Peninsula Foundation

The Drowsy Lads
2026-02-21 20:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St, Peninsula, OH, 44264, United States
February 21st
For more than twenty years, The Drowsy Lads have been delighting audiences across the country with their joyful, high-spirited take on traditional Irish music. Rooted firmly in the old tunes, their performances are marked by energy, humor, and a genuine love of both the music and the people who come to hear it.
In 2018 the band released Everyone In, earning the title of “Best Irish American Band of the Year.” In 2024 they followed with a double-disc recording celebrating two decades of making music together — a heartfelt reflection of the friendships and shared history that define their sound.
The group features Ohio brothers John and Daniel McKewen, father and son Phil and Josh Franck, and lifelong friend Bryan Brookes. Together they deliver dance-driven sets filled with lively tunes, tender songs, and good-natured storytelling that resonate with longtime fans of traditional music and newcomers alike.
The Drowsy Lads regularly appear at Irish festivals throughout the Midwest and beyond, and have performed in theaters, concert halls, and with ensembles such as the Otterbein University Orchestra. Each member is a multi-instrumentalist, bringing a rich palette of fiddle, accordion, flute, whistle, banjo, bouzouki, uilleann pipes, concertina, bodhrán, and more.
While they enjoy creating their own arrangements — and even weaving in the occasional bluegrass or classical influence — the heart of The Drowsy Lads remains their deep devotion to the timeless Irish tunes, songs, and camaraderie that have carried this music across generations.
General Admission: 30.00
Join us in our bar area at 7pm before the show
Doors to the concert area open at 7:30pm
Music at 8PM

Mo Mojo - Annual Mardi Gras Party at the G.A.R. Hall
2026-02-17 20:00 - 22:30
February 17th- Mo Mojo-
For nearly three decades, Northeast Ohio favorite Mo’ Mojo has been bringing people together through dance, joy, and a spirit of community. This female-fronted “Pardi Gras” band blends traditional and original Zydeco, Cajun, New Orleans blues, R&B, and Mardi Gras music, creating a sound that feels both celebratory and deeply human.
Mo’ Mojo’s songs reflect a shared sense of connection, with titles like “Together in Love We Drown” and “We All Got the Same” capturing the heart of their message. Founded in the mid-1990s, they are one of the region’s longest-running bands and have performed at festivals, concert series, clubs, and community dances across the country.
In addition to their local impact, Mo’ Mojo has served as U.S. State Department musical ambassadors, sharing their music — and their belief in the power of connection — with audiences around the world.
General Admission: 22.00
Join us at 7pm for refreshments before the show
Doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Lizzie No
2026-02-13 20:00 - 22:30
February 13th- Lizzie No
Lizzie No is a genre-defying folk artist and revolutionary voice in the Black Womanist tradition. Their acclaimed third studio album, Halfsies (2024), blends folk, country, and indie influences into music that is both intimate and boldly expansive.
Named one of Rolling Stone’s “Future 25” Artists of the Year, Lizzie No continues to gain international recognition—most recently with a nomination for International Song of the Year at the Americana UK Awards for the country ballad “The Heartbreak Store.”
The Halfsies tour brought Lizzie No to stages across the U.S. and Europe, including performances with Iron & Wine and Dispatch. In early 2025, they released the electrifying live album Commie Country, capturing the raw power and urgency of their performances. Beyond the stage, Lizzie No is a co-host of the Basic Folk podcast and a contributing writer for The Bluegrass Situation.
General Admission: 20.00
Join us in the bar area at 7pm
Concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Hey Mavis - This show is SOLD OUT!
2026-02-07 20:00 - 22:30
February 7th – Hey Mavis
For more than thirteen years, Northcoast Americana band Hey Mavis has built a loyal following with heartfelt vocals, thoughtful songwriting, expressive fiddle and banjo work, and an easy onstage chemistry that reflects years of making music together.
The group was formed by banjoist and songwriter Laurie Michelle Caner and fiddler Eddie Caner while serving as artists-in-residence in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. They were soon discovered by producer Don Dixon (R.E.M., The Smithereens, Red Clay Ramblers), who went on to produce their first two albums — both reaching the Top 10 on the national Folk DJ-L charts and earning praise from critics around the world.
Their third release was produced by Adam Aijala of Yonder Mountain String Band and includes a title track co-written with Chuck Auerbach of The Black Keys. Their fourth album, Silver Ribbon Dream — Songs & Stories of the Ohio & Erie Canal, was funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and has been described as “unconventionally beautiful” and “startlingly original.” Hey Mavis has shared this work across the East and Midwest, including performances with several symphony orchestras.
General Admission – 28.00
Join us at 7pm for refreshments before the show in our new addition!
Doors to the concert Hall open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Dom Flemons - Amercan Songster
2026-01-21 20:00 - 22:00
Dom Flemons, founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops returns to the G.A.R. Hall.

