Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Heavy Bone and the Good Times Zydeco Band

  Heavy Bone and the Good Times Zydeco Band – Upstate NY’s next-gen Zydeco band from in and around Ithaca. The rhythms of Zydeco are deep-rooted in each member, flowing from their listening & dancing to Preston and Keith Frank lay down real deal Creole Zydeco at the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg. Heavy Bone is certified to bring on the energy and keep your boots stompin’ with contagious rhythms, catchy lyrics, and thumpin’ drums.  Heavy Bone puts a northern spin on the tradition of Zydeco as a musical tradition passed down from generation to generation as the members of the band reflect … Jonas Puryear - Accordion, son of Donna the Buffalo’s Jeb Puryear; Cole Stearns – Scrubboard, son of Richie Stearns; Zeb Whitford – Drums; Joe Hayward – Bass; Sam Schmidt – Guitar.

 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565373495817

https://www.instagram.com/hvybone_goodtimeszydeco/

Tickets: $15 on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the door

Doors 6:30pm, Music 7:30pm

EUROPA

Celebrating the Music of Carlos Santana

With Stoned and Free

A Jimi Hendrix Tribute

Europa is a 7pc ensemble paying homage to the music and message of Carlos Santana.

Each musician expresses themselves through improvisation within the composition. Focused on his earliest work, the group hopes to spread the joy and happiness of Santana’s art.

Members are Keith Dudinski, guitarist & music director.

The percussionists are Tony Padilla and Freddy Colon.

On bass is Geoff Smith, on keyboards is Lou Spezio, on drums is Phil Lake,

On lead vocals is Anthony Dounte Simmons.https://www.europaroc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stoned_and_free/

Tickets: $15 and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the door

Doors 4:00pm • Music 5:30pm

Yes, it’s the November “Third Friday” Happy Hour!!!!

Do NOT miss this monthly party!!! Great music by The Occasional Saints, Genesee Beer specials during Happy Hour, Prizes, T-shirt giveaways and more!!! Did we say beads?!

The Occasional Saints

Playing primarily original songs by keyboard player P. V. Nunes, the Occasional Saints brand of music is New Orleans blues and swing. The band is: P.V. Nunes on keyboards and vocals, Carmen Verzillo on lead guitar, Jay Chafee on bass, Michael Verzillo on drums, Rick McRae on trombone, and Mark Bradley on sax.

https://www.occasionalsaints.com/

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Black Kat Boppers

Hot Boppin, Groovin’ 4 piece group playing Rockin, Roots Music with a Guitar, Double Bass & Stand Up Drums

Black Kat Boppers hail from down on the South Coast Water Way in Southampton and are 4 fellas who love to play hard boppin’, jump up, rockin’ blues, dance music.

“With The Black Kat Boppers you get to immerse yourselves in that rockin’ feelin’.  Think of us as ‘rockin the blues’ if you must, cos that’s the way we roll!”.

Influences include Rhythm & Blues, Jump & Jive, Ska, Doo-Wop with a lucky energy.  Collectively, when all brought together, Black Kat Boppers sound is raw, authentic, sincere & unique.

Black Kat Boppers formed after some chance meetings, speculative phone calls and a little bit of fate.  A shared love for rockin’ roots music was clear and they haven’t looked back since.  There’s been triumphant performances at Glastonbury many times, Port Eliot, Bestival & Hyde Park (with Blur & The Specials).  They’ve rocked Notting Hill Carnival, Rockabilly Rave Latitude & Viva Las Vegas, not to mention performing a memorable set with Florence and The Machine at Bob Geldof’s 60th birthday party.  They’ve been joined on stage by Damon Albarn as well as working with him in the studio and have regularly had Clash legend Paul Simonon playing with the band.  Paul Simonon, who has been a great support to them, also appears on their debut album “Boppin Atcha” and has done the sleeve artwork.

Gaz Mayall declared…
“I’ve seen hundreds of rock n roll bands and The Black Kat Boppers are right at the very top!!“.

