Doors 4pm, Music 7pm

Brody Schenk

Brody Schenk is a rising singer-songwriter whose music blends heartfelt storytelling with a variety of musical influences. Brody’s songs are deeply rooted in humanity, nature, the universe and the beauty found in honest moments.

Hailing from Rochester, New York, Brody picked up the guitar at a young age and quickly found his voice through songwriting and musicianship. After an adolescence spent performing locally, Brody moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Never afraid to take matters into his own hands, he has self booked three national tours and performed in over twenty five states at the age of twenty.

Whether he's performing solo or backed by a full band, Brody brings a soulful energy to the stage—connecting with listeners through powerful lyrics, irresistible rhythm, and a deep passion for the craft. His latest single, “Shitty Friends” showcases his dynamic range and authentic honest approach to songwriting, earning him praise from both fans and critics alike.

Brody has had the opportunity to share the stage with artists such as Donna the Buffalo, Melvin Seals & JGB, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Cory Branan, Sean Rowe, Ghost Light, Tim Reynold’s Trio, and more.

Brody is currently residing in East Nashville and focusing on writing, recording, and touring, with new music on the way.

We’re thrilled to once again be hosting Brody!

https://brodyschenk.com/

https://www.facebook.com/brodyschenkmusic/

instagram.com/brodyschenk

Cover: $10 at the Door

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

Woody Dodge

Sometime in the early 90’s music journalists started to use the label “Americana” for rock bands that incorporated bluegrass and country music into their sound. Before Uncle Tupelo and Wilco became the standard bearers for the genre, Woody Dodge was writing and performing original songs that fuse rock, bluegrass, and American folk styles.

Woody Dodge has five studio recording of original music including Emma’s Dance, nature Is Strange, Humble Me, Better Angels, and 2020’s EP Volume 1.

After a long hiatus, Woody Dodge returns to the stage for this special appearance at their home base venue, Abilene Bar and Lounge.

Woody Dodge is Billy Lambert-guitar and vocals, Jon Gary-bass, Mark Wilcove-guitar, and Sean Sullivan-drums.

https://woodydodge.com

Cover: $8

Doors 4pm, Music 9:15pm

Trashy Annie

Trashy Annie: Grit, Guts, and Rock ‘n’ Roll

Born in the the dusty bars of Austin, Texas and raised in sweaty rock clubs from New York to L.A., Trashy Annie roars with a raw, genre-defying sound that’s equal parts country soul, hard rock edge, and punk defiance. Fronted by 2023 CMA of Texas Americana Artist of the Year Annie Davis, this band doesn’t just play music—they throw a damn party you'll never forget. “Grittier than Ashley McBryde or early Kacey Musgraves ever went, and I bloody love it” raves Rockin' Magpie, and they aren't wrong.

​Annie, a self-made entrepreneur and expert in the field of biomechanics , picked up her first guitar at 44, taught herself one chord, and wrote “Runnin” in 2020, fueled by whiskey and a middle finger to fear. She hit an open mic, caught the songwriting bug, and spent the pandemic mastering instruments, writing, and helping produce her own tracks with an unrelenting vision.

 When trolls trashed her online for wearing clothes that are “too young” for her, she didn’t flinch—she named the band Trashy Annie, turning hate into a badge of unapologetic authenticity.

​Following her second release, 2022 banger “Nuclear Meltdown,” Annie recorded with heavyweights from The Refreshments, The Wallflowers and Faith Hill to develop her own unique sound. Her debut album, Sticks and Stones (May 2023), is a 12-track gut-punch of catchy hooks and raw storytelling, with songs like “Bama” and “Born Pretty” celebrating outliers who live loud. Backed by a powerhouse crew—Miles Barker (bass), Blake Jurasin and Amir Neubach (guitars), Ryan Smith (drums) —she and her band began touring relentlessly, playing 100+ shows across the United States in their first year alone.

​Live, Trashy Annie’s a high-energy riot, channeling Janis Joplin’s fire and Joan Jett’s swagger. “You can’t leave their show in a bad mood—it’s physically impossible,” fans say.

 Yes, , Trashy Annie’s here to break rules and raise hell. Catch them before they burn the house down.