January 21st- Dom Flemons
Dom Flemons is known as “The American Songster®” since his repertoire covers over one hundred years of American roots music. Flemons is a folk musician, black country artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music scholar, historian, actor, slam poet, record collector, curator, podcaster, cultural commentator, influencer, and the creator, host, and producer of the American Songster Radio Show on WSM in Nashville, TN. He is the Co-Founder and original member of the groundbreaking Carolina Chocolate Drops, the first ever black string band to win a GRAMMY Award. Over the past 25 years, he has received major awards, gained world-wide media recognition and has become one of the most influential and highly decorated voices in American roots music.
“Dom Flemons is one of the most accomplished American Folk Artists… few have pumped as much lifeblood into tradition as he has.” – MOJO Magazine
General Admission: 32.00
Bar area opens at 7pm
Concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Amythyst Kiah
2026-01-14 20:00 - 22:00
January 14th – Amythyst Kiah
On her new album Still + Bright, Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah explores the vast expanse of her inner world: her deep-rooted affinity for Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions, a near-mystical connection with the natural environment, the life lessons learned in her formative years as a self-described “anime-nerd mall goth,” and much more. Produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer) and recorded at his Nashville studio, Kiah’s second full-length for Rounder Records merges her revelatory storytelling with a darkly cinematic twist on the rootsy alt-rock of her 2021 breakthrough Wary + Strange—an LP that landed on Rolling Stone’s list of the 25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2021 and drew acclaim from major outlets like Pitchfork. With its sonic palette encompassing everything from fuzzed-out guitars and industrial-leaning beats to gilded pedal steel and Kiah’s exquisitely graceful banjo work, Still + Bright makes for a vital new addition to a body of work largely dedicated to exploring the struggle and joy of true self-discovery.
The latest turn in a dynamic career that’s included joining Our Native Daughters (an all-women-of-color supergroup also featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell), Still + Bright emerged from a deliberate transformation of the songwriting process Kiah adopted after composing her first song on a Fender acoustic at age 13. To that end, the album marks her first time opening up her approach and working with co-writers, including punk legend Tim Armstrong, Sadler Vaden (a guitarist/vocalist for Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit), and former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan. Although her third LP is an undeniable departure from the anguished emotionality of its predecessor (an album informed by losing her mother to suicide at age 17), Kiah imparts each track with a hypnotic intensity born from boldly stating her convictions. Revealing her rare ability to spin her fascinations into songs uncovering essential truths about human nature, Still + Bright ultimately affirms her as an artist of both daring originality and uncompromising depth

General Admission – 32.00
Join us in the new addition at 7pm for refreshments
Doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

G.A.R Grass Jam
2026-01-13 19:00 - 21:00
G.A.R. Grass Jam!
Join us the second Tuesday of the month from 7-9
Join hosts Paul Kovac and David Mayfield for a fun night a ‘grass jammin” at the G.A.R. Hall.
All ages and skill levels are welcome and encouraged. We have 4 separate break out rooms so you can pick your jam. You are welcome to bring your own food to munch on, the bar will be open. Listeners are welcome. Always a fun night at the Hall!
$5 donation at the door is much appreciated!

Poetry in the Valley
2025-12-30 18:30 - 20:30
December 30th – Poetry in the Valley at the G.A.R.Hall
Fellow Poets & Guests,
Please join us for a poetry reading on December 30, 2025. The format will be Open Mic!

Bring your solstice, holiday, resolution poems /stories OR any poem/story you want to share.
Bring a book of poetry to exchange or give away. (not required for participation)
($5 donation suggested)

Hope to see you there!