“When I first saw The Black Kat Boppers I was sat on a hill at a festival and could hear this music in a tent that literally grabbed me by the lapels and dragged me in” – Paul Simonon (The Clash/Gorillaz)

“Wow those boys can really play” – Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz)

“Really rebel rousing music” – Bono

https://www.facebook.com/BlackKatBoppers/

https://blackkatboppers.com

The Starlite Combo

The Starlite Combo is a rockabilly trio hailing from the Rochester, NY area. Doing their part to keep the spirit of Sun Records alive, performing Rockabilly and Rock n’ Roll, and tracing a direct line from the music of classic artists such as Elvis, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, and Gene Vincent, all the way up through more recent artists like Ronnie Dawson, Brian Setzer, and JD McPherson

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094865004572

Special Low-Dough Show- Fifteen Bucks at the Door

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Janet Batch

One part Stevie Nicks, two parts Johnny Cash, singer-songwriter Janet Batch hails from New York’s Finger Lakes region, writing and recording songs inspired by working-class life.  Some anthemic, some heartbreaking, many songs harken back to the hardscrabble stories of her youth in the Rust Belt. She fronts a 4-piece band whose sound is reminiscent of the seventies and eighties country radio she was raised on.  Her lyrics point to an affinity for poetry and prose and are a sweet surprise to those lucky enough to catch them; her style has been described as “country with an art degree”.

Janet welcomed her second album, You Be The Wolf, in the fall of 2021. A slow and simmering project, it captures everything from classic country waltzes to boot stomping two-steps, tempering true stories with bits of embellishment.

Favorites include “Radio”, a spaghetti western style tune that laments the struggles of loving an artist, “If I Had A Nickel”, a waltz about getting hit on at the bar, and “Waiting On Horses”, an anthem describing a horse-buying scheme.

Drawing from an early life growing up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, Janet weaves some larger-than-life tales on the record. “The voice in my head sometimes sounds like an old man’s. Words I have never once uttered in real life show up in my lyrics.  And some of the stories in these songs are just stories I told myself as a kid. No one told me otherwise.”

Janet’s band is a one-of-a-kind blend of talented, collaborative musicians, each with different musical influences. Sid Green (Jayne County and The Electric Chairs, The Splendors) lends a classic country bent to lead guitar. Mike Brando (Harry Nichols Band) and Chris Ploss (River Diver, Laila Belle, Lady D and The Shadow Spirits) hold down the rhythm section on bass and percussion, respectively. 

Janet’s first album, A Good Woman is Hard to Find, was an instant regional favorite.  Backed by a full band and featuring three-part harmonies, the 2017 release is a record of story songs and train beats.  An official music video was later released to accompany the album for fan favorite track, “Nobody Loves Me”.  Janet also earned the moniker “The Voice of the Hills” in upstate country circles following the release of Good Woman.

Janet has performed on Bound for Glory, at The Great Blue Heron Music Festival, Downtown Ithaca’s Summer Concert Series, and The Ithaca Festival. She has also had the pleasure of opening for Lori McKenna, Marty Stuart and Sean Rowe.

https://www.janetbatch.com/

Cast Iron Cowboys

Cast Iron Cowboys came together when a handful of gentlemen green to the Ithaca music scene discovered that their musical passions and inspirations not only meshed, but breathed new energy to an antique sound - classic western, Texas blues, and country bluegrass.

Now, if you catch a Cast Iron show, you'll find six Cowboys delivering a mixture of boot stomping barn burners, two-stepping dance numbers, and evocative ballads. Repertoire includes original songs, as well covers from timeless artists like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Doc Watson to contemporary musicians like Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, and Billy Strings. Five-part harmonies, multi-instrumentalists trading solos, and an unflappable groove bring community together in heels, hats, and attitude to fit the theme.

Founders Max Moses and Josh Chamberlain started this adventure because of their sheer passion to perform - and as importantly, their love of music that gets people dancing. The band’s catalog of music also provides opportunities to two-step, waltz, swing, and stomp your boots along with the Cowboys on stage.

 Cast Iron Cowboys steadily grows their dedicated fan base, consistently packing venues and adding new friends to the Cast Iron Community. Their unique sound drives forward with a rousing energy that will bring you back to the classics, inspiring new ways to move, and leave you wanting more.

 The band’s most recent milestones came in July of 2024 with two performances and a feature in the Donna the Buffalo All-star Jam at the 32nd annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival, and a debut release of original live recordings titled "First Four Miles,” found on all online music streaming platforms.

https://www.castironcowboysmusic.com/

Tickets: $15 and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the bar

Doors 6pm, Music 7:30pm

Al Olender

We’re thrilled to be hosting the return to the Abilene stage of super-talented singer-songwriter, Al Olender!

She’s been on the road opening for Shovels and Ropes…and was able to sneak in a small club date.

There’s nothing scarier than being honest with yourself. For singer/songwriter Al Olender, facing her fear of the truth has been a cleansing, often cathartic process that’s led to the kind of revelations she had previously thought unobtainable. On her debut full-length album Easy Crier, the Upstate New York based artist asks: what happens if we vow to never tell a lie, ever again? Charting the daunting territories of staring your demons right in the face and prodding at the ugly parts of your reflection, Olender pieces together her most vulnerable moments to produce a celebratory and beautiful rumination on grief, and reminds us of the power that comes in really getting to know yourself.