https://www.trashyannie.com/

Cover: $10 at the Door

Doors 7pm, Music 7:30pm

Patrick Sweany

The title of Patrick Sweany’s new record is apt for more reasons than might be readily apparent.
For fans, it’s a nod to the massive amount of time between full-length albums (7 years if you are counting). For Sweany, it’s a theme that’s permeated his latest songs (running out of time, getting older). The time in between 2018’s Ancient Noise and Baby, It’s Late has been full of changes for Sweany. Difficult changes. These mile-markers and their aftermath made it challenging for Sweany to do what he’s done for over 20 years: write songs, record songs, get in a van and play those songs for you.
It wasn’t as though Sweany’s music-making simply stopped, however. As the world opened back up after the pandemic, Sweany resumed his Blue Monday residency at
The 5 Spot in E. Nashville playing 50’s and 60’s era Blues songs with The Tiger Beats: McKinley James, Jason Smay, and Ted Pecchio. He also started a new Soul, Funk
project called SUPER FELON with JD Simo, Adam Abrashoff, Pecchio and Robbie Crowell. Most importantly, he started writing and recording again.
For the first time, Sweany chose to do almost everything himself, recording tracks on his Tascam 388 tape machine in his Bongo Room home studio. While the end results were not quite good enough for public consumption, the kernels of some great new songs were started, and a less polished, more organic approach was established.
Sweany decided to call on the collaborators in The Tiger Beats and SUPER FELON to help him progress. Using JD Simo’s House Of Grease studio and McKinley James’
Red Lodge studio, Sweany brought in players from both of these projects.
“These guys are some of the most in-demand players in Nashville,” says Sweany about the sessions. “They know when it’s right and when it’s not. If they felt like these songs weren’t good enough, they’d tell me.”
“We tracked two days live, no headphones, band in the room, old school style. It felt good. It felt right. The songs sounded like songs. Back in the saddle.”
On top of the old-school style of recording, Sweany chose to produce the recordings himself - something he’d never done.
The results are a raw, more direct collection of songs that tap directly into the pain, tension, and catharsis of the past seven years. Stylistically they capture elements of
Sweany’s previous recordings: the raw Blues-Rock opener “My Time Ain’t Long” could be an outtake from 2008’s Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone, while the subtle ballads
“Christmas Parade” and “See Through” are reminiscent of 2015’s ruminative Daytime Turned To Nighttime. Elsewhere, however, Sweany embraces some new
influences such as the hooky rock anthem “Golden Fields” and the 70s organ funk groove of “Trouble With Love.”
After over 25 years writing, recording and touring, Sweany knows more than most that you can’t rush the process. You have to wait until the songs are ready. In that regard, Baby, It’s Never Too Late.

"This is the kind of music Robert Johnson sold his soul for way back when — and Sweany is pouring his into it." - Esquire

"(4/5) Patrick Sweany bleeds Americana, the sounds, sentiments and feel of the sultry South where soul, country, blues and rock 'n' roll rub along in the clubs, bars, and airwaves." - Q Magazine (Daytime Turned To Nighttime review)

"(8/10) (Sweany) paints his Southern Soul Masterpiece." - Uncut Magazine (Daytime Turned To Nighttime review)

http://www.patricksweany.com/

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

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Claudia James

Claudia James is a singer-songwriter and classically trained clarinetist whose music blends folk, Latin, and acoustic influences. She recently completed a tour throughout Latin America with the romantic Anglo-Latin duo Nico y Claudia, performing for audiences across several countries. Claudia performs original songs in both English and Spanish, alongside a selection of beloved acoustic covers. Join her at Abilene on July 15th for an intimate evening of music featuring a unique combination of clarinet, guitar, and voice, brought to life through her engaging solo performance.

https://www.instagram.com/nico_y_claudia/

Cover: $8 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

The Teressa Wilcox Trio

Teressa Wilcox is a Rochester, NY–born singer-songwriter who blends raw emotion with the unapologetic energy of rock and roll. Her sound hits that sweet spot between grit and grace—classic American songwriting drenched in attitude and heart. Over the years, she’s shared the stage with legends like Sam Andrew of Big Brother and the Holding Company, jazz powerhouses Chet Catallo (Spyro Gyra) and Al Chez (The World’s Most Dangerous Band), and opened for icons from Asia to Lucinda Williams. A creative force with global reach, Teressa took her craft overseas, co-writing two Top 40 U.K. hits and landing a publishing deal with the legendary Don Black. Her song “100 Degrees” burned up Time Warner’s Music On Demand campaign, proving what fans already know—Teressa Wilcox doesn’t just play music; she sets it on fire.

https://teressawilcoxmusic.com/

With Nate Coffey and Rob Huff

https://www.facebook.com/nate.coffey.3

https://www.facebook.com/scribedaddy/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 6:30pm, Music 7:30pm

Harmonica Lewinski
Out for kicks, Harmonica Lewinski plays music that has been called “tropical trash, greasy garage, dirty disco, and party punk.” In between touring the USA and releasing a slew of vinyl and cassette tapes, they have built a following with their original sound and dance-party live shows. Calling all freaks – get to the go-go.

https://www.facebook.com/harmonicalewinski666/

with Special Guests

Ali Lou & the Sugar Boys

Ali Lou and the Sugar Boys are a bluegrass band from Rochester, New York. The trio blends Americana nostalgia with a fresh, playful twist. Known for their lighthearted charm, they bring a little sparkle, a little grit, and a whole lot of heart to every performance.

https://www.instagram.com/ali.lou_music/

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

Doors 4pm, Music 6pm

“Songwriter Showcase”

Featuring Airin Fae, Kris Acklen, Sara Elizabeth, Jeremy Button, & Katie Alessandra

Come on down to Abilene on July 22 for a night you don’t wanna miss, full of original music with some awesome players.

https://www.instagram.com/airinfae_music/

https://www.krisacklen.com/

http://www.saraelizabethmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.button.9/

https://www.facebook.com/KatieMangiameleMusic/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

Brian Lindsay Band

Brian Lindsay delivers an inspired roots-rocking record that is filled with swagger and inspired performances.  Backed by his veteran band and some of New York’s finest musicians, they burn through 10 songs in his trademark conceptual format. With his lyrical craftsmanship, he transports the listener to places and times, bringing a renewed sense of hope and purpose to a world...that is long over-due for revival. 

