See Photos
from 2005 Milford Music Festival
2006 Musical Artists
| New Riders of the Purple Sage www.nrpsmusic.com |
The originators of the “country rock” genre, The New Riders Of The Purple Sage first emerged on the music scene in 1969 with co-founder Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia eventually moved on to play with the Grateful Dead enlisting the New Riders as their opening group. The New Riders continued to tour extensively and play festivals with artists such as Janis Joplin and The Band. With over 25 albums to their name, the New Riders continue touring today with original members Buddy Cage and David Nelson. In addition, they’ve added Michael Falzarano from Hot Tuna and Ronnie Penque and John Markowski from Stir Fried. |
| Eric Weissberg http://www.ericweissberg.com |
Grammy award winner Eric Weissberg is considered by aficionados to be one of the best five-string banjo players ever. He had a number one single and album with the song “Dueling Banjos,” from the movie “Deliverance.” He is a five-time winner of the New York N.A.R.A.S. “Most Valuable Player” award and Virtuoso award. He was one of the founding fathers of the New York bluegrass trio The Greenbriar Boys and a member of the group The Tarriers. He has played with a variety of artists including Bob Dylan, Barbara Streisand, John Denver, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Arlo Guthrie, The Talking Heads, Bruce Springsteen and many others. |
| Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams www.slambovia.com |
A cross-pollination of whimsical, largely acoustic roots-rock with touches of psychedelia, blues and beatlesque pop inspired by Bob Dylan and The Byrds. Hailing from Sleepy Hollow, New York, Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has quickly become known as one of the most intriguing new bands in the Hudson Valley. In 2000, their album was voted “Album of the Year” in the “Rhythm & News” Reader’s Poll and was the only local album included in “Mixx Magazine’s” Best Albums of 1999, alongside national level acts. They are currently receiving airplay on WFUV, WUMB, WKZE, KROK, WMNF, WRNR, WERU, WWUH, SIRIUS and XM Satellite radio. |
| Natural Selection www.mariocruzmusic.net |
A jazz/world band comprised of New York’s finest contemporary jazz musicians. Mario Cruz, saxophonist, is known for his work with Jaco Pastorius, Bruce Springsteen, Bob James, Natalie Cole, Paul Shaffer, Earl Klugh, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt and “Blood, Sweat & Tears.” Bill Heller, keyboardist, currently records and tours with the acclaimed group “The Rippington’s.” Lee Finkelstein, drummer, has played with everyone from the Wu Tang Klan, Oregon Symphony, Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder, Julio Iglesias, Tower of Power and The Funk Fhilharmonic. Jack Knight, bassist, hails from The Funk Fhilharmonic. |
| Rhett Tyler www.rhetttyler.com |
“A powerful front man, in the tradition
of Johnny Winter and Jimi Henrix. Rhett Tyler is the certain face
of future blues.” –John Swensen, Rolling Stone.
"....the most stunning, gut-wrenching blues and roots rock I've ever heard" - Richard Skelly, WRSU 88.7 FM, New Brunswick, NJ "To tell the truth you'd be hard-pressed to find a better blues guitarist than Rhett Tyler...high octane blues at its house rockin' best." - Uncle Mike, The Two River Times, Red Bank, NJ Rhett is best known for his explosive style of scorching modern
blues guitar and high-octane, house-rocking live performances. He
has performed at many prominent festivals and venues including the
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Davenport IA, Fleet BluesFest,
Albany, NY; Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival, Red Bank, NJ;
Treasure Pawling, NY and The Turning Point, Piermont, NY. Rhett
has shared billing with many distinguished Blues artists including
Johnny Winter, |
| The Booglerizers www.booglerizers.com |
Billing themselves as “acoustic blues ragtime,” The Booglerizers mix fingerstyle guitar with mandolin and arch-top slide, leaving room for some tube-driven harmonica and sweet old time clarinet. A seasoned percussionist plays brushed snare and washboard, being held down at the bottom by duel tuba players. Whether they play early country blues, ballads, ragtime, jug-band, New Orleans style or R&B, it all has a funky, barrel-house feel with a generous dose of humorous interplay. |
| Paula Atherton www.paulaatherton.com |
Paula Atherton is the bandleader, sax player, flutist and vocalist for the smooth jazz band, Interplay. Her current album debuted at #54 on the national smooth jazz charts and her music can be heard on prominent jazz radio stations. Paula has toured extensively throughout the world, as well as playing for President Clinton’s Inauguration Ball. Paula is the sax player and bandleader for the Lifetime Network show “Girls Nite Out.” She has opened for Tito Puente and has been a featured player in renowned, worldwide jazz festivals. |
| Orville Davis and the Wild Bunch www.orvilledavis.com |
Being voted Male Singer/Songwriter of the Year by the New Jersey Country Music Association four years in a row, Orville Davis and The Wild Bunch serve up authentic Country and Western Honky Tonk. Orville is the voice for RCA’s Country Legends series, “Ultimate/Waylon,” “Patriotic Country I & II,” and “Ultimate Alabama” Greatest Hits. He can be heard on current commercials such as K-Mart Route 66 Jeans, Suzuki SUV and Subway Sandwiches. He has performed with such notables as Jerry Lee Lewis, Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits and country superstars Brooks & Dunn. |
| Arianna String Quartet Classical |
The Arianna String Quartet, formed in 1992, has quickly established itself as one of America’s finest chamber ensembles. In 1994, they captured the Grand Prize in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and First Prize in both the Coleman and Carmel national competitions. The Quartet was a 1998–99 participant in Chamber Music America’s A Musical Celebration of the Millenium. Highlights of recent seasons include successful debuts at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, as well as concerts in twenty of the contiguous United States. The Arianna String Quartet has been featured in concerts at the Spoleto, Banff, Norfolk, and Strings in the Mountains festivals. They have been heard in live nationally broadcast performances in Osaka, Japan, and on Canada's CBC radio, several times as part of Chicago's prestigious Dame Myra Hess Series, and on National Public Radio’s 'Performance Today' program. |
| Mecca Bodega World Percussion www.meccabodega.com |
Explosive world class percussion from New York City featuring a cultural collage of global drumming and melodic sensibilities. The rhythmic beat masters Mecca Bodega offer a pulsating mix of djembes, dumbeks, frame drums, hammered dulcimers and an arsenal of found objects that elevates the spirit and positively gets the groove on! |
| Scott Weis Band |
Scott Weis and his band blend raw rocking blues, memphis blues and adult alternative music to create their own, signature sound. Spanning a professional background of about 25 years, Scott has worked with living legends such as Stevie Washington, George Clinton, Jr. Wells, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Buddy Guy, Jerry Garcia, U2, Dave Matthews, Bon Jovi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Richie Havens to name a few. |
| Leo B. with special geust Jared Feldman | Leo B has been playing guitar for most of his
adult life, since the mid to late ‘60’s. He plays a variety
of styles ranging from pop, blues and funk to classic and country
rock plus popular acoustic tunes spanning 30 years.
Leo has performed on the same stages and warmed up for such artists as The Guess Who, The Chambers Brothers, Aerosmith and Tina Turner. Presently, he fronts his classic rock trio, Leo & the Lizards. During the day, Leo teaches guitar lessons at Imperial Music in Newburgh, NY Jared Feldman started to teach himself guitar at the age of 2. Currently, at the ripe age of 11, Jared is believed to be one of the few people in the world with the gift of “perfect pitch.” His guitar playing is near-professional level and he’s already racking up a resume with special performances. Although Jared is right-handed, he plays guitar lefty because he watches others and performs in a mirror-like fashion. Currently studying with Leo B, he credits Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck as his favorite musicians. |