The catalyst for this renewed outlook stems from the sudden loss of her older brother. As a huge supporter of Olender’s musical talents from the very beginning, he would often invite his friends over and encourage a then-teenage Olender to play her “angsty love songs” for them. “Everything that I do musically revolves around my brother,” she says. “It's like every single thing I do in my life – my brother is so much in the front of my mind.” 

The introduction for Easy Crier comes with “All I Do Is Watch TV,” a darkly humorous comment on the unmoored early stages of losing a loved one, way too soon. “I read a book on grief, it told me to lay in bed,” she laments over a chromatic, repetitive melody – the kind that perfectly mimics an untethered, sped-up montage-like existence, as she watches true crime and buys a Big Gulp just to spill it on her bedroom floor. Here, she jabs at the numbness protecting her heart. “Nothing fixes grief,” she explains. “It transforms. Sometimes it's like a giant glooming thunder cloud and sometimes it's like a tiny little raindrop.”

On the folky, pop-infused banger “Keith,” Olender confronts her sorrow, as fond memories are abruptly interrupted by a crashing cymbal and animated percussion: an ever-increasing heart rate capturing Olender’s inner-chaos as she witnesses a well-meaning funeral guest showing off a new tattoo. Later, on the devastatingly gorgeous closer “Mean,” a sparse, acoustic arrangement offers a platform for a rousing vocal performance, each note a grief-stricken consolation. “I’m older than my older brother, but I’m not old enough,” she shares softly, searching for someone to keep her safe. Olender strives to use her voice for connection and healing, for herself and for anyone else who’s listening. 

Olender recorded at The Church in Harlemville, NY, entrusting the skills of producer and engineer James Felice (Felice Brothers). Felice also lent his skills on keyboard, accordion and piano, with Jesske Hume (bass/synths), William Lawrence (drums/guitar), Ian Felice (guitar), and Alejandro Leon (bass) also contributing. The album’s sonic universe sees delicate keys dance alongside acoustic plucks, later welcoming brooding strings and lush, expansive harmonies. It’s these kinds of arrangements that perfectly capture the sonic personality of Easy Crier: it’s both tender and invigorating, soothing yet anthemic. Describing the arrangements as a “conversation with friends,” it’s a testament to what can happen when you surround yourself with those who totally, and willingly, understand your artistic vision. 

Easy Crier isn’t an album about death. It’s an album about unending love. It wipes away the mask we put on for others and instead, embraces the exhale that comes from spilling your guts. It’s the moment in your favorite rom-com when they finally admit their feelings for one another, and kiss in a way that only seems to happen in movies; on Easy Crier, Olender plays both parts. There are moments of ease, and exploring the often fine line between funny and sad that makes Easy Crier a portal for relief, whether that’s through tears of joy or pain. It’s an album that takes each shattered, heartbroken piece and puts them back together to form a strangely beautiful mosaic. “It’s a love letter to everything I’ve lost,” she says. “And forms a real insight into how telling the truth has truly changed my life.” Here, Olender is finally letting herself feel everything all at once, no matter how uncomfortable or scary it can be.

https://alolender.com/

Tickets: $20 and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the bar

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

The Electric Spyders

The Electric Spiders are a Psych -Garage rock band from Rochester NY, founded in 2023.

The Spiders bring a fresh, high energy sound to the Rochester music scene, featuring Ryan Sutherland on guitars and vocals, Ben Baker on guitar and vocals, Scott Wright on keys and synthesizers, Sean Wilson-Leslie on bass, and Colin D’Annunzio on drums.

With memorable original songs, ripping guitars, synthesizers, and soulful vocals, This is not a band to miss!

https://www.facebook.com/ryan.sutherland.169405

Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis is a singer songwriter from Rochester, NY who blends pop, folk and alternative styles into his varied musical projects. His creatively named band, Jon Lewis Band, has produced 8 studio albums as well as being nominated 4 times for Best Album by the City Newspaper “Best Of” competition and he also was named as part of the “Rochester 10” for influential people working in Rochester. When he’s not playing his melodic, soulful original music he is also playing music for kids and families and working in schools as “Mr. Loops” spreading a message of positivity and silliness for kids of all ages.