Following the success of Lindsay’s first 3 LPs, The Crossing, Esperanza, The Monkey, The Tango and the Boogaloo, which all had songs that were added to over 150 Triple A format radio stations nationally, critics agree this LP, REVIVAL is his finest.

The Brian Lindsay band has shared the stage with The Smithereens, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Shooter Jennings, Donna the Buffalo, Willie Nile, Poppa Chubby, The Outlaws and The Little River Band, to name a few.  

https://brianlindsay.net/

https://www.facebook.com/blindsaymusic

Cover: $7

Doors 4pm, Music 9:15pm

Fox 45

They’re a heavy psych and stoner rock band executing riffs and destruction!

https://www.instagram.com/foxfortyfive/

https://www.facebook.com/foxfortyfive

Kid Tested

This three-piece machine from Cleveland, Ohio extrudes a sound which ranges from driving power ballads like, “Drawing in The Sand,” to crafted and orchestrated riff rock songs like, “Service Engine Soon” and experiments in melodic pop tunes such as, “Friend and Enemies.”

The songs are well crafted, with thoughtful lyrics containing genuine expression of the human condition. Known for their bass player’s goofy stage acrobatics and the singer’s predilection for a general higher strata weirdness, and the slick drumming of Dr. James Beil, this band undoubtedly puts on an exciting and sometimes chaotic live performance.  Kid Tested consists of singer and guitar player Shawn Mishak, Bassist Dominic Ricciardi, and drummer Jim Beil. Kid Tested has been playing since 2001. They have performed at Studio-A-Rama in Cleveland three times and have shared bills with acts such as: Land of Talk, Mission of Burma, Jad Fair, UME, and The Suzan. Mishak also wrote, directed, and helped produce a drama about a fictional Cleveland band called, “Long Way to Oblivion,” which premiered at the 35th Annual Cleveland International Film Festival and featured an all-Cleveland based band soundtrack. He is also currently in post-production on a documentary about two prominent Cleveland musicians.

Kid Tested is soon to release their long overdue fourth album, “How We Do” which is due out in the autumn of 2026 with tour dates in the works.

https://www.facebook.com/kidtestedband/https://www.facebook.com/kidtestedband/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 6pm, Music 7pm

Delilah Jones

Delilah Jones brings their high-energy interpretations of Grateful Dead classics to life at Abilene Bar & Lounge on Saturday July 25.

Lineup consists of: Mike Bowers - drums Scott Calpin - mandolin/guitar Jack Moore - guitar/vocals Trevor Nilson - bass guitar Travis Prinzi - vocals Rick Ruhmel - keys/vocals

https://www.facebook.com/DelilahJonesBand/

Cover: $13

Doors 6pm, Music 7pm

Igor & The Red Elvises

Igor Yuzov was born in Germany, raised in Ukraine and studied in Russia. He grew up in the former Soviet Union, where folk music was the norm and rock'n'roll was illegal. A rebellious streak, however, led him to seek out the forbidden music. As soon as it became possible, Igor left Russia for America with his “Folk'n'Roll" band Limpopo and was personally greeted by Ronald Reagan. In 1993, Limpopo won Ed McMahon's Star Search and their popularity began to blossom. In 1995, Igor dreamed that Elvis Presley came to him and told him to start playing rock'n'roll. Igor and his Russian friends became Red Elvises and gave street performances on Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade. As their crowds grew larger, the City of Santa Monica ordered them to discontinue their street performances. Evolving over the years, Igor’s music has been labeled "Siberian Surf Rock” which contains humorous lyrics and grooves that forces his audience to dance. Over the past 20 years, Red Elvises have constantly toured all over the world with occasional breaks to record new music and to participate in film and television projects.

As an independent band, Red Elvises have produced 12 studio albums, two live albums, a live concert DVD, and a Greatest Hits compilation. Some of their most notable film contributions include music and or performances in “Six String Samurai”, “Mail Order Bride”, “Armageddon”, “Skippy”,  “Melrose Place”, “Fastlane", “Penn and Teller's Sin City Extravaganza”, “VH-1 Behind the Music”, and “MTV”. Red Elvises have performed for large festivals, private parties, and played on massive stages such as 2005's Live 8 Benefit Concert. No matter where they perform, Igor & Red Elvises always bring the party with them!

https://www.facebook.com/igorandredelvises/

Tickets: $18 advance, $22 day of show and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com and at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

