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Sunday, June 28
Hot Pickin' Party
&
Kathleen Parks Band
Hot Pickin’ Party is a bluegrass band comprised of guitarist Doug Perkins, bassist Mike Santosusso, and dobro player Adam Frehm.
The trio comprises the core members of the popular newgrass jamband Smokin' Grass, who released two critically acclaimed full length recordings and toured nationally, performing in over 30 states. The group’s music celebrates bluegrass and Americana music with heartfelt harmonies, dynamic musical interplay and a spirit of exploration. You'll hear a mix of originals, traditional bluegrass, fun cover songs and exploratory jams. A Hot Pickin' Party show is hot and cool, fun and funny, and always a party!
Kathleen Parks is a fiddler, singer, and songwriter who brings joyful and creative energy to the stage and studio. Her songwriting leans toward Pop, Folk, and classic Jazz, and her fiddling blends and reimagines traditional and modern musical styles with boundless groove, virtuosity, and a playful improvisational spirit.
Joining Kathleen are mandolinist Dan Bui, a Berklee College of Music graduate who studied with acclaimed acoustic musicians including Darol Anger and Joe Walsh, and Alex Formento, a Boston-based guitarist, vocalist, and pedal steel player whose style blends rock, jazz, and bluegrass influences.
Sunday, July 26
Ben Kogen Band
&
Red Skies
The Ben Kogan Band blends “Jammy Roots Rock” with heartfelt songwriting, rich harmonies, and high-energy performances inspired by Vermont’s storytelling tradition. Led by Ben Kogan, the group has been performing original music across Vermont since 2015. A graduate of the University of Miami in Jazz Bass, Ben has performed with artists connected to Rubblebucket, Lake Street Dive, and David Wax Museum, and studied bluegrass guitar with Michael Daves. This special trio performance features Ben Kogan on vocals, upright bass, and guitar, alongside Marc Edwards on guitar and vocals, and Jen Friese on fiddle and vocals.
2025 Bluegrass Brunch performer Joe K. Walsh returns with his quartet! Red Skies unites four of New England's finest bluegrass musicians: Joe K. Walsh (mandolin), BB Bowness (banjo), Alex Rubin (guitar), and Steve Roy (bass). They have toured and recorded worldwide with artists including Molly Tuttle, Tony Trischka, and Darol Anger. Walsh is an associate professor at Berklee College of Music; Bowness is a Steve Martin Banjo Prize winner and member of IBMA award-winning Mile Twelve; Rubin is a Freshgrass Guitar Contest winner and former member of The April Verch Band; Roy has toured with Laurie Lewis, John Reischman, and Molly Tuttle.
Sunday, August 30
The Ida Mae Specker Band
w/ square dance caller Sarah Gibson
Ida Mae Specker is an old-time fiddler, vocalist, educator, and composer from southern Vermont whose work blends original and traditional material while bringing new life to American folk music. A third-generation fiddle player, her music is rooted in the belief that folk traditions evolve through place, community, and in-person connection.
Performing alongside her father, legendary Vermont fiddler John Specker, Ida Mae creates a sound that is deeply grounded in tradition while boldly original. The late Robert Resnik once described the Specker family as “Vermont Folk Heroes.”
Ida Mae has shared the stage with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Jeremy Dutcher, Donna the Buffalo, and Jake Blount, among others.
Bring your dancing shoes!
Learn traditional American social dances, including contra dances from New England, square dances from the Southern Appalachians, and reels with roots in Ireland and Scotland.
Gibson teaches gender-free dances (traditionally, participants had either a 'lady' or 'gent' role), ensuring that all are welcome.