, the event will host a number of special guests, who may perform short sets of their own or may jump on stage to join other bands.
The Hootenanny has been a great success in the past and RSP hopes to have their biggest turnout to date this Spring. From traditional country music to pop to straight up “in your face” bluegrass and rock n’ roll, this concert intends to put forth a little something for everyone in the greater-Easton community to enjoy, whatever their musical tastes may be. People young to not-so-young are encouraged to join in the fun!
The Dry Town Drifters will kick off this Hootenanny performing vintage country music. The band's repertoire includes classics by Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Chris LeDoux, with rodeo/cowboy influences. The band members include Aaron Hahn (guitar, harmonica, lead vocals), Marty Guidon (lead guitar), Rich Stiles (drums), and Dick Winchell (bass). The Dry Town Drifters originated in 2010 as part of a horse rescue mission in Argyle, NY.
Gin Mill Julep is a four piece acoustic blend of mandolin, accordion, guitar and bass, visiting us all the way from Portland, Maine! Special guests on clarinet and fiddle may join in the fray. Playing a mix of old time prohibition era pop songs, traditional Finnish melodies, and silly barnyard ditties, they are sure to make every person in the room smile.
Wildwood is a bluegrass music group that plays a variety of tunes ranging from traditional to modern, from Bill Monroe to Alison Krauss, from Merle Haggard to the Beatles! Having regrouped in June of 2010, Wildwood consists of 4 “veterans” of the local music scene: May Tolley (vocals, bass, mandolin, guitar), Jamie Ransom (vocals, guitar), Rick Heyniger (vocals, bass, banjo, mandolin), and Randy Gates (banjo, mandolin, guitar). Their exceptional vocal harmonies and the ability of the members to interchange instruments adds to the versatility of this well rounded group of entertainers.
Eastbound Jesus is bluegrass-rock quintet from Greenwich, NY. Formed just in the fall of 2010 the band has come a long way in a short time. With the release of their full length debut album this past January, full of original songs and sounds, the group has begun to develop a loyal and rapid-growing following in the area. The band looks forward to their return to Burton Hall, as it was at the Harvest Hootenanny last November that they performed their very first show.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; music begins at 7:00 p.m. $15 suggested donation at the door. Burton Hall is located at 1021 State Rte. 40 in North Easton, NY. RSP is happy to announce that part of the proceeds from this show will go into a music program fund for underprivileged children. The details of this new program will be revealed at the Hootenanny!