https://www.facebook.com/jon.lewis.1401/

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

CMD

When pianist Casey Filiaci, bassist Mark Terranova, and drummer Dave Cohen first got together less than three years ago, they had no preconceived notions about what they would play. “All we knew for sure is that we wouldn’t be playing jazz standards,” recalls Filiaci, who – like Terranova and Cohen – had “been there, done that” all too often. All three Rochester musicians have extensive credits playing almost every genre of music. What happened next was a rare bit of magic in any musician’s life – a spontaneous musical melding that just felt “right.” As they improvised on Filiaci’s creative rearrangements of favorite classic rock, R&B, and pop songs, the group’s unique voice quickly evolved into something they named “Common. Music. Different.” CMD released its debut album, just a song…, on Valentine’s Day, 2023. Exactly one year later, the trio released its follow-up CD, just another song. Both were co-produced, recorded, and mixed at Rochester’s renowned Studios at Linden Oaks by Steve Forney. The material is familiar to many listeners, ranging from songs by The Eagles, Joni Mitchell and Peter Gabriel, to hits by The Beatles, Neil Young and Foreigner. But what these three veteran and seriously in-sync musicians create is undeniably original. Says Filiaci, the trio’s founder: “CMD’s intention is not to confuse or impress. It is only to offer another look – to tell each story in a different but credible way. We wish for the listener to feel as well as to hear; the only requirement is to listen. And there will be no quiz at the end!”

https://www.facebook.com/CommonMusicDifferent

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

LYNNE HANSON

Too tough for folk and too blues-influenced for country, LYNNE HANSON’s brand of porch music with a little red dirt can turn on a dime from a sunshine, blue sky ballad to a full on thunderstorm of gritty Americana swamp from one song to the next. Her hard living music has garnered her the nickname “Canada’s own Queen of Americana.” And while her deep, bluesy croon has drawn comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch, it’s the poetry of her lyrics that really sets her apart. The two-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner is known for her high energy, roots guitar driven live performances, whether playing solo or with her band the Good Intentions. She has an uncanny way of connecting with her audience with an authenticity that is as entertaining as it is disarming.  She released her tenth studio album “Just A Poet” in May 2024.

https://www.lynnehanson.com/

Los Pajaritos

Leo Shams el Farol and el Tico Karsonito, aka “los Pajaritos/Caballeros” are a new Rochester-based band, playing music from around the world, digging deep into the flamenco/Latin vibes, giving you a taste of music known and unknown to this neck of the woods. Leo Shams is the product of an eclectic blend of musical traditions, with a a distinct melodic flavor. Having roamed the globe and found solace in music, he’s a musical vagabond in search of new melodies, and unlikely collaborations.

Karson is an old hand, having inhabited the Rochester Latin scene for the past decade, a hard hitter with smooth technique and melodic prowess.

Cover: Special Low-Dough Show-Fifteen Bucks at the Door

Doors 6pm, Music 7pm

Amy Lavere & Will Sexton

There’s something uniquely fun about Amy Lavere, even when she’s breaking your heart. She is well known among songwriters and critics alike. NPR’s Robert Siegel says she “specializes in lyrics that are more barbed than her sweet soprano prepares you for.” Her growing catalogue of material and steady critical acclaim suggest a first-tier presence on the Americana and indie-folk/punk circuits. Her latest album is Painting Blue on Nine Mile Records (Glorietta, David Wax Museum, Carson McHone, Patrick Sweany, Greyhounds).
Amy’s live performances are anything but predictable. She might appear on stage with a full band, sporting a mask and pink wig, or simply be a natural in blue jeans and sandals, but her upright bass and clever song delivery are constants. Her voice is at once the bully and the victim. She’s performed in venues as wide-ranging as St. Andrew’s Hall in London and Memphis’ famed dive bar Earnestine and Hazel’s. There’s no room she can’t find an audience in and charm it to pieces.
“Most of my life,” says Will Sexton, “I’ve complicated things musically. But, nowadays, I have a different approach: it’s less cerebral, and more about gut and soul.” It’s been an evolution years in the making for revered guitarist/vocalist Sexton, who launched his career when he still in grade school. Now the towering Texan, and a bit over 50 years of age, brought this new philosophy to bear on his first solo record in a decade, Don’t Walk the Darkness, a 2020 release from Big Legal Mess Records.
Along with older brother Charlie, the San Antonio-born Sexton was a musical prodigy who eventually moved to Austin, coming of age in the city’s hothouse environment. Playing with iconic Lone Star figures such as Doug Sahm, Joe Ely, Roky Erickson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, he scored a major label deal while still in his teens fronting Will and the Kill.
Over the past three decades, Sexton has grown into a skilled musical polymath: an esteemed writer, producer, session player and solo artist with a string of acclaimed LPs to his credit.

https://www.amylavere.com/
http://www.willsexton.com/

Tickets: $20 and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the door

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

The Blue Barn Cats

The Blue Barn Cats are Rochester folks playin’ Hot Club style Gypsy Jazz. Enjoy the sounds of Jesse (guitar), Blaize (violin), Karl (guitar), Glen (clarinet), and Ben (bass).