6:30-8:30pm

Up 'Til 4
2025-12-20 20:00 - 22:30
December 20th – Up ’Til 4 Holiday Show
Sweet harmonies, spot-on instrumentals, and classic tunes—wrapped up with a little Christmas sparkle!
Join us as Up ’Til 4, the popular Kent-based folk/rock band, brings their warm Laurel Canyon sound to the Hall for a special Holiday edition of their show. Known for their lush three- and four-part harmonies, the band delivers timeless songs from the ’70s and ’80s—CSNY, Jackson Browne, the Eagles, the Traveling Wilburys, Fleetwood Mac, Supertramp, and more—all with a festive twist.
Add in a few of their own well-crafted originals, and you’ve got the perfect soundtrack for a cozy December night. Come celebrate the season with Up’Til 4, our last show of the Holiday Season.
General Admission: 20.00
Join us in the bar area before the show at 7pm
Concert Hall doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

David Mayfield Parade's Bluegrass Christmas - night two!
2025-12-19 20:00 - 22:30
December 19th – David Mayfield Parade’s Bluegrass Christmas -night two!
Dust off your sleigh bells and get ready to jingle that jangle! The David Mayfield Parade’s Bluegrass Christmas is back at the Hall—bringing holiday cheer, laughter, and a whole lot of musical mischief. It’s a Christmas classic, because nobody does Christmas quite like David Mayfield!
Join us in the lobby for refreshments at 7pm
Concert Hall doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm
General Admission – 27.00

Tall Paul and Western Drawl's Ho Ho Hoedown 2025
2025-12-13 20:00 - 22:30
December 13th- Tall Paul and Western Drawl-
It’s been a long cattle-drive of shows this year, but the final celebration is right around the bend -Tall Paul & Western Drawl’s “Ho Ho Hoedown 2025” on Saturday, December 13.
“Christmas & Western” (think Gene Autry & Rudolph) comes around once a year for this band of rounders so you can bet on a memorable evening of holiday-themed music in the western style, fun original songs, freshly shod standards, singing, dancing, who knows? There might be some free give-aways, got your attention yet?
And you won’t want to miss this year’s special guests — our pal Cory Grinder (fiddle ‘n guit) and singer Kara Scott! A great way to wrap up the year. Get your tickets early & join us!
General Admission – 20.00
Join us for refreshments in the Bar Area at 7pm
Doors to the Concert Hall open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Mr Sun plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
2025-12-12 20:00 - 22:00
December 12th – Mr Sun plays Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite
When Duke Ellington reimagined Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite in 1960, it became an instant classic, updating a world-renowned, timeless masterpiece for a generation that liked a little swing with their sugar plums. Well over 60 years later, Mr. Sun has taken Ellington’s arrangements and updated Tchaikovsky’s vision once again, this time for an audience that mostly prefers the fiddle to the violin.
On Mr. Sun Plays Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, fiddler Darol Anger, guitarist Grant Gordy, (both from the David Grisman Quintet), mandolinist Joe K. Walsh, and bassist Aidan O’Donnell reinterpret this holiday favorite with bluegrass flair while leaning at times into progressive and impressive atonal runs reminiscent of adventurous jazz. In the spirit of Sir Duke, the titles are repurposed to reflect the irreverent nature of the proceedings. Whether you’re looking for a back porch alternative to classical holiday fare or to stop conversations mid-sentence to inquire if you’re really listening to Tchaikovsky being played on a mandolin, Mr. Sun Plays Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suitewill definitely raise eyebrows at your next holiday gathering. — Michael Elliott from No Depression
Very excited to present these world class musicians, playing a holiday classic.
General Admission: 30.00
Join us at 7pm for refreshments in the bar area
Doors to the Main Hall open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Cats on Holiday
2025-12-06 20:00 - 22:00
December 6th-Cats on Holiday
Reigning from the Cuyahoga River Valley on the shores of the great Lake Erie, this band has been pleasing crowds from bar rooms to outdoor festivals and concerts over the last 18 years. Armed with an arsenal of well-crafted original tunes and an eclectic blend of party songs, it’s hard for most listeners not to swing and sway . Cats on Holiday is bringing their swampy, soulful blend of blues, rock, roots, and zydeco to the Hall! This crowd-favorite band has been cooking up tunes inspired by the sounds of Texas and Louisiana. Slip on your dancing shoes and come join the party!
General Admission: 20.00
Join us before the show in our new bar area at 7pm
Doors for the concert hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