Public Water Supply

Public Water Supply is a force of nature rising out of hills of upstate New York, an Alt-Rock/Indie Americana collective that turns music into magik. Powered by university-trained musicians, PWS blends fearless songwriting, spellbinding vocals, and virtuosic musicianship into a sound that feels both timeless and electrifyingly new. PWS has enchanted festival crowds and sold-out rooms alike all across the country including The Waterhole, Borderland Festival, GrassRoots and the Rochester International Jazz festival.

https://publicwatersupplymusic.com/

With Iggy’s Special Guest…

Zac Lijewski

Zac Lijewski is the fiddle player in A Girl Named Genny. He also plays in several groups in Rochester NY such as The Honey Smugglers and Big Jazz Small Band. Zac has arranged string parts for over five full length albums, and is currently working on an independent piece reimagining music for the Zelda series. Zac went to school at Nazareth College before he co-founded UUU Art Collective, an art gallery in Rochester that initiates cultural conversations through artists and art spaces.

https://www.facebook.com/zac.lijewski.3/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

Yeah, it’s a “Singer-Songwriter Circle,” hosted by PWS

Public Water Supply

Public Water Supply is a force of nature rising out of hills of upstate New York, an Alt-Rock/Indie Americana collective that turns music into magik. Powered by university-trained musicians, PWS blends fearless songwriting, spellbinding vocals, and virtuosic musicianship into a sound that feels both timeless and electrifyingly new. PWS has enchanted festival crowds and sold-out rooms alike all across the country including The Waterhole, Borderland Festival, GrassRoots and the Rochester International Jazz festival.

https://publicwatersupplymusic.com/

and the band’s special guests….

Brock Saltsman

https://www.facebook.com/brock.saltsman

Rose Elliott

Rose Elliott (they/them) is a singer-songwriter from Rochester, New York, making heart-felt music about love, time, acceptance, politics, growing up, and the hard-to-name feelings that come with being human.

From the artist: “My sound is gentle, melancholy, and quietly up lifting. I aim to write lyrics that are personal to me, but easy to find yourself in. I’ve been told my voice feels old-timey, distinct, and all my own — which I truly appreciate. I love creating spaces where people can listen, feel, and connect. My music is for anyone trying to feel their way through the ache, beauty, and strangeness of being alive.”

https://www.facebook.com/rose.elliott.948

Kris Schramm

Kris Schramm is a luthier and owner of K-Robin Guitars. Kris performs his soulful and grounded-in-reality original tunes with the band, Senor Jefe, as well as playing with bands such as Stars Malign. Kris has also been a featured singer in tribute shows to Jimi Hendrix and The Last Waltz. Whether singing, playing bass or guitar, Kris brings a powerful sense of feel and melody to all he does.

https://www.krobinguitars.com/about

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

“Old Friends,” A Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel

Public Water Supply

Public Water Supply is a force of nature rising out of hills of upstate New York, an Alt-Rock/Indie Americana collective that turns music into magik. Powered by university-trained musicians, PWS blends fearless songwriting, spellbinding vocals, and virtuosic musicianship into a sound that feels both timeless and electrifyingly new. PWS has enchanted festival crowds and sold-out rooms alike all across the country including The Waterhole, Borderland Festival, GrassRoots and the Rochester International Jazz festival.

https://publicwatersupplymusic.com/

https://simonandgarfunkel.com/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

The Deep Blue String Band is a five-piece string band from Rochester, New York, brought together through friendship and a shared musical home at the Submarine School of Music. Rooted in the traditions of bluegrass, old-time fiddle tunes, Americana, and folk, the band blends timeless classics with contemporary influences to create a sound that's both familiar and fresh.

Drawing inspiration from bluegrass legends like Flatt & Scruggs, the Osborne Brothers, and Bill Monroe, while embracing the modern songwriting and genre-bending styles of Watchhouse, the Grateful Dead, and Wilco, Deep Blue String Band delivers spirited performances filled with rich harmonies, driving rhythms, and plenty of improvisation.

The band features Teresa Gianni on fiddle, Jeff Hartman on banjo, Kyle Sinden on bass and guitar, Jim Erwin on guitar, and Audra Naujokas on mandolin.

Come out for a good pickin' time with the Deep Blue String Band!

Cover: $7

Doors 6pm, Music 7:30pm

A Very Special Performance!

Featuring…CAROLYN WONDERLAND & SHELLEY KING!

A musical force equipped with the soulful vocals of Janis and the guitar slinging skills of Stevie Ray, Carolyn Wonderland reaches into the depths of the Texas blues tradition with the wit of a poet. She hits the stage with unmatched presence, a true legend in her time.

“She’d grown up the child of a singer in a band and began playing her mother’s vintage Martin guitar when other girls were dressing dolls. She’d gone from being the teenage toast of her hometown Houston to sleeping in her van in Austin amid heaps of critical acclaim for fine recordings Alcohol & Salvation, Bloodless Revolution, and most recently, Miss Understood, Peace Meal, and Moon Goes Missing.

