The Blind Owl Band with Folkfaces at Essex Rochester

Name: The Blind Owl Band with Folkfaces at Essex Rochester
Start: 2025-03-08T20:00:00-05:00
Location: 1048 University Ave, Rochester, NY, United States, New York

Schedule

Sat Mar 08 2025 at 08:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

1048 University Ave, Rochester, NY, United States, New York | Rochester, NY

Essex is proud to present The Blind Owl Band with Folkfaces!
Tickets go on sale Thursday, October 17th at 10:00am.
The Blind Owl Band:
Hailing from Saranac Lake, NY, in the heart of the Adirondack mountains, The BlindOwl Band has been creating what they call Freight Train String Music since 2010. And a freight train it truly is.
Although the quartet's sound is rooted in traditional stringed instruments (guitar, basses, banjo and mandolin), their music surges forward with the strength and power of a hundred-ton diesel locomotive.
Songs barrel down the tracks with momentum and intensity normally found in much heavier, heavily amplified music. “Although we look like a bluegrass band we are not," explains co-founder Eric Munley (mandolin, vocals).
"Collectively, we're a musical representation of the sounds floating around in our heads. We use the instruments of our ancestors, but play music of our time; we're influenced much more by all that has happened in the musical world over the past three decades than by what was created in the first three-quarters of the 20th Century."
The BlindOwl Band builds on what they regard as a basic approach to traditional songwriting and arranging and push the envelope, stretching the limits of raw, acoustic instrumentation. Munley explains part of the band's mindset:
"In a time of perfection and an increasing reliance on digital processors, we're trying to expand the sound, to inspire use of wood and metal."
In just over ten years the band has released four albums (Rabble Rousing, This Train We Ride is Made of Wood and Steel, Skeezy Patty and Stimulus Package) and toured extensively throughout the eastern US, logging over 800 shows across 17 states since January 2012.
They've played on almost every festival east of the Mississippi and shared the stage with countless artists across all genres of the musical spectrum. This freight train has no one conductor but four shovel boys pushing the limits of their engine night after night, so climb aboard and get ready for a one-of-a-kind ride.
Folkfaces:
Folkfaces is arguably the most ubiquitous roots-Americana band in upstate New York.
If you love hearing music live, you've probably caught the Buffalo-based quartet's infectious blend of bluegrass, folk, blues,
and hot jazz.
Led by tireless frontman Tyler Westcott, Folkfaces are sure to paste a smile on your face with lightning-fast musical chops wrapped up in punk rock energy.
The band recently released "PLUMS" - its first album with newest member Brendan Gosson on fiddle and mandolin - which includes a full-band version of Westcott's brilliant and charming “When Lockdown Lifts."
- Daniel Kushner CITY Paper
Folkfaces is New York state based roots music quartet. Folkfaces play a mix of original and traditional music. The group takes its influence from weird old american music. An energetic variety show and traveling music review. Exploring a wide range of genres including country blues, traditional jazz, rock and roll, honky tonk, western swing, bluegrass and oldtime, jugband music and more.
The music is driven by songwriter and frontman, Tyler Westcott (Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, Kazoo) who founded the band in 2011. The rest of the band has taken many forms over the years, but the current lineup includes multi-instrumentalist and fiddler Brendan Gosson, upright bass player, Patrick Jackson, and percussionist Dan Schwach on drumkit and washboard. Each of the band’s members come from different musical backgrounds, but find common ground in the rare and captivating
sound of Folkfaces.
Folkfaces keeps a busy playing schedule, performing at music festivals, colleges, and touring extensively. Folkfaces has shared the stage with many notable acts, including The Felice Brothers, Dustbowl Revival, Tab Benoit, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Peter Rowan, and Dom Flemons.
Folkfaces have been a part of Festivals including acts like Cage the Elephant, Mavis Staples, John Oates, Shaky Graves, Dr. Dog, Oteil Burbridge, Margo Price, The Wood Brothers, Gov't Mule, Andy Frasco and the UN, Honey Island Swamp Band, the Infamous Stringdusters, Sam Bush, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, The Barr Brothers, Fruition, Big Data, Bleachers, Semi Precious Weapons, The Crystal Method, Kongoes, Brick + Mortar and more..
The band released their debut album, How Long?, in April 2017 and their follow-up album Fat Ol' Rat in 2019. The group released their 3rd album "PLUMS" June 30th 2023.
Folkfaces hosts an annual camping music festival every Fall called Folkfaces Fest that is approaching its 8th year!