David Mayfield Parade's Bluegrass Christmas - night one!
2025-12-05 20:00 - 22:00
December 5th – David Mayfield Parade’s Bluegrass Christmas!
Dust off your sleigh bells and get ready to jingle that jangle! The David Mayfield Parade ‘s Bluegrass Christmas is back at the Hall—bringing holiday cheer, laughter, and a whole lot of musical mischief. It’s a Christmas classic, because nobody does Christmas quite like David Mayfield!
Join us in the lobby for refreshments at 7pm
Concert Hall doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm
General Admission – 27.00

Becky Boyd and the Groove Train
2025-11-29 20:00 - 22:00
November 29th – Becky Boyd and the Groove train – Becky Boyd, a singer of such strength, she could make a lot of ‘No Girls Allowed’ signs get ripped off the clubhouse doors… She possesses a powerful blues/jazz voice that’s forceful, sensuous and as clear as spring water. If there’s a jazz buff in the Cleveland area who hasn’t heard Boyd sing yet, do something about that. She has got the art of scat singing down cold. Becky Boyd is a local talent to watch.” – Steve Byrne, Scene Magazine
Discover one of Cleveland’s best-kept secrets—Becky and her incredible band, The Groove Train. Those who know her voice are already devoted fans. Come experience why!
General Admission-20.00
Join us in the bar area at 7pm
Concert Hall doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Mo Mojo pre-Thanksgiving Bash
2025-11-26 20:00 - 22:00
Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration with Mo’ Mojo!
The holidays officially begin at the G.A.R. Hall with our annual Pre-Thanksgiving Party, featuring Akron’s beloved parti-gras band, Mo’ Mojo. It’s always the perfect warm-up to the holiday weekend with family and friends. Gather your crew, raise a glass, and dance your way into Thanksgiving!
Join us before the show in the Bar Area at 7pm
Concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Hillbilly Idol Reunion Show
2025-11-22 20:00 - 22:00
November 22 – HillBilly IDOL started in 1991, with Dave Huddleston & Paul Kovac casually getting together to sing & explore the music they loved. This led them down the path to the Everly Brothers, Louvin Brothers, Chuck Berry, George Jones and many other heroes. By the mid-90’s, the band’s lineup included Bill Watson on bass & drummer Scott Flowers. When Al Moss joined on pedal steel guitar, the personal was complete. This was the band that made their two CD’s, “Town & Country”, and “Hillbilly IDOL”.
For this concert, Caroline King will join the boys, playing piano. Regrettably, Al is unable to join them on this show. The group will return to its roots, playing many of the songs that inspired & informed their sound, as well as lots of songs from their albums.
It’s been 20+ years since they’ve played together. If you were a fan, listened to their music, enjoyed their many holiday shows, had their CD’s, or are just curious about HBI, this is the show for you.
General Admission: 20.00
Join us in the bar area, before the performance at 7pm
Concert Hall doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Country Honk
2025-11-21 20:00 - 22:00
November 21st- Country Honk
Country Honk is a four-piece honky tonk band proudly rooted in Cleveland, Ohio, blending classic country tradition with the raw energy of rock ’n’ roll. Known for their dynamic live shows and sharp songwriting, the band draws inspiration from legends like Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, while channeling the spirit of the country rock movement of the ’60s and ’70s.
With a mix of heartfelt originals and deep-cut covers, Country Honk has built a loyal following across the Midwest and beyond, and is now hitting the road for national festival appearances, including an official showcase at AmericanaFest in Nashville. Whether it’s a late-night dive bar or a sunlit festival stage, their sets are packed with twang, grit, and soul, connecting with audiences of all ages.
At the heart of it all is a deep love for the music and a no-nonsense commitment to the craft. Country Honk may be going national, but Cleveland will always be home.
General Admission: 22.00
Join us before the show in our bar area at 7pm
Concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

A Blues Gathering
2025-11-16 19:00 - 20:30
November 16th – A Blues Gathering
We love having some of our favorite Blues artists from Akron and Cleveland meet somewhere in the middle on the G.A.R. Hall Stage. Austin Walkin’ Cane, Kristine Jackson, Jon Mosey and Mike Lenz. This is always a fun show, great friends mixing it up on stage with some of your favorite blues tunes penned by them and some of the great ones. Kristine shines like a rose between all of those thorns!
General Admission – 22.00
Bar area opens at 6pm
Main Hall doors open at 6:30pm
Music at 7pm

