The Kane Bros. Blues Band
In 1972 in Woodstock New York, four teenage white boys with fake I.D.'S started packing area clubs with their ferocious approach to the blues. And the Kane Bros. Blues Band was born. Soon enough they were opening concerts for blues royalty including Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and James Cotton, who bestowed high praise and encouragement upon the beardless lads, calling singer/harmonica player Anthony Kane "One of the best." The Kane Bros. Blues Band toured relentlessly, from Boston to NYC, where they made their way to the fabled stage at CBGB. As punk rock took its baby steps (1975-76) the Kane Bros. stripped down, full throttle blues fit snugly into the evolving punk aesthetic.
...But boys will be boys and so they broke up in 1977. This sent drummer Jonathan Kane to NYC to co-found the legendary industrial rock band Swans.
He then went on to tour internationally and play on more than 40 records, including a 3 hour non-stop blues with minimalist godfather La Monte Young's 'Forever Bad Blues Band', and with overtone guitar innovator Rhys Chatham, whose 100 electric guitar orchestra features Kane as the only drummer.
Jonathan also plays with ex-Captain Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas, The Kropotkins with Velvet Underground's Moe Tucker, Elliott Sharp, John Zorn, Jean-Francois Pauvros and Ernie Brooks.
Singer and harmonica player Anthony Kane went west to Chicago and quickly became a fixture on the windy city's fertile blues scene, working with Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Luther Tucker, Sam Lay and many others. Guitarist and singer Josh Colow enjoyed a string of #1 dance hits in Europe, and then went back to Woodstock to work with such greats as The Band, Rick Danko and David Torn.
After their end of the century carousing, the Kane Bros. Blues Band reformed in 2023. With bassist Ray Ploutz shuffling harder than a Las Vegas croupier, their sound is even harder than before. Fierce, uncompromising music by five players who have been around the block in relentless pursuit of the perfect shuffle.
Opening Act: Abbie Gardner and Cindy Cashdollar
Abbie Gardner is a fiery dobro player with an infectious smile. Whether performing solo or with Americana darlings Red Molly, her acclaimed tales of love and loss, both gritty and sweet, are propelled by her impeccable slide guitar chops. Her live show is truly unique - as an award-winning songwriter, captivating vocalist, and a world-class lap style dobro player, she has an unmistakable sound all her own. This sound of vocals and dobro unaccompanied is masterfully captured on her 2022 CD "DobroSinger." The record made it to #11 on the Billboard Blues Charts and #2 on the Folk DJ Charts. It’s a raw intimate recording full of blues, heartfelt ballads and the ache of the unknown. It’s quite a contrast to her previous CD, Wishes on a Neon Sign (2018) which featured a co-write with Chris Stapleton and leaned on full band production. Though she has traveled around the world with Red Molly, Abbie stands strong as a solo act and has opened for Lori McKenna, Hot Rize, and Martina McBride.
Cindy Cashdollar grew up in Woodstock, New York. Cashdollar is an old local family name. Her great-uncle Albert Cashdollar was the Town Supervisor and the family ran Locust Grove Dairy. The whole musical community watched as Cindy’s talent swiftly grew on the Dobro and then lap steel as she played with everyone in town during the late 1970s and ‘80s, The demand for her musical touch led her to touring and performing regionally with local Woodstock luminaries Levon Helm, Rick Danko, bluegrass singer John Herald, blues legend Paul Butterfield, and folk heroes Happy & Artie Traum. However, in 1992 her restless musical quest took her to Nashville where she met and landed a job with America’s premiere Western Swing group Asleep At The Wheel, leading her to Austin. Expanding her instrumental prowess to the steel guitar, Cindy’s taste and style added to the band’s sound as she toured and recorded with them for nine years. During her time with the band she had the chance to collaborate with legends such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton and Lyle Lovett, among others, and won five Grammys. Upon leaving AATW to once again engage in a wider variety of music, the names of those who sought her out and hired her to add fire and sweetness to their music are lifted out of the record books: Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan (on his Grammy winning Time Out of Mind album), Van Morrison, Dave Alvin, John Sebastian, Rod Stewart, Albert Lee, Sonny Landreth, Marcia Ball, Rory Block, Jorma Kaukonen, Leon Redbone, Peter Rowan …and on and on. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame, also inducted into the Texas Music Hall Of Fame, and has been a nominee for Instrumentalist Of The Year by the Americana Music Association. In 2022 the revered Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum added Cindy to their “Nashville Cats” roster, which honors side musicians for their contributions to recordings and live performances.