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