Dirty Grass Players
2025-11-15 20:00 - 22:00
November 15th – The Dirty Grass Players
Blending tradition with innovation, The Dirty Grass Players bring high-energy bluegrass to a whole new level. Rooted in old-time pickin’ and powered by soaring harmonies, they strike a perfect balance between the classic and the progressive—keeping the spirit of Bill Monroe alive while pushing the genre forward.
With two acclaimed albums under their belt—including Shiny Side Up (2023, produced by The Travelin’ McCourys’ Colby Kilby)—the band has become a festival favorite, lighting up stages at Delfest, Grey Fox, Dark Star Jubilee, and more. Bluegrass Unlimited hails Shiny Side Up as proof that “bluegrass is in good hands going forward.”
Don’t miss this one!
General Admission: $25
Bar opens: 7:00pm
Concert Hall: 7:30pm
Music: 8:00pm

An evening with Caitlin Canty
2025-11-14 20:00 - 22:30
November 14th – Caitlin Canty – Caitlin Canty’s songs harness the grit and spark at the heart of American music, tempered with a voice both haunting and distinct.
Since the release of her critically-acclaimed Reckless Skyline in 2015, Canty has put thousands of miles on her songs, touring throughout the U.S. and Europe. She is a constant collaborator, both as a co-writer with Peter Bradley Adams and Jamey Johnson among others, and appears on albums by Joy Williams, Jeffrey Foucault and Darlingside.
Caitlin Canty’s new record,Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove is her fifth studio release and marks a return to her roots, a grittier and more electric Americana sound with echoes of her critically-acclaimed 2015 album, Reckless Skyline. Recorded live in the studio while nearly 8 months pregnant with her second child,the songs can be seen in the light of major shifts in Canty’s life, from pre-parenthood city life in Nashville to her present day filled to the brim with family and nature, living on top of a mountain in southern Vermont. Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove finds Canty in the producer chair for the first time. Co-produced alongside Sam Kassirer(Josh Ritter), the album was recorded live at Great North Sound Society in rural Maine over 4 days with Rich Hinman(guitars), Jeremy Moses Curtis(bass), Ray Rizzo(drums) and Kassirer (keys). Matt Lorenz(The Suitcase Junket) joins on backing vocals. All songs on the record are entirely from Canty’s own pen, with the exception of “Heartache Don’t Live Here” written with Jamey Johnson, which serves as both the coda and encore of the album.
She has performed at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Fresh Grass, and Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival. She won the Telluride Troubadour songwriting competition at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2015. Her song,“Get Up,” was nominated for Song of theYear in the Folk Alliance International Music Awards and was featured on NPR Music’s, “Songs We Love.”Excited to have her back at the G.A.R. Hall.
General Admission – 25.00
Bar area opens at 7pm
Concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

The Barefoot Movement
2025-11-13 20:00 - 22:00
November 13th – The Barefoot Movement
Since their 2011 debut Footwork, The Barefoot Movement has been winning hearts and carving a bold place in the Americana and acoustic roots world. Their music brims with energy and honesty, inviting listeners into an experience that feels both intimate and exhilarating.
The story began in North Carolina, when frontwoman Noah Wall crossed paths with mandolinist Tommy Norris in high school. What started as a spark of shared passion quickly grew into the foundation of a band that has carried its unmistakable chemistry through every stage of its journey. Today, The Barefoot Movement shines as a trio: Wall’s soaring vocals, rich songwriting, and expressive fiddle at the center; Norris’s inventive mandolin adding texture and drive; and upright bassist Katie Blomarz grounding the group with rhythm and warmth.
The Barefoot Movement delivers songs that are as addictive as they are soulful—modern roots music at its finest, blending bluegrass, Americana, and a touch of bluesy grit into a sound that feels timeless yet alive in the present.
General Admission: 25.00
Join us for a refreshment before the show in our bar area at 7pm
Main concert hall doors open at 7:30pm
Music starts at 8pm