Providing an eclectic mix of instrumentation and vocals, the group specializes in great American songbook standards with new takes on old classics.
For fans of Django Reinhardt and The Djangoners.

The Blue Barn Cats (@thebluebarncats) • Instagram photos and videos

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 9pm

Dead in the Basement

Dead in the Basement is recreating the music of the Grateful Dead with an eye towards traditional interpretations with a female lead singer. The band is made up of Jessica Guiness on vocals, Brian Sullivan on lead guitar, Jonathan Rung on rhythm guitar, Greg Weinreb on bass, and Skip Creveling on percussion and drum synthesizer emulating Mickey Hart’s famous Beam.

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

Tug Hill Band

Tug Hill is a collaboration of seasoned Rochester musicians who have come together to create a unique mix of Americana, blues, rock, and contemporary country music with many other influences.

As the name suggests, TugHill was inspired by one of the most remote areas in NY State, known for its heavy snowfall, rugged natural abundance, and where anything can happen.

MAUREEN RICH – UKULELE AND VOCALS
ERIC RICH – GUITAR
PATRICK BRENNAN – MANDOLIN
MIKE TUTINO – DRUMS
VINCE TUTINO – BASS

https://tughillband.com/

Cover: $5

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

The Best of the Grateful Dead

Featuring….

MUD CREEK

Mud Creek is a 5 piece classic roots-rock group with a setlist steeped in Grateful Dead, as well as.

https://www.facebook.com/MudCreekBand

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 9pm

Delilah Jones

Delilah Jones is a high energy improvisational jam band from Rochester NY - playing the music of the Grateful Dead. Delilah Jones is known for their strong vocal harmonies along with energized instrumental interludes that are perfect for a dance friendly environment.

https://delilahjonesgdband.com/

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 5pm

Mr. Heartache

Mr. Heartache is a five piece band performing a stripped down, straight ahead brand of American roots music fronted by country music archivist Jim Schleich on vocals and acoustic guitar in conjunction with Los Angeles native Roy Berns on electric guitar, Lynn Lindsay on vocals. The backline consists of Scott McNitt on drums and Eric Huppert on the Fender electric bass.

Heavily influenced by the definitive sounds of Southern California country music of times past, Mr. Heartache weaves a tapestry of songs making forays into country blues, western swing, folk inspired ballads and spirited instrumentals that introduce new generations of listeners to classic material , keeping  the honky tonk flame burning brightly.

Serving up Americana from the golden era of country and western.

https://www.facebook.com/MrHeartacheRochester

Cover: $5

Doors 7pm, Music 7:30pm

28IF

Featuring Ray Paul, John Covach, & Bob Voellinger

 28IF Salutes the '60's, The Beatles, The Byrds, the British Invasion

2022 marked the return of the 28IF band, who previously performed at venues in Western New York and the Rochester and Finger Lakes region from 2006-2009.

Back are founding member and bassist/vocalist RAY PAUL, who has reunited with former 28IF guitarist/vocalist JOHN COVACH (2008-2009), with drummer BOB VOELLINGER rounding out the group.

 You may know RAY PAUL for his solo & group recordings and original band RAY PAUL & RPM, who have headlined the Abilene stage many times from 2015-2019, and JOHN COVACH as author and the former lead guitarist in THE SMOOTH TALKERS. RAY PAUL & 28IF have also hostedthe Annual Paul McCartney Birthday Tribute held at Abilene for the last three years. 

 Every 28IF show is a different one and this latest theme, “Celebration of the '60's” will be indeed be a special one! 

So put on your Beatle Boots, wake up your memories and enjoy an evening of Fab fun with the sound of the 28IF band.

https://www.facebook.com/Official28IF/

Cover: $10

Doors 4:00pm • Music 5:30pm

Yes, it’s the October “Third Friday” Happy Hour!!!!

Do NOT miss this monthly party!!! Great music by The Occasional Saints, Genesee Beer specials during Happy Hour, Prizes, T-shirt giveaways and more!!! Did we say beads?!