Along with the guitar and the multitude of other instruments she learned to play – trumpet, accordion, piano, mandolin, lap steel – Wonderland’s ability to whistle remains most unusual. Whistling is a uniquely vocal art seldom invoked in modern music, yet it’s among the most spectacular talents the human voice possesses.

That vocal proficiency was well-established in the singer’s midteens, landing her gigs at Fitzgerald’s by age 15. She absorbed Houston influences like Little Screamin’ Kenny and soaked up the Mad Hatter of Texas music, Doug Sahm. The Lone Star State was as credible and fertile a proving ground for blues in the 1980s as existed, especially in Austin with Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Angela Strehli, Omar & the Howlers, and Lou Ann Barton all in their prime. By the following decade, Austin’s blues luster thinned, but Houston, always a bastion of soul and R&B, boasted the Imperial Monkeys with the effervescent Carolyn Wonderland as ruler of the jungle.

Today, Carolyn is one of the most recognized names in her genre across Austin and the state of Texas.

Shelley King is a musical ambassador of the Austin, Texas sound. For the past twenty years King has built a solid national career as a singer and songwriter who is both a successful solo artist and leader of a formidable band of Austin’s finest musicians. Her blend of original blues, rock, folk, country, soul and gospel led her to be the first woman appointed by the Texas Legislature to represent the state as it’s Official Texas State Artist – Musician; an honor similar to poet laureate. On stage she leads her band through tangents of electric Southern blues and acoustic folk, revved-up Cajun country and rock and roll with a charismatic ease that evidences the resilience of a lifelong performer. She has won Austin Music Awards for Song of the Year and Best Roots Rock Band and released seven albums of original music to rave reviews and radio chart success. Shelley tours relentlessly, performing over 180 dates a year at venues from coffee shops and house concerts to big theaters and major festivals across the world. Her songs have been recorded by numerous national and international artists and appeared in feature films.

https://carolynwonderland.com/

https://www.shelleyking.com/

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

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

INDIA RAMEY

After the success of her fiery 2024 LP, Baptized By The Blaze, Nashville outlaw siren India Ramey is back with Villain Era, set for release on May 8, 2026, via Copaco Records/Blue Élan. Baptized By The Blaze was the story of Ramey’s journey through the fire, a harrowing passage toward healing and empowerment. Villain Era is firmly rooted in her own reckoning; it doesn’t ask for permission, it kicks the door wide open.

“This album is the ‘healed’ me,” Ramey says. “I didn’t know how to have boundaries because I was such a people pleaser. When you live your life that way, you lose sight of who you really are. I’ve spent the last few years finding my authentic self, reclaiming my identity. The title track, ‘Welcome To My Villain Era,’ is me saying I’m not going to suffer fools anymore. I’m not compromising anymore. If my boundaries offend you, I’ll happily play the villain in that story.”

Armed with that conviction and a new batch of songs, Ramey left the South for the first time to record in Los Angeles with two-time Grammy-nominated producer Eric Corne. Together, they built a soundscape as cinematic as it is cathartic. Ramey, whose fans have taken to calling her “The Woman In Black” and “the Wednesday Addams of country music,” told Corne she wanted the album to sound like Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn had risen from the grave to score a Quentin Tarantino film. Corne assembled a powerhouse band to help her pull it off, including Ted Russell Kamp (Shooter Jennings) on bass, Eugene Edwards (Dwight Yoakam) and Chris Masterson (Steve Earle, The Mastersons, The Wallflowers) on guitar, Eleanor Whitmore (Steve Earle & The Dukes, The Mastersons) on fiddle, Kevin Brown on drums, Boo Bernstein (Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam) on pedal steel, and Haley Spence Brown (The Doohickeys) on backing vocals.

“He didn’t just listen to me, he heard me,” Ramey says of Corne. “The musicians were equally respectful of what my vision was, and they went above and beyond. It was the most collaborative, emboldening recording experience I've ever had.”

The result is Villain Era: ten spaghetti western–meets–honky tonk vignettes, penned solely by Ramey, laced with grit, gallows humor, and emotional precision. 

With the first notes of opener “We Ride at Dawn,” Ramey puts her boots on the ground and reclaims her territory. A callback to “King of the Ashes” from her 2020 LP Shallow Graves, the song rises from the rubble with reverb, ghostly pedal steel, and the promise of revenge from the women who survived. On “Scattered and Smothered,” Ramey trades the battlefield for a Waffle House booth at 2 a.m., where heartbreak meets hangover in a haze of regret. “Well I’m a hot mess, I must confess / Ever since he brought up takin’ next steps / And my drunk ass needs some hash browns and scrambled eggs,” she sings, As patrons fight, chairs fly, and late-night shenanigans ensue in the background, our heroine is lost in thought, hoping the grease soaks up the memories of the night she’s attempting to put in her rearview. 

The tone turns bittersweet on “Crying in My Lingerie,” a deceptively upbeat breakup song that captures the loneliness of a woman who’s realizing her marriage is over. Doing her best to fan the flames of something long since gone, she drowns her sorrows in boxed wine. Dressed in the now-meaningless symbols of desire and devotion, she realizes she’s become a divorcee in waiting. 