Reclamation Band
2025-11-08 20:00 - 22:00
November 8th – Reclamation Band
Led by founder and composer Kevin Robert Martinez, Reclamation Band offers a fresh take on modern jazz—expansive and cinematic, yet rooted in the soulful landscapes of the Midwest. Their music seamlessly blends composed and improvised elements, creating an immersive live experience that moves effortlessly through mood, texture, and rhythm.
About Kevin Robert Martinez
A native of Northampton, Ohio, Kevin grew up surrounded by music—his father, Chuck Martinez, was a well-known blues and rock guitarist in the Northeast Ohio music scene. After discovering his passion for jazz and orchestral music at Woodridge High School, Kevin went on to earn a B.A. in Music Performance from Columbia College Chicago and aMaster’s in Music Composition from DePaul University.
While in Chicago, he immersed himself in the city’s vibrant jazz culture and toured nationally with the Chicago Afrobeat Project. Since returning home to Northeast Ohio, Kevin has collaborated with acclaimed artists including Chris Coles, The Speedbumps, Roger Hoover, and Honeybucket, and has become a fixture in the regional jazz community. Beyond performing with Reclamation Band, Kevin is also the orchestrator for the Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Divergent Sounds and Pops series, bridging contemporary music and orchestral traditions.
General Admission: 20.00
Join us before the show in the bar area at 7pm
Doors to the Concert Hall open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Mama's Broke
2025-11-05 20:00 - 22:30
November 5th – Mama’s Broke is a powerful duo that deliver a compelling performance with heart and raw energy. Although highly influenced by their Canadian roots, Lisa and Amy are based out of nowhere and everywhere.
Their two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion into their performance. Their original -and often dark- compositions push the boundaries of tradition and the constraints of genre. Drawing from old-time, Quebecois, blues, punk, celtic, balkan and doom metal, they create a soundscape that is both familiar and new.
For a group defined by constant touring, it’s not surprising that the two artists that make up Mama’s Broke, Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, met on the road. As Lisa remembers it, “Amy was driving her old Mercedes from Montreal to Nova Scotia and I was looking for a ride. We spent the 17 hours in the car talking almost exclusively about music. By the time we reached Halifax we started playing together, and within a week or two became a band.” Both coming out of traveling communities that are focused on music and protest, the two owe the way in which they move through the world to the integrated and self-sustaining nature of DIY culture and activism. It was a busy life that took them on a roundabout annual touring schedule running between Canada, the United States, Ireland, the UK, and Europe. In each country, they built grassroots DIY communities to support their music or moved along the pathways of communal organizing that sustained other touring artists.
General Admission: 27.00
Bar area opens at 7pm
Doors to concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Tray Wellington Band
2025-11-01 20:00 - 21:30
November 1st – Banjo player Tray Wellington’s approach to the quintessential American instrument is all about looking forward. An International Bluegrass Music Association Award winner, Wellington is critically acclaimed not only for his technical prowess, but also for leveraging his unique point of view to craft a one-of-a-kind voice on the instrument. It’s a feat that’s all too rare in these roots genres that seem to value emulation and regurgitation over all else. Instead, Wellington has time and time again reasserted that his playing style, and all of the many varied and disparate parts that combine within it, is wholly his own – and it’s unconcerned with tradition.
Whether seen on CNN, discovered in reviews and features by The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times, or heard on the main stage of roots music festivals across the country, Wellington combines forward-looking musical textures and influences with an athletic and trad right hand. There are numerous qualities here evoking so many five-string banjo legends, but there are just as many that are brand new – referencing or conjuring jazz, swing, bebop, hip-hop, rock and roll, and beyond. Wellington is carving a truly unique pathway for himself in music and on the banjo.
With roots in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, Wellington subverts those expectations and presuppositions of five-string banjo players artfully; his playing is constantly informed by a striking self awareness. Do not be confused, his bluegrass, old-time, and traditional expertise is well-honed, since he was a teenager, but at this stage in his solo career, they are merely a small handful of influences in the rich, diverse soil his music is rooted in. On top of this well of knowledge, Wellington knows how he is perceived in these roots music spaces, and he uses that awareness to his advantage.
General Admission: 25.00
Bar area opens at 7pm
Doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

