Meet the Silk City Fest 2022 Performers
MARMO
1:00–1:40
MARMO features three Connecticut singer-songwriters with a Folk/Americana/Roots feel employing a variety of instrumentation and strong vocal harmonies. Since 2017, MARMO has performed at festivals, markets, brew pubs, and private parties, as well as on TV, providing audiences with thoughtful, witty, and soulful songs about love, life, and beverages. MARMO features Bill Ludwig (Current Official Troubadour of Manchester CT), Christian Loftus (Music Director at Silk City Coffee, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist), and Dan Thompson (Troubadour Emeritus).
After School Special
1:50–2:30
After School Special is an electrifying funk and soul trio featuring
some of the most exciting young talent in the renowned Hartford
music scene. The band was formed in 2021 out of the members’ mutual passion for reimagining crowd favorites in tasteful, groove-oriented ways. These grooves turn into vessels for their cohesive improvisations culminating in a sound like no other. Combined with their compelling original music, their repertoire is designed
to pack dance floors and inspire a diverse audience.
Ghost tones
2:40–3:20
Ghost tones is an 8 piece ska/reggae band based out of New Haven, CT and features members from past CT ska bands Distance No Object, Flip Ya For Real, Knightsbridge Fiasco, and Go Hit Dave. Drawing influences from bands such as The Specials, The Slackers and Rancid, ghost tones is sure to get you on the dance floor and wanting more!
Austin James + The Nomads
3:30–4:10
Hartford native, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist, Austin James, blends the worlds of folk, soul, and rock to create an original genre-bending sound with his band, The Nomads.
Austin’s vocals are akin to a sweet and salty fusion of the lows of Hozier and the highs of Tom Odell, delivering a high energy live performance.
FriendZWorldMusic
4:20–5:00
FriendzWorldMusic is a multifaceted group of musicians, composers, entertainers and educators originating from all parts of the globe. They believe that all humanity is connected no matter where you are from. Their mission is to pay homage to and pay forward the legacy of their ancestors; sharing music, dance, song and story from the African Diaspora. As a group, they share a lifetime of collective experience sharing the arts on stage and in their communities. FriendZWorldMusic are professional experts in various styles of music and dance, including West African, Afro-Caribbean, calypso, jazz, hip-hop, fusions and much more. Their vibrant, colorful, live performances give their audiences the best experience of the explosive power of music, drum and dance.
Evie Joy
5:10–5:50
At just under 5-feet tall, this Manhattan multi-instrumentalist uses her ukulele Ed, a keyboard, a bass, multiple percussive instruments, and a loop pedal to build vocal/ instrumental arrangements in live performances and also has a comedic genre she performs called, “ukulele rap”. Joy has played over 30 Sofar Sounds shows, has opened for Sheryl Crow, Ava Max, and Social House, and her music was recently used in Season 2 of the television show, “Temptation Island.” A 2020 recipient of the New York Women’s Fund Grant, Joy was recognized by PopDust for writing “a canticle of female empowerment” and one of her passions is inspiring women to feel powerful and unburdened by social norms.
Joy gets the crowd laughing alongside her by adding funny one-liners in between verses. “There is a sadness in everything,” she says in regard to her comedy in her music, “but that’s where we should find humor.”
Pocket Vinyl
6:00–6:40
Pocket Vinyl is primarily a one man piano band coupled with an on stage painter, who creates a striking painting at every show, which is auctioned off afterwards. Every painting and show is unique. Their music travels to uneasy places with passion and determination. They have non-depressing songs about death, non-sexy songs about sexuality, and defiant songs of hope. In 2017, they released the documentary film “Drive. Play. Sleep.” (now on Amazon Prime) which chronicles what it’s like to be a small time touring band in the modern age. In 2019, they beat the world record for “Fastest to Play a Concert in Each of the 50 States”. They did it in 45 days, and they’re currently creating a graphic novel about it. They’ve released a bunch of albums, EPs, music videos, and played nearly 1000 shows. They are always exciting and have something new up their sleeve you won’t see coming. They will be performing at Silk City Fest as a full band, making this a rare and anticipated performance.
John Spignesi Band
6:50–7:30
JSB seeks that musical and emotive sweet spot between rock’s psychedelic swagger and the realness of the honest lyricism of John Spignesi’s songwriting.
The New Haven based trio is: vocalist and songwriter John “Spigs” Spignesi on guitar, with Joe Jeffery (bass) and Matt Alling (drums). Together they hang out, genre-wise, at the more rocking side of the New England regional Jam Band festival and club gig scene, and like to consider what they share as “Music For Your Soul.”
JSB’s performance is grounded in a brotherhood created amongst the band members. The phrase often uttered is “No Reverse,” which means they are seeking always to add to their performances and to the audience’s experience with an improvisational intensity. At the band’s core, though, is a deep and personal honesty of John Spignesi’s lyrics, which range from all out party vibes to the real self doubts we all encounter every day.
The band aims for every show, every set, every song, and every note to be played with conviction — sharing it all with the audience and leaving it all on the stage.
Someone You Can XRay
7:40–8:20
Founded in 2012, Someone You Can Xray has followed its roots, evolving from a folk rock acoustic duo into a dynamic electric stage ensemble. With a high-energy, funky rock n’ blues sound, ‘Xray’ is as much at home in an acoustic listening room as on a festival stage, engaging listeners to sing and dance along.
Their third studio album, “Hot ‘N Fresh” was released on June 9, 2018, to a sold out show at Bridge Street Live, in Collinsville, CT. The music video for “Call Me” was released Jun 30, 2018. Fourth and fifth albums are being recorded and produced with new material in 2022!
Someone You Can Xray performs regularly at CT blues and rock venues, as well as festivals, weddings, private parties, and in support of charities and humanitarian causes.
Audio Jane
8:30–9:10
Audio Jane is a female-fronted rock band from Tariffville, Connecticut. The songs feature reverb-drenched vocals, atmospheric guitars, and a driving rhythm section. Backing up Sarah Pech (lead vocals, guitar) are Mike Goldberg (guitar), Nate Harris (bass, backing vocals), and Mike Ciunci (drums).
The band received rave reviews in 2016 for the EP A Full Bird’s Wing.” The follow up, 2017’s Naive, was similarly well received and won Best Connecticut Album of the Year in 2018 (CTNow’s Best of Hartford Reader’s Poll). Audio Jane has appeared on NPR’s “Where We Live,” and the track “Ocean” was featured on the CW show Nancy Drew.
In 2018, the band released their second full-length album Letters, and was included in the Hartford Courant‘s top 20 albums by Connecticut artists that year, which they repeated on 2021’s A Terrible Plan.
Chaser Eight
9:20–10:00
After three long years, Chaser Eight has been reborn. This, after dying an unexpected death in 2016.
After 6 EPs, 5 standalone singles, and an eponymous full length album – the band found themselves without a rhythm section. It was time to go back to the drawing board and search for new members.
Their search for new members culminated in 2018 with the additions of Brennan DiLernia (bass), Eliav Nachmani (drums), and Jess Wolfer (backing vocals). The trio weren’t simply brought on to replace the previous members, however, they were to play a pivotal role in the musical reinvention of the band.
The result is a new sound that’s still alternative rock, but markedly different from previous Chaser Eight efforts, with the band’s new roster being the catalyst for the change. Chaser Eight’s new sound can be heard on the band’s latest album, Tell Me Lies, released on October 18, 2019.
This is the new Chaser Eight – reborn, reinvented, and reinvigorated.