Jesup Stage - Sat

The Alpaca Gnomes are a vibrant, stomp and groove, 7 piece original rock-folk jam band from Bridgeport, CT. The Gnomes ensemble features violin, electric & acoustic guitar, keys, bass, drums, and percussion. The Gnomes eclectic style has allowed them to appear on a multitude of bills with varied acts and musical genres such as DJ Logic, Funky Meters, Railroad Earth, The Drifters, Rick Derringer and many more. The Alpaca Gnomes have built a loyal following of passionate fans, nicknamed “Gnomies”, who often join the fun by rocking the band’s signature Gnome merch hats during shows. 

The Alpaca Gnomes will be featured in the April/May issue of Relix Magazine’s "Bands on the Rise" Sampler. You can stream their new single here: Welcome Home. They will hit the festival scene this summer at Blues, Views & BBQ (Westport), Soupstock Music & Arts Festival (Shelton), Blues on the Beach(Stratford) and many more. Keep your eye out as they continue to draw new “Gnomies”, and pack houses as their 2nd album hits this May. 

Muddy Ruckus is a nationally touring americana-rock duo from Portland, Maine. The stripped down power duo features guitarist Ryan Flaherty and percussionist Erika Stahl. The duo blends haunting male/female vocals, rootsy guitar and edgy percussion on a suitcase drum kit. The band seasons their music with the salt of the eastern old ports and the mud of the Mississippi River where Flaherty grew up, creating an epic blend of bluesy rock, foot stomping rhythms and evocative vocal melodies. The New York Music Daily calls Muddy Ruckus "Darkly Inventive Americana". In April 2016, Muddy Ruckus was dubbed "Best in State of Maine" by the New England Music Awards. The duo was recently awarded “Album of the Year” from Red Line Roots in Boston. "Muddy Ruckus wants you to dance in the ditch and and bless the blues that make you feel alive." - Red Line Roots

As a full time professional musician since 1991, Dan continues to tour incessantly along the East Coast, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.K., and Germany. He has appeared with such artists as James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Charlie Daniels, Livingston Taylor, Ronnie Earl, and others. An irrepressible guitar collector, Dan surrounds himself with vintage and custom instruments acquired in his many travels. Usually packing three guitars, any given performance may find him choosing to play a 1950’s Sears Silvertone, a 1931 National Steel, a retro lime green Resophonic, and more. 

"Lizzie & the Makers are one of New York’s most distinctive, exhilarating bands. They jam, but they keep their solos short and spot-on, usually two or maybe three bars at the most. Their inspirations are classic Chicago blues and southern soul, but they also have a psychedelic side: they’re closer to Robert Cray – with a charismatic woman out in front of the band – or Led Zep than, say, Amy Winehouse. Intense frontwoman Lizzie Edwards might not only be the best blue-eyed soul singer in New York: she might be the best blue-eyed soul singer anywhere."- New York Music Daily

The Makers are lead singer and songwriter Lizzie Edwards with guitarist and co-writer Greg McMullen (Chris Whitley, Glenn Branca Ensemble), bassist Brett Bass (Gregg Allman, Darlene Love, Bernie Worrell), drummer Bryan Bisordi (Lip Talk, Ron Pope), organ and keyboard player Rob Clores (The Black Crowes). This band will blow the roof off of your heart, the socks off of your dancing feet and leave you wanting more.

The family that plays together stays together, especially in Rock n' Roll. The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Allmans, Black Crowes, Oasis... the list is long. There's just something about how the chemistry works growing up in a musical household. REMEMBER SEPTEMBER is the Brothers Schod from Trumbull, CT, Jay lead vocals and guitar, Chris lead guitar, and Eric on the bass, ably aided and abetted by Gerard Awad on drums and "Uncle Sam" Mendez on various and sundry percussion. The band has honed their craft for over 10 years playing Purebred American Rock in the casinos and clubs throughout New England crafting tuneful but intricately played original songs. They've performed alongside Chris Stapleton, Dirty Heads, O.A.R., Train and Chicago amongst a bevy of others. They want it and they will get it. Be forewarned! 

“Frank Viele sings with such urgency that it is as if his very soul hangs in the balance of every note. His ravaged, blue collar vocals convey a poignant desperation. But he’s not a victim, he’s a victor, an advocate for surviving, a champion to all who have sacrificed and struggled just to get by.” (AXS.com)

Making “New Music With An Old Soul”, Frank Viele may very well be the “everyman” of Singer/Songwriters.

A bourbon drinking, cartoon watching, blue-collar entrepreneur; his musical roots started on his grandmother’s piano as a young child, developed as a teen tailgating with an acoustic guitar in the parking lots of Dave Matthews Band concerts, and blossomed on the road as a young adult performing in the East Coast Jam and Singer/Songwriter scenes.

Now with the 2015 release of his first full-length album, Fall Your Way, Viele has found himself singing his heart out on stages and radio stations across the country supporting a range of acts as eclectic as his song catalog.

At home on stage with nothing but a stool, glass of bourbon, and an acoustic guitar, or side by side with his power house band, Viele has found himself on stage with modern singer/songwriters such as Pat McGee, Ryan Montbleau, Gavin Degraw, and Tony Lucca, Jam and Rock oriented bands including Blues Traveler, Eric Lindell, Turkuaz, The London Souls, and Zach Myers of Shinedown, as well classic rock legends including The Marshal Tucker Band, Foreigner, Ambrosia, Bret Michaels, and Bob Marley’s Wailers.

Shaka & Hop have over 70 years of stage experience between the two. 

Both have spent their fair share of time abroad, Shaka: Austin, New Orleans, and Europe (with David "HoneyBoy" Edwards and Louisiana Red) Hop: L.A., and also Europe.

Petey Hop's "The Levee" reached #3 on the Roots Report and was #30 for top blues albums of 2012, Petey is also a NY Hall of Fame member.

Shaka's "Heard A Mighty Rumblin' " was voted best self produced Blues album in CT in 2013 and was up for an award nationally in Memphis.