The Cody Sisters
2025-10-25 20:00 - 22:00
October – 25th – The Cody Sisters at the G.A.R. Hall
“With uncanny talent and an impressive knack for capturing a variety of old-time and bluegrass styles, the Cody Sisters demonstrate skills way beyond their years.”
“All the quiet people have got a lot to say,” sing the Cody Sisters on the title track to their forthcoming album. And the group—Maddie Cody, Megan Cody, and Will Pavilonis—has spent the better part of their young lives proving it, whether they’re collaborating as writers, harmonizing on bluegrass stages, or inviting fans to share their own stories.
“This feels like a project where we’re just jumpstarting everything,” says Maddie of All the Quiet People. “We’ve gone through a transitional period with our genre, with the way that we approach music. As we’ve grown, we’ve leaned into the sounds that feel truest to who we are.”
Maddie and Megan have been making music together since ages six and eight, respectively. Raised on the Colorado folk and bluegrass scene—with encouragement from their dad, who often played guitar around the house and was the original bass player in the band—festivals like RockyGrass were high notes amidst a lifelong musical awakening filled with live performances, songwriting, and travel. With Maddie on banjo, Megan on mandolin, and both women trading turns on the guitar, the sisters built a following quite early for their resonant harmonies and meticulous instrumental chops.The Cody Sisters took on a new depth in 2020 when bassist Will Pavilonis became part of the band, bringing fresh dimensions to their arrangements and sound.
In many ways, the album’s potent combination of personal experience and compelling fiction underscores its major takeaway: that every story has value. “We want our listeners to understand that their stories should be heard no matter who they are,” says Maddie. “We’re all collectively just interested in making a small difference with our music—to add a little bit of joy to this chaotic world.”
General Admission – 18.00
Bar area opens at 7pm
Doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

The Mammals
2025-10-23 20:00 - 22:30
October 23rd – The Mammals at the G.A.R. Hall
If you have seen a live performance by The Mammals, than you know it something special. Beautiful harmonies, exceptional musicianship and meaningful songwriting. The peice below sums up the Mammals perfectly, always a special night when the Mammals perform at the Hall.
Reviving the Rebel Soul of Americana “The Mammals make music for the moment—and the movement. Anchored in the fertile folk traditions of the Hudson Valley, this fiercely independent band blends string-band swagger with indie-folk heart and a radical spirit that feels both deeply rooted and urgently current. Co-founded by Mike Merenda and Ruth Ungar (daughter of fiddle legend Jay Ungar), The Mammals emerged in the early 2000s with a mission: revive the rebel soul of Americana, and give it something real to say.And say something, they do. Their songs straddle the personal and political, moving from love ballads and front porch reflections to rally cries for environmental justice, labor rights, and community healing. It’s protest music with hooks—think Pete Seeger meets Wilco at a modern hootenanny. Their harmonies ache, their fiddles fly, and their lyrics don’t flinch. The Mammals aren’t here for nostalgia—they’re here to make folk music matter again.At a time when roots music can feel either too polished or too precious, The Mammals cut through with grit, grace, and a palpable sense of purpose. Whether they’re headlining a folk festival, recording in their own homegrown Humble Abode Studio, or showing up for a cause in their backyard, The Mammals carry on a living tradition: one where music doesn’t just entertain—it empowers.” – RBR Music (June 13, 2025)
General Admission: 25.00
Bar area opens at 7pm
Doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Pressing Strings
2025-10-18 20:00 - 22:30
October 18th – Pressing Strings – 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.
“This band has had a lot of different parts and personalities over the years and if you listen closely, you can hear that in the music,” Sokel reflects. “It’s never been static; the chemistry and creativity has morphed and evolved and it’s still doing so now. However it has changed, one thing has stayed constant. Music has moved and motivated me ever since the first time I realized I could write songs and share them with an audience. That’s been my motivation ever since I was 20 years old and had my first opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. And after I learned how to record and shape songs in the studio, that was it, I was hooked.
Kruger was similarly inspired. He grew up in the Bay Area of California, the offspring of two working musicians and spent much of his youth behind soundboards and in green rooms. Like Sokel, college felt unsatisfactory so he began jumping into tour vans and onto festival stages in the western U.S. Giving him years in Jazz, Rock, Reggae, World, Country, Americana/Songwriter and even Comedy shows. After a decade plus, he moved to Maryland where he would begin again. First with the Annapolis scene. Then Baltimore city, Philadelphia, New York. Always knowing of Sokel and Welker’s forward motion and staying in close communication. JK was tapped to join full time in 2021. A singing drummer, adding 3 part harmonies and a new life to older tunes. Welker is a native of Annapolis. He first picked up the bass in 6th grade, and eventually started performing in his school’s orchestra before going on to form a band with some high school friends. He joined Pressing Strings in 2013 and has been with the group ever since.
These days, Sokel himself finds reflecting on all that Pressing Strings has accomplished thus far and how it’s impacted his life overall. “Music is an extension of who I am, what I’m going through, what I’m feeling, and the people who are meaningful in my life,” he maintains. “It offers me an avenue to share my feelings and, in doing so, connect with people. It’s never failed to give me comfort, in both the best and worst of times.”
That’s what great music is all about. It’s comforting to have Pressing Strings providing that comfort and concern.
General Admission: 25.00
Bar area doors open at 7pm
Main Concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music starts at 8pm