Throughout Villain Era, Ramey explores what it means to step fully into oneself after years of just trying to survive. “There’s a lot of freedom in knowing yourself,” she says. “It makes you feral. But in these times, joy is resistance. We should be having some fun, too.” 

Saving Country Music once wrote, “Many of the women in country music these days love to sing about lighting stuff on fire to symbolically tease their empowerment. With India Ramey, you think she’ll actually haul off and do it.” It’s an apt description for an artist who doesn’t just tell stories of strength, she lives them out loud.

With five studio albums under her belt, Ramey continues to be one of country music’s fiercest truth-tellers. Her 2017 breakout Snake Handler landed her on Rolling Stone’s “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.” Her 2020 “post-apocalyptic western” album, Shallow Graves, earned international recognition, debuting at #6 on the Euro Americana Chart. Then came 2024’s Baptized By The Blaze, a searing chronicle of her battle with a dependence on prescribed medication and PTSD stemming from childhood trauma. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she sang on the title track, “Yesterday I set myself on fire / With my own hands I built that funeral pyre / I built it so high the flames touched the sky / And now I am alive because I died.”

Now, with Villain Era, India Ramey stands unapologetically in her power, delivering songs that cut deep and laugh loudly, songs that balance the weight of lived experience with the freedom of release.

https://www.indiaramey.com/

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

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

with Special Guest, Cammy Enaharo

Public Water Supply

Public Water Supply is a force of nature rising out of hills of upstate New York, an Alt-Rock/Indie Americana collective that turns music into magik. Powered by university-trained musicians, PWS blends fearless songwriting, spellbinding vocals, and virtuosic musicianship into a sound that feels both timeless and electrifyingly new. PWS has enchanted festival crowds and sold-out rooms alike all across the country including The Waterhole, Borderland Festival, GrassRoots and the Rochester International Jazz festival.

https://publicwatersupplymusic.com/

Cammy Enaharo

Cammy Enaharo is a singer-songwriter from Rochester, NY whose songs move through self doubt and daily reflection to reveal her hopeful spirit. She records music in various styles including indie-folk and pop.

https://www.facebook.com/CammyEnaharoMusic/

Cover: $10 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Sarah Borges Band

Featuring Eric Ambel

One way or another, Sarah Borges connects with casual mastery. Whether it’s with the comrades she’s collaborated with over nearly 20 sparkling years of music-making, or the vivid portraits of people’s lives – and occasionally her own – she’s sketched in scores of emotionally resonant songs. But most of all, Borges has built a loyal following by connecting, through her own charismatic, down-to-earth spirit, with her audience – whether they’re longtime fans from back when she broke through with her terrific “Silver City” debut in 2004, or newcomers just now joining the party with her brand new 2022 album, “Together Alone”, her eighth. “Sarah’s a fearless writer and performer,” says producer Eric ‘Roscoe’ Ambel, “and she’s a very good musician.” As anyone familiar with Sarah’s songs and performances knows, genuinely soulful music that connects with us -- and connects us to each other -- can simultaneously steal, and heal, hearts. This connection is what has kept Sarah touring and making music for many years, and what keeps us coming back to see her do it.

To call Eric Ambel “The Godfather of Americana” would be doing Ambel a disservice, as his career as a singer/guitarist/songwriter/producer stretches beyond the boundaries of even that seemingly all-encompassing genre. Before Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings were piling up Grammys behind the boards, Ambel was working with bands like the Backsliders, Bottle Rockets, and Blue Mountain, producing records that would form the foundation of what people now call Americana. 

This isn’t even taking to consideration Ambel’s debut solo album, Roscoe’s Gang (1988), which Rolling Stone called “the record Keith Richards should have made,” and which, along with his bona fide rock ‘n’ roll pedigree (a member of Joan Jett’s original Blackhearts lineup, The Del-Lords, collaborations with Syd Straw and Mojo Nixon) earned Ambel a reputation as the go-to producer and guitarist for anyone seeking that raw, loose, electric sound that Ambel made seem so effortless, but proved elusive for so many. Nils Lofgren enlisted Ambel to produce his landmark solo record Crooked Line and the aforementioned Backsliders, Bottle Rockets and Blue Mountain followed, leaning on Ambel to produce the albums that remain their most memorable and enduring works. 

https://sarahborges.com/

https://www.ericambel.com/gigs/

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

Special thanks to our good friends at Bop Shop Records!