The Occasional Saints

Playing primarily original songs by keyboard player P. V. Nunes, the Occasional Saints brand of music is New Orleans blues and swing. The band is: P.V. Nunes on keyboards and vocals, Carmen Verzillo on lead guitar, Jay Chafee on bass, Michael Verzillo on drums, Rick McRae on trombone, and Mark Bradley on sax.

https://www.occasionalsaints.com/

Cover: $5

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

India Ramey

We’re thrilled to be presenting India Ramey! Her new album, “Baptized by the Blaze,” was released on August 23….and believe us when we tell you, you are in for a treat.

India Ramey blazes a trail through cinematic spaghetti western landscapes to wood floored honky-tonks and the Appalachian foothills. 

 Featured as one of the “Must See Acts at SXSW “(No Depression, Austin Chronicle), a Nashville’s Lighting 100 artist of the week, a two-time Americana Fest showcasing artist, and one of NPR’s “10 Nashville Artists on the Rise”, India has only continued to rise among the ranks of as one of Country and Americana’s brightest up and coming artists.  

 Ramey’s last two albums mix Americana noire, country and southern-gothic songwriting to help expand Ramey’s reputation far beyond the Deep South and she’s toured heavily around and beyond those releases.  Her most recent album, Shallow Graves debuted at #6 on the Euro Americana Charts and landed a song as Rolling Stone’s pick of the week.

 Ramey has just completed recording a new album with Grammy award-winning producer, Luke Wooten (The SteelDrivers, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Sunny Sweeny, Jim Lauderdale). The new album combines India’s classic country sound with her dark cinematic imagery cohesively and seamlessly. 

https://www.indiaramey.com/

Special Low-Dough Show-Fifteen Bucks at the Door

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

Billy Bremner’s Rockfiles 2024

Billy Bremner’s Rockfiles starring legendary Scottish guitarist Billy Bremner. Best known for his work in the band Rockpile and on many of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds' albums, he has also played with The Pretenders, Shakin' Stevens, Carlene Carter, Rosie Flores and The Coal Porters, as well as issuing four solo albums. Billy Bremner Rockfiles is an all-star Swedish band of Micke Finell on bass and vocals (Dave Edmunds Band, The Refreshments), Bonne Löfman on guitar and vocals (from Sweden’s Rock´n´Roll mega star Jerry Williams and the pioneer of Swedish Rock´n´Roll Owe Thörnqvist) and Peder Sundahl on drums and vocals (Jerry Williams & Roadwork). Concentrate on material from Rockpile’s seminal album ‘Seconds of Pleasure’.

https://www.facebook.com/bremner.b/

Tickets: $30 advance, $35 day of show and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and at the bar

Doors 2pm, Karaoke 2pm

It’s the “Tay Tay Takeover!!!”

An Afternoon of Taylor Swift Karaoke!

Presented by The Borowiec Girlz, E. Taffe…and their Uncle D

Hosted by Markieoke Entertainment

A full day of Taylor Swift!!!!

https://www.taylorswift.com/

Cover: $13

Doors 6:30pm, Music 7pm

Hosted By Jed Curran & Band …with Many Special Guests!

Celebrate the life and work of John Prine with night two of our tribute weekend.

Celebrate the life and work of John Prine with night two of our tribute weekend.

Host band….Jed Curran, Charlie Curran, John Dady, Bruce Diamond, and Don Christiano

with special guests…

Brian Burley

Jeff Riales

Jeff Spevak

Erin and Ross

Jack Jones

Kevin Higgins

Steve Piper

Barbara Maltese

Bob Spiegal & Rick Palumbo

Rita Coulter

Fred Vine

Paul Nunes

Ryan Yarmel

Beth Steele

Tickets: $20 and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

John Prine Birthday Tribute featuring the Boyd Parker Ambush

Boyd Parker Ambush

The Boyd Parker Ambush has its roots in Livingston County, much like the minor military engagement during the Revolutionary War which inspired its name. Led by two guitar-wielding lead vocalists Jeff Sherner (The Genesee Revelers) & Nick Cory Young (Burning Daylight), the lineup is rounded out by Jeff Simpson (The Genesee Revelers) on bass & Sean Sullivan on drums. The band’s sound draws heavily from legendary singer-songwriter John Prine so it's no surprise that the group is returning to Abilene for the third year in a row to honor and pay tribute to an artist often referred to as "the Mark Twain of songwriting". Expect to hear songs from throughout Prine's almost 50 year career and don't forget to bring your dancing shoes.

https://www.facebook.com/boydparkerambush

Tickets: $15 and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Jason Eady

With a decades-long commitment to his craft as a songwriter, Jason Eady has built a career on bringing his unique perspective to a variety of genres. Uninhibited by ties to one particular sound, Eady’s catalog showcases an affinity for telling authentic, forthright stories with his music, a quality that continues to bring new listeners to this veteran musician’s audience year after year.