Kim Richey
2025-10-16 20:00 - 22:30
October 16th- Kim Richey – In January 2024, Kim Richey found herself in Mexico, gazing out at a sea of people singing along to “I’m Alright,” one of her classic tracks. The three folks on stage with the veteran, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter were also raising their voices in harmony. To her right sat Brandi Carlile, to her left, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Brandy Clark. The formidable foursome was participating in a songwriter’s round only half-jokingly dubbed “Titans of Americana” at Carlile’s female-forward Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.
“That was nuts looking out and seeing everybody arm-waving and singing along,” says Richey, still both incredulous and cheered by the memory of performing with that supergroup and later appearing alongside other Girls Just Wanna Weekend-ers Annie Lennox, Lucius, Allison Russell, and Sarah McLachlan among others. “It was just like, ‘wow’!”
That voice, which Brandi Carlile has cited as formative in crafting her own style, is a widely sought after harmony instrument and has been featured on scores of albums including Jason Isbell’s acclaimed Southeastern, Trisha Yearwood’s Everybody Knows, Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams, Reba McEntire’s Starting Over, and Has Been by Capt. Kirk himself William Shatner, among many others. Richey’s music continues to loiter at the Americana intersection of country, folk, pop, and rock conjuring everything from Lucinda’s humanity, the Beatles shimmer, Tom Petty’s effervescent stomp and Joni Mitchell’s laser-sharp lyrical craft.
For now, Richey only knows a few things for sure. One is it feels good to be considered a Titan — when peers like Carpenter, spiritual heirs like Carlile and Clark, and vocal acolytes like Isbell, among many others, sing her praises, she says, “It’s really nice. You can’t beat it, really.” The other is that with Every New Beginning, (her latest recording), Richey is still striving for the same goal she had at the beginning of her own musical life: “Whenever I write a song, the thing that I enjoy the most is when someone hears a song or a line and says, ‘That’s how I feel.’” As long as the music is connecting, there is no end.
General Admission : 26.00
Bar area opens at 7pm
Concert Hall doors open at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm

Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky
2025-10-10 20:00 - 22:30
October 10th – Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky have been musical explorers together for years, sharing a creative universe that’s resulted in some epic collaborations, like the Grammy nominated Fiddlers Four (with Michael Doucet and Rushad Eggleston), crashing each other’s concerts and recordings, and just finding big joy in playing together.
Freestyle fiddler, composer, producer and educator, Darol Anger is at home in a number of musical genres, some of which he helped to invent. Exceptional among modern fiddlers for his versatility and depth, Anger has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as his Republic Of Strings, the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, The Montreux Band, his Duo with Mike Marshall, his current touring group Mr Sun, and others. He has performed and taught all over the world with musicians such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Bela Fleck, Bill Evans, Edgar Meyer, Bill Frisell, Tony Rice, Tim O’Brien, The Anonymous 4, Marin Alsop and the Cabrillo Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, Bruce Molsky, Mark O’Connor, and Stephane Grappelli.
Described as “an absolute master” (No Depression), Bruce’s take on tradition has landed him in collaborations with some of the world’s most highly respected players from roots to rock. He is a special guest on legend rocker Mark Knopfler’s CD, “Tracker.” His 1865 Songs of Hope & Home with Anonymous 4, was on Billboard’s top 10 for weeks. Along with Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny, Bruce is a founding member of the supergroup Mozaik, with three recordings. You can see Bruce on the BBC TV “Transatlantic Sessions” with Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, and on “David Holt’s State of Music” on PBS. Bruce holds the title of “Visiting Scholar in the American Roots Music Program” at Berklee College of Music, where he is the go-to guy for the next generation of roots musicians.
General Admission -32.00
Bar Area opens at 7pm
Concert Hall opens at 7:30pm
Music at 8pm
