Trumansburg Events

Before moving to the Finger Lakes region in 2007, Bill Ring lived for five years in a renovated barn in New Paltz, NY, where he set up the recording studio in which he completed all five of his CD’s. The first four were remastered compilations of earlier recordings. The fifth, Still On My Mind, was recorded and mixed in the barn.

“That barn had the most incredible sound – better than any studio I’ve ever worked in. The high ceiling and oddly angled walls gave it a natural ambience like nothing I’ve ever heard. The first time I walked into the place I clapped my hands, listened to the reverberation, and just about knocked the landlady down and forced-fed her my deposit check.

“The completion of Still On My Mind is the end of a creative and technical Odyssey that began with buying my first guitar at age 16 and getting my first sound-mixing gig as roadie for the Elephant’s Memory in 1969. I’ve been writing songs, performing, and engineering ever since.”

Bill began playing in New York City in 1968. His first band, Another Country, was a folk-rock group that played mostly at the appropriately named Cafe Bizarre on Third St. in Greenwich Village. After 15 years of solo performing, he joined with Sally Eaton, (of the original Broadway cast of Hair) and multi-instrumentalist Peter Pasco to form a new version of Another Country, featuring assorted acoustic instruments, three-part harmonies, and the considerable songwriting talents of all three. The acoustic edition of Another Country appeared frequently at Speakeasy and Folk City.

He then began working with his backup band, Ironwood, which at one time or another has included many prominent New York City players, including Brahm Stuart, Bob Lepre, and numerous others. In 1991 Bill teamed with Constance Taylor to front Ironwood. They also appeared as a duo under the name Cool Dolphin. Constance now lives and performs in San Francisco. She and Bill still play together whenever they can.

Bill Ring has been heard live and recorded on NY area radio stations, including WBAI and WQXR, and on college and community stations around the USA, including WVBR-FM in Ithaca. His songs are also available on many internet download sites, including Itunes. His five independently released CD’s are available from cdbaby.com. For a complete discography, click here.
Joe Crum is Ithaca’s premier jazz/Americana bassist, equally at home on electric and upright. In addition to Ironwood, he works with several jazz and Americana groups, including Cool Club and Los Finsteros.
Don Fenton has been playing “harp” for 40 years, both amplified “Chicago” style, and with a clean country folk sound.
Stacy Farina is a PhD candidate at Cornell and a competetive fencer as well as a superb vocalist.
Sue Spencer has been playing with various bands in the Finger Lakes region for many years. With the acoustic Ironwood ensemble her main instrument is Djembe, combined with hi-hat and other percussion. For electric performances she favors the full trap kit.
Skinny Joe is a recent transplant from Canada, where he has released several CD’s under his “nom de guitarre.” Hot licks from the frozen north.

 

People everywhere agree: You cannot take your eyes off of this performer once he gets rolling… he has shattered all expectations of what a solo performer can be! With moving, lyrical songwriting married to virtuoso guitar playing, audiences of all ages and musical tastes are awestruck by this artist’s grace and groove. If you like guitar music, love songs, jazz, folk, americana, classic rock or alt-country, you will LOVE this show!!

William Nicholson has been making music for a long time. As a child, he had formal training on the trumpet before later moving on to the guitar. He cites legendary jazzman Miles Davis among his many influences, which also include Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, and Leo Kottke. William was lucky enough to study guitar with Windham Hill Records founding artist Alex deGrassi, and in addition to his Americana and Roots-Music, he will enthrall with music on his one-of-a-kind 11-string harp guitar.

However, all of these sources converge on his songs that exude a pop simplicity, while maintaining the deep soul-searching layers that permeate all of his work. The result is a complex sound that is a thick stew of rockin’ roots, country blues, rock, swing jazz, folk, bluegrass, and dense Americana. With songs that speak of love and longing, loss and melancholy, hope and healing, he creates an American music of the heart and soul. Nicholson sings with a fragile honesty that says, “I can make every one of you tough guys cry.”

William Nicholson is also an expert guitarist who cheerfully jumps genres from folk and jazz to pop, rock and beyond. An energetic, engaging performer, he has blown away audiences from Burlington to San Francisco, from London to Barcelona with moving, lyrical songwriting married to virtuoso guitar playing. From smoky jazz clubs to sunny festival stages, audiences of all ages and musical tastes are awestruck by this artist’s grace and groove. In addition to his six-string technique, Nicholson amazes audiences with the exquisite music he makes on his custom-made 11-string harp guitar.

Or as one reviewer recently put it: “part Bob Dylan, part Stevie Ray Vaughan, playing on shadows and light”

“Watching his fingers dance across the strings is like seeing a masterpiece flow from a palette and a brush”

“Extraordinary guitarist plays with intimacy and honesty”

When he performs live, guitarist William Nicholson can captivate an audience with his intriguingly complex fretwork. As a soloist, Nicholson impresses with his ability to deliver so much with just two hands and one guitar

William has shared stages with modern folk luminaries Brooks Williams, Diane Zeigler, Langhorne Slim, Pamela Means, Patrick Ross (Cieli Rain), Beau Stapleton (Blue Merle), Adam Frehm (Smokin’ Grass), Larry Keel, and more. You may also find him sitting in with various rock outfits and other places under the pseudonym Steve Jones.

The songs of Justin Lantz harken back to a time when records where recordings of people playing music in a room together.  Justin’s voice is Earthy like the rust covering his lyrics. New songs written with honesty in well honored Folk/Rock forms.
Justin throws off your shackles of the work-a-day life, and cuts a path into the jungle where he waits for you to follow. Escape with him to the safety of words wrapping around your soul. The gentle fingers of his verse tickle your neck as they tighten the noose around your common experiences.
The Don’t Know Whys (Barry Miller & Tom Covell) provide the Drum & Bass foundation for Justin’s songs to drive their way into your heart, mind & memory.