Born in his most recent album’s namesake state, Mississippi finds Eady inspired, motivated but not bound by the success of his past; instead, Mississippi is yet another manifestation of what Eady does best – channeling truth into songs and a refusal to be boxed in by his previous work. His newest album, however, is not a seismic shift that rebukes the past; rather, Mississippi brings to the forefront hints of deep South-style blues that has always had a place in his sound.

“There was a groove based sound that I grew up with in Mississippi that has always

been a part of what I do, but with this record I wanted to bring that to the forefront. I think this record is the opposite side of the same coin I’ve always had, I just flipped it over.”

Mississippi’s critical praise situates it as yet another beloved album born out of Eady’s

nineteen year career. With nine full-length albums, Eady explores genre and form with mastery, complementing the Texas sound he’s perhaps best known for with forays where listeners can find him accompanied by bluegrass pickers or pedal steel. This versatility has earned Eady praise from contemporaries and critics alike, with NPR acknowledging Eady’s grassroots, nononsense approach to his craft by dubbing him “one of the most promising alt-country underdogs.”

This intentionality and fluidity is indicative of an artist at the top of his craft, bolstered by critical success like 2021’s To the Passage of Time and 2018’s I Travel On but not reliant upon it; if Eady stands for anything, it’s the wholehearted pursuit of remaining loyal to himself without resting on his laurels, pushing himself as an artist and a storyteller.

“I have always had a ton of respect for artists who have experimented with and presented different styles and genres while still maintaining a style of their own. I love that arc over a career and how it keeps it interesting for the listener. I love that feeling of “what is he going to do next?”. Hopefully that same sense of excitement and anticipation stays alive in my music as well.”

https://www.jasoneady.com/

Tickets: $20 advance, $25 day of show and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 7pm

Join us in celebrating the birthday of John Lennon!!!!

The night will feature local faves, Kelley’s Heroes

Kelley’s Heroes is an original rock band, fusing the great singer-songwriter traditions with indie rock power and energy.  Fronted by Austin music veteran John Kelley and Rochester’s own Jon Gary, Dan Hoh and James Conner.  In early 2024, Kelley’s Heroes released their debut album, “Who’s Gonna Save the World?”, to receptive and enthusiastic crowds.

https://www.reverbnation.com/kelleysheroesband

 https://kelleysheroes.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KelleysHeroesBand/

Special Guests (so far) include…

Don and Suzi Willpower

James Tabbi

Steve Lyons

Don Christiano

Dan Eaton

Bob “Doc” Fishchetto

Lauren Faggiano

Bill Lambert

Annie Wells

Tom Montagliano

George Kastrinos

Tickets: $10 advance, $15 day of show and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and t the bar

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

“Ithaca Takes On The Stones”

Hosted by….

the Dart Brothers & Friends

including…

Michael Callahan, Josh Dolan, Liz Pickard, Mike Watkins, Tommy White and More!

Join Ithaca's the Dart Brothers at Abilene as they dive deep into the golden era of the Rolling Stones' music (from 1970-1980)-- this was the decade where the Stones' love of honky tonk and country percolated through everything they created. The Dart Bros. are pleased to bring some of Ithaca's finest players along for the ride, including Jerrod Prevost (Patchwork Down), Mike Callahan (Mortal Combine), Josh Dolan (the 86ers), Mike Watkins (Green Holler, Plante Jr.), Tommy Whittle (Tru Bleu), and John Garside (the Landlords, Furlongs, the Grenvilles from the bay area). We'll be hitting some of the highlights as well as digging deeper into some of our favorites to bring the country and honky tonk to the surface at Rochester's finest roadhouse!

https://dartbrothers.com/

Tickets: $15 advance, $20 day of show and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and at the bar

Doors open at 4pm

The patio’s open!

The drinks will be flowing.

The music will be crankin’.

and Rahn will be hosting.

Stop into Abilene Bar and Lounge tonight…it’s gonna be an awesome time!

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Alice Howe & Freebo

Alice Howe and Freebo present a unique study in contrasts, bringing together a rising voice in Americana music and a venerable rock, folk, and blues icon. Each a compelling performer in their own right, they both lead and support each other in their well-crafted songs with flawless harmonies and tasteful instrumentation. They have worked as creative collaborators in the studio and on stage since 2017. Freebo weaves his unique fretless bass stylings into Alice's superb vocals for a presentation with undeniable chemistry.