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Chloe Kimes

Chloe Kimes is a Michigan born singer, songwriter and bandleader currently based in Nashville, TN. She fronts a spirited alt-country outfit and has spent over a decade independently touring and releasing music. Kimes has become known for her powerhouse vocals, dynamic storytelling, and high energy band, traveling the country in her trusty van. She’s opened shows for the likes of Brent Cobb, Lola Kirke and Jelly Roll and put thousands of miles in the making of friends and fans alike with her music. Her early accolades include a spot on NPR Music’s Top Ten Nashville Artists on the Rise following the 2022 release of her well loved debut album. "It’s the early marks of a great Americana storyteller-in-the-making, cut from a cloth reminiscent of contemporary roots heroes like Lucinda Williams." (Johnathan Frahm, For Folk’s Sake). She’s additionally received multiple awards from her home state’s WYCE Radio Michigan Music Jammie Awards including Listener’s Choice Album of the Year (2023) and Artist of the Year (2026). Her new music points towards a courageous sophomore release due out Oct. 2026. Chloe can be found across the country throughout 2026 supporting her upcoming record, her band offering a striking live show with a timeless sound, her tireless voice leading the way while her lyrical sentiments forge their own space in the country Americana scene.

https://www.chloekimesmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/chloekimesmusic/

https://www.instagram.com/chloekimes/

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

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

Big Sandy and HIs Fly-Rite Boys

Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

Since forming in 1988 in Southern California, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys have become one of the world’s most beloved Americana/Roots acts, drawing from the deep musical waters that flow just beneath the surface of Rock & Roll’s fertile soil. A childhood passion for Country, Doo-Wop, and Rhythm & Blues 45s led Sandy (born Robert Williams) to pursue a singing career as a teenager, beginning a life in music that continues decades later. And as his personal record collection continues to grow (75,000 and counting), so does the depth of the musical influences that stream through his songwriting and singing style A critically acclaimed tribute to Tex-Mex hero Freddy Fender, released at the beginning of the 2020 lockdown, points the way forward for Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys as they continue on a path of musical growth. After nearly 35 years on the road, and more than two dozen releases to their credit, they remain key figures on the ever-changing Americana circuit, both on record and in live appearances.

https://www.bigsandy.net/

https://www.bigsandy.net/

Tickets: $25 advance, $30 day of show and on sale now online at https://abilene.showare.com and at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

A Celebration of the Music of…

Neil Young and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

Neil Young…The prolific gadfly who frequently jumps from languid folk-inspired music to noisy, full-on rock & roll, while visiting any and all points in between.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young….The definitive folk-rock supergroup, led by David Crosby's surreal lyrics, Graham Nash's poetic nuance, Stephen Stills' muscular playing, and Neil Young’s inspirational songwriting and playing.

This wonderful night of joyful music will feature the following musicians…

Mike Bowers on drums, Jack Moore on guitar and vocals, Pete Robinson on vocals, Rick Ruhmel on keyboards and vocals, and Tom Sylvester on bass guitar

https://www.facebook.com/events/2145979076144636

Cover: $15

Doors 6:30pm, Music 7:30pm

“Abilene on the Road” presents…..

Bahama Mama 50th Anniversary Show! One Night Only!

Live at Photo City Music Hall, 543 Atlantic Avenue, Rochester, NY 14609

Bahama Mama

Bahama Mama. widely recognized as one of the first white-reggae bands in America, performed up & down the East Coast between 1973 and 1979, blurring the line between Rock and Reggae, and laying the groundwork for future bands like John Brown’s Body, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Thunder Body, The Medicinals, Mosaic Foundation, and more. Bahama Mama truly are the “Godfathers” of that “Roots Rock Reggae”sound.

Bahama Mama released two killer singles, "Lonesome Cowboy / Upstate Skank,” and "Hurricane / Future Fear" and an album, "Bahama Mama Live,” now all highly collectible discs.
Do NOT miss this reunion of original members, Ron Stackman, Lou Lavilla, Jim Schwartz, Jim Kraut, and Charlie Freida….50 years in the making!

Tickets: $25 advance, $30 day of show and on sale now at https://abilene.showare.com, Abilene Bar and Lounge, and Don’s Original (4900 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14622)

Special thanks to our great friends at Don’s Original!

Doors 4pm, Music 8pm

River Shook & Band

River Shook is an artist in constant evolution. After a decade spent making their mark on country music, River Shook is closing the door on their first project (Sarah Shook & the Disarmers) and entering an exciting new era. River’s reputation for writing galvanizing, strikingly honest lyrics, and their penchant for tapping elements of Indie rock and pop have forever cemented them as a country artist who energetically pushes the boundaries of their genre into a new frontier. River has delivered fiery fusions of country music and rock n’ roll all over the USA. River Shook is hitting the road in 2026 with their unmistakable voice, a growing collection of brand new songs, smoking talent, and the promise of real, raw, unforgettable live shows. Onstage and off, River Shook isn’t just an artist – they’re a force of nature.

https://www.rivershook.com/

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

Huge thanks to Media Sponsor, The Route, WRUR FM, 88.5

Doors 4pm, Music 7pm

An Intimate Evening with Blues Great and Rochester Music Hall of Fame Member...

