Doors: 7:30pm Show: 8:00pm
The Shabbys at 8pm
Faux Paws at 9:15p
$15 adv / $18 at door

The Shabbys 

A unique trio combining the sounds of old time fiddle, banjo, and accordion with close harmony singing and timeless songwriting. 

Three friends who bring together the deep rhythm and drive of Appalachian and Midwestern fiddle traditions with the country-tinged songwriting of an Irish immigrant and the dreamlike sounds of the early 70s California coast. 

Stephanie Coleman is an old-time fiddler based in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Chicago, Stephanie was first exposed to the fiddle as a child through her father, a fiddler himself. For more than two decades, she has immersed herself in Appalachian and Midwestern styles of old-time fiddling, exploring both the craft and the rich history behind the music. She spent several years touring with the acclaimed stringband Uncle Earl and has collaborated with countless notable musicians, including banjo wunderkind Nora Brown, Watchhouse’s Andrew Marlin, and clawhammer banjo virtuoso Adam Hurt. Stephanie has performed and taught at festivals and workshops throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia and remains a regular award winner in the renowned contest at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia. Most recently, she appeared in HBO’s Crashing starring comedian Pete Holmes and played fiddle in the score to Radiolab’s nine-part series Dolly Parton’s America.

Raised on the central coast of California and currently living in Lafayette, LA, Elise Leavy has a distinctly unique voice as a singer and songwriter. Often likened to Joni Mitchell and Judee Sill, Elise says it must be the California seawater getting inside her head and heart from an early age. She has been writing songs since she was 8 years old, and has studied the art of singing and harmony for the better part of her 24 years. After graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music and living in New York City, and then Nashville, TN, she is now thrilled to be preparing to release her fourth solo project, and her first big record, a group of songs written and recorded in Brooklyn, NY with a full band of amazing local musicians.

Eamon O’Leary from Dublin is a long time resident of New York City. 

A singer and string player, with deep roots in the world of Irish trad,  he is one half of The Murphy Beds with Jefferson Hamer. Their debut album was described by The Hufffington Post as one that “bears repeated listening from start to finish, with ten beautiful, crystalline songs.”  He is also a member of The Alt with Nuala Kennedy and John Doyle. 

His songwriting can be heard, most recently, on The Silver Sun from Reveal Records. 

The Faux Paws

Noah VanNorstrand - Fiddle, Feet, Mandolin, Vox

Andrew VanNorstrand - Guitar, Vox

Chris Miller - saxophone, banjo, vox

Zoe Guigueno - Bass, vox 

The Faux Paws have a problem. They’re a triangle band in a land of circles. Musically impossible to describe, they don’t even fit into todays often hyphenated-genre world. No fan, industry expert, nor member of the band can seem to sum up this band’s sound in any kind of marketable way. They continue to remain a singularly unique outfit in the acoustic music community, always on the fringes, always memorable and with an increasing number of die-hard fans who feel like they’ve uncovered a secret.

Is it bluegrass? Not usually. Old-time? Occasionally. Is it Celtic? Can’t quite say that. Is it Folk? Americana? Jazz? Singer-songwriter? None of the above, but members of the Paws have deep ties to all of these traditions and blend their elements effortlessly to serve whatever musical idea is being presented. 

So what can we say? This band takes risks. They’re dynamic, exciting, sincere, irreverent, infectious, and surprising. They move deftly between moods, influences and instruments but always maintaining a “groove” that pulses through the music like a heartbeat (you may not always be aware it's there but it gives the thing life). 

A Faux Paws live show is an explosive roller coaster ride that brings the audience along. Virtuosity on the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and saxophone, sure, but also vulnerability, personal lyrics, tight 3-part brother harmonies, playful interplay, intricately arranged details and soaring improvisations. 

According to FolkAlley.com its Trad. Their self-titled 2021 release was named one of the 10 Best Trad albums of the year from around the world. With the considerable success and praise the band has seen since coming out of the pandemic the Paws decided to add long-time friend and collaborator Zoe Guigueno (Fish & Bird, Della Mae) to their touring outfit on upright bass, Zoe only deepens the group’s already massive sound while freeing each member up for more creative expression on their various instruments. 

Need more? Well a few points people usually notice: the saxophone that behaves in ways they’ve never heard. An oft-heard ‘compliment’ to Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist  Chris Miller is “I thought I was going to hate the saxophone!” Fiddle-phenom Noah gets most of the attention on his feet - due to his unique approach to his Quebecois-style foot-percussion he’s developed. Combined with his jaw-dropping array of percussive chopping elements on the fiddle he contains the sound of a full band on his own. Except its his brother Andrew carefully executing complimentary chords and riffs on the guitar that makes Noah’s sound what it is. 

But spending too many words talking about this stuff detracts from the fact that it’s the original songs - and heart - that keep folks coming back for more year after year. In the band’s 12th year they head back to the studio with an EP showcasing a huge amount of music in a 5-track sampler. The live-energy of the newly minted quartet is on full display, with very little added. Upon the album’s release in April 2023 it will be fun to watch writers take another stab at describing it.