 To hear Alice Howe sing is to be enraptured by the natural, unaffected beauty of her voice. There’s no artifice, no histrionics — just honest, authentic, emotionally resonant singing in the tradition of the roots music that shaped her. On Circumstance, her second and latest album, the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter guitarist displays her vocal prowess and introspective writing in abundance, mining both her heart and her musical tastes for a deep, personal journey across an Americana soundscape dotted with blues, folk, country, soul and rock. Recorded in two sessions at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where Etta James and Wilson Pickett once shook the walls, the record channels their spirits with 11 stirring tracks that pull no punches diving into the vagaries of the heart and her own personal journey. As an old soul inside a 30-something millennial, Alice puts her stamp on Americana’s venerable strands with 10 standout originals evoking both the classic singer-songwriters and the seminal music that once filled airwaves, roadhouses and juke joints.

Freebo is best known for his decade of touring and recording with Bonnie Raitt, and has distinguished himself as one of the great bassists of our time, playing on records with CSN, Maria Muldaur, John Mayall, Ringo Starr, Dr. John, and Neil Young as well as appearing on Saturday Night Live, The Midnight Special, The Muppet Show, and in concert with the legendary Spinal Tap. Not willing to simply rest on those achievements, Freebo delved more deeply into his creativity and has become a highly regarded singer/songwriter, now working on his 6th full-length solo CD. A multi award winner and finalist in numerous songwriting contests, Freebo’s music reflects his compassionate concern for the world and people around him, and his lyrics and open stage banter have helped him connect with listeners worldwide. A live musical experience with Freebo is astute, insightful, clever, and truly melodic.

https://www.alicehowe.com/

https://freebomusic.com/about

Tickets: $25 and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com/ and tonight at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Molly Martin & Band

Molly Martin’s debut album Mary released January 2023 is cheeky indie rock reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins, Land of Talk, and the attitude of the Pretenders. It’s music that pretends not to care about your feelings but really does. It’s a spotlight on the honest truth of Molly’s experience before and after quitting drinking; an 8-song inquiry into self-discovery. Molly’s birth name is Mary, and each track feels like a different aspect of the intersection between a buttoned-up Mary and a buttoned-down Molly. Nowhere near sacred and naturally profane, Mary is a think piece on everything from self-hatred to sexual assault. Something is bound to resonate, and that’s the point.

https://www.facebook.com/mollymartinsongs

https://x.com/mollymartinsong

Special Low-Dough Show-$12 at the door

Doors 7pm, Music 8pm

The Whiskey Charmers

The Whiskey Charmers are a Detroit-based band led by Carrie Shepard and Lawrence Daversa. Daversa’s melancholy guitar weaves in and out of Shepard’s strong vocal melodies and simple lyrics, creating a sound that will tug at your heartstrings and give you the feeling of winding down a dusty desert road.

William P Davis (Former Deputy Director of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville) says of the band, “I’ve heard a lot of good musicians. The Whiskey Charmers remind me of no one – and, to me, that is one of the best compliments an act can receive.”

The Whiskey Charmers have won several Detroit Music Awards and their lonesome sound caught the attention of Sony Entertainment and landed them a music placement as the backdrop for a bar scene in the video game “Detroit: Become Human” (2018) which has sold over eight million copies and introduced their music to new enthusiastic fans around the world.

The Charmers have been releasing albums at a steady clip since 2015 and their latest album “Streetlights” dropped this past June. Ken Capobianco, music correspondent for The Boston Globe writes “The new album from Michigan rockers The Whiskey Charmers, “Streetlights,” elevates their sound to new heights, thanks to some of their most compelling songs, filled with yearning, melancholy, and tentative optimism”

https://thewhiskeycharmers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Whiskeycharmers

Leo Shams

Leo Shams is the product of an eclectic blend of distinct melodic flavor. Having roamed the globe and found solace in music, he’s a musical vagabond in search of new melodies, and unlikely collaborations. Find him under a tree playing a melancholy melody, then ripping on the electric with some hard hitting musical amigos, maybe dishing out some tasty licks for a funky DJ, or even singing his own ballads. On a night out on the town, he’ll play some originals, some tasty classics, and some songs from around the globe. When you hear him next, you just might like what you hear…a lot.

https://www.facebook.com/shams.el.farol

https://www.facebook.com/events/s/leo-shams-el-farol/563955562884675/

Special Low-Dough Show-Ten Bucks at the Door