JOE BEARD with Gian Carlo Cervone and Mike Patric

Born and raised in Ashland, MS, guitarist Joe Beard grew up with the Murphy brothers, one of whom later found an international following as Matt "Guitar" Murphy. Guitarist Nathan Beauregard lived with Beard's cousin, so he was surrounded by aspiring and veteran blues musicians while growing up, and he began singing at an early age. Beard became interested in playing guitar via the Murphy brothers, who sat in with a young B.B. King when he played at the Roosevelt Lake Club. Beard began to learn guitar at age 17 from Ernest Scruggs, a neighbor, before heading to Chicago. Beard moved to Rochester, NY, and from time to time would visit one of his brothers in Chicago. He quickly became enamored of the blues being played in clubs there by people like Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson. Beard sat in with John Lee Hooker one night and received encouraging words from Hooker, and also later sat in with his idol, Muddy Waters.While in Rochester, he formed the Soul Brothers Six, playing bass and singing, but he didn't perform in public on guitar until 1965. Beard befriended classic blues guitarist Son House, who was a neighbor in Rochester, and played a concert for students at the University of Rochester in 1968. Beard worked as an electrician by day and would occasionally play out at night and on weekends for most of the '60s on through to the '80s. He has a reputation as one of the best local players around, and though he may not be a household name in other parts of the U.S., he toured Europe in 1983 and did studio and stage work with Buster Benton, Lafayette Leake, and Memphis Slim. At the famed BK Lounge, Beard and his backing bands opened for Bobby Bland, Albert King, and others.

https://www.facebook.com/joebeardblues

https://www.facebook.com/gian.c.cervone

https://www.facebook.com/mike.patric

Special thanks to our friends, Doug Camp and Cicero Ryland Jr..,true music fans.

Cover: $10

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

MYSTIC STEW

With roots firmly planted by acoustic instruments, the band brings irresistible energy, endearing themselves to audiences of all ages with electric enthusiasm. Formed in 2014 Mystic Stew is a 5 piece Independent Country Rockin' Americana Band.

In 2024 the band celebrated their 10th Anniversary by recording a widely anticipated second full-length studio album while continuing to tour the Wineries, Brew Pubs and Music Venues around the Finger Lakes Region.

Mystic Stew is Ross Brown, Chris Towner, Colin Hansford, Joe Distefano, and Greg Clark.

https://www.mysticstew.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MysticStew

Cover: $7 at the door

Doors 6pm, Music 7:30pm

The Claudettes

Six albums into their lauded career, the Claudettes (of Chicago) continue to put a fascinating new spin on American roots music. Blues and R&B are laced with punk spirit and film-noir moods to create the band’s singular “garage cabaret” sound. The Claudettes have earned worldwide acclaim with their recordings and concerts that are equal parts heart, musicianship and theatrical flair. Force-of-nature vocalist Rachel Williams (who dominates the stage like a glam-rock rebirth of Annie Lennox and renowned pianist/songwriter Johnny Iguana join the positively heroic rhythm section of Zach Verdoorn (bass, guitar, vocals) and Michael Caskey (drums). Outside the Claudettes, Iguana has toured with Junior Wells and Otis Rush, played on many Grammy-nominated albums and recorded with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Derek Trucks, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Johnny Winter and more. Johnny is also composer of the score for the Emmy-winning smash FX/Hulu series “The Bear.”

“Chicago’s original recipe band…The Claudettes’ sonic playing field is the blues and everything after, all tastefully and artfully blended together….Perhaps the band’s greatest super power: songwriting.”—NPR Music

“A skewed cabaret band of blues, jazz and rockabilly…a sensibility that feels equal parts James Dean and David Lynch.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Holy Mackerel…I hear so many levels of what I consider amazing creativity…I hear touches of Jerry Lee Lewis at his most manic…of cinema…of multiple genres wrapping around one another…These guys are the B-movies of the music world—maybe not understood now, but in the future, the kings and queens of the universe!”—Frank Gutch Jr., No Depression

“The Claudettes Go Out! shows the band’s mastery of every era of American music, from the roots of the blues to today’s modern pop….the Claudettes pen standards for a new generation.”—J. Poet, Rock & Roll Globe

https://theclaudettes.com/

Cover: $15 at the door

Doors 4pm, Music 7:30pm

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 fifth 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 at the bar

Doors 4pm, Music 5:30pm

Heart Throbs String Band

The Heart Throbs String Band blends folk, Eastern European swing jazz, and American roots music into something that feels both timeless and fresh. Rooted in American roots music and branching out in all directions the band pulls from Django jazz, Western NY traditionals, and their own songwriting to build something that swings hard and settles deep. Whether they're putting their spin on a classic standard or introducing an original tune, The Heart Throbs have a knack for making audiences feel like they've stumbled into their living room for an intimate house concert. Step into their world and you'll find Gabrielle Kosoy's lush vocals weaving through intricate, earthy arrangements. Hannah Garfield and Sean Peek bring ripping chops and fearless energy to every tune, while Dan Lynch and Micah Wiesner lay down driving rhythms and solos that keep your foot stomping and your heart wide open. Together, these five musicians don't just play songs — they build something in the room that's equal parts soulful and sophisticated.

https://www.facebook.com/heartthrobstringband/

Cover: $7