May Memorial Unitarian Society
3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse

Fun, foot-stomping Americana

With roots in Americana, folk, and rock, The Ruddy Well Band has emerged as one of Central New York's premier performing string bands. Their finely crafted combination of dynamic rhythms, tight harmonies, and mindful lyrics bring their audiences fun, foot-stomping music.

Although members of the band have played together in different forms since 2008, officially the Ruddy Well Band was created in 2011 with the release of their self-produced album, Little Blue Marble. Continuing to evolve, they produced Change of Course in 2013, for which they won a Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY) for Best Americana Album, and Building a Fire in 2015. They have also won a second SAMMY for People's Choice for Best Band.

The Ruddy Well Band members include Andrew Ruddy, Monique Ritter, Ryan Burdick, and Doug Krupiak.

May Memorial Unitarian Society
3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse

A one-person musical universe

One of the originators of the RandB/folk/jazz crossover sub-genre, Vance Gilbert was born and raised near Philadelphia. Starting out hoping to be an R 'n' B and jazz singer at college, he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of the acoustic singer-songwriter. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert's stage-owning singing and playing, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be a special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour, where he took much of America by storm and by surprise.

May Memorial Unitarian Society
3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse

Masterful harmonies and soulful arrangements

Seasoned solo performers Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan have combined talents to create the dynamic trio, Jamcrackers, named in honor of the river drivers who broke up log jams. They worked hard to find solutions, to get things rolling again, and it was a job that couldn't be done alone. Dan, Peggy, and Dan feel the same way about their music. These good friends and accomplished musicians bring a rare blend of humor, history, and musical spirit to their performances.

May Memorial Unitarian Society
3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse

"One guitar. One week. One song."

The Acoustic Guitar Project is a global music platform and concert series that inspires musicians to write and record a song in one week on the same guitar.

The Syracuse project, curated by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, is one of the longest-running projects in the world, celebrating its 12th year. To date, 60 songs have been written on the Syracuse guitar. This fall, five more Central New York artists will join the tradition.

The project was created to help musicians reconnect to the original moment that inspired them to be singer/songwriters. Rodgers says the beauty of the project is its spontaneity. Songwriters may go into the project thinking they'll write a particular kind of song, but often finish the week with a drastically different creation. Join us as we listen to where the guitar takes them.

This year's artists will be announced as they complete their songs.

May Memorial Unitarian Society
3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse

A unique blend of dumpster-folk and thrift store-Americana

The Rough and Tumble, a dynamic duo comprised of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, have been captivating audiences with their unique blend of dumpster-folk and thrift store-Americana for over a decade. The Pennsylvania-born Graham and Central California's Tyler have a knack for weaving together elements of joy, sorrow, comedy, and drama in their music, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.

May Memorial Unitarian Society
3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse

Bringing the rich history of folk music to life in a contemporary way

Maggie's Wake is a Canadian, female-fronted roots band that delivers unforgettable performances while creating a sound that is at once both classic and modern. With original compositions that remain faithful to their influences in traditional folk and classic country music, their songs are enhanced by Celtic instrumentation, giving them an unmistakable sound. Band members are passionate about bringing the rich history of folk music to life in a contemporary way and strive to create a unique sound that reflects their heritage while also being wholly original. Their goal is to bring joy and inspiration to audiences through music.?