2023 Suwannee Spring Reunion Artist Bios
Armchair Boogie https://armchairboogiemusic.com
Starting in 2015 from a front porch in the college town of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Armchair Boogie can be defined by their fast pickin’ skills and infectious grooves. Augie Dougherty (banjo, vocals) and Ben Majeska (guitar, vocals) began playing under the name before welcoming two members to complete the band.The addition of Eli Frieders (bass) and Denzel Connor (drums) as the driving rhythm section allowed Armchair Boogie to become a bluegrass, up-tempo, jammin-funkgrass outfit.
In the spring of 2018 Armchair Boogie moved to Madison, WI where they released their first self-titled album. During this time they began touring around Wisconsin, the Midwest, and across America to share their tunes and contagiously playful personalities. Their journeys on the road have led them to stages such as Blue Ox, Northwest String Summit, John Hartford Memorial Festival, Summer Camp, and Merlefest. They’ve had the honor to share the spotlight with The Infamous Stringdusters, Yonder Mountain Stringband, Kitchen Dwellers, Pert Near Sandstone, and jammed with many more.
Belle & The Band http://belleandtheband.com/index.html
Kathryn Belle Long and Mickey Abraham have emerged as two of Florida’s most accomplished acoustic performers. As members of Suncoast Emmy award-winning Belle and The Band, Long and Abraham have played their original music at many of the premier Americana/folk festivals in the Southeast and toured the East Coast as far north as Canada. As 2018’s Will McLean Best Florida Song winner, Long is currently at the top of her game as a songwriter. Abraham’s unique approaches to arranging and teaching music have been featured in Bluegrass Unlimited and Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. Together, Long and Abraham combine experience, creativity, and class into emotionally-driven cohesive artistic statements. The award-winning duo is currently recording a full length concept album entitled “Voices: A Folk Opera.” The project combines elements of Broadway with folk music and includes original characters, locations, storyline, and reoccurring musical themes. Long and Abraham’s talents compliment each other and their work is nothing short of folk music art.
Big Richard http://www.bigrichardband.com
The world-class musicians in Big Richard initially convened in 2021 for a festival date. The quartet showed up to the one-off like it had been together for years and quickly graduated to club shows and dates. The musicians siphon from bluegrass, old time, classical, country, and pop. Bursting with jaw-dropping virtuosity; playfully irreverent stage banter; stunning four-part harmony; imaginative arrangements; a refreshingly eclectic repertoire; and a healthy dose of lady rage, Big Richard is poised to penetrate the Americana music world and beyond. To date, the quartet has issued 3 singles, the Live from Telluride album, and it has new music on the way.
Donna the Buffalo
Suwannee favorites, Donna the Buffalo draws on a lot of musical influences, from country and rock ‘n’ roll, to bluegrass and old-time fiddle, Cajun and Zydeco. In many ways, they were Americana before the term was ever coined. The common thread? Songs of the human spirit, and an incredibly tight relationship with their fans.
“The fans, they show up to be a part of it. We show up to be a part of it,” band co-founder and songwriter, Jeb Puryear says. “And we don’t have an intimidating vibe where we’re different than them. If a scene is really on, it doesn’t matter whether you’re watching, listening, dancing or playing – it’s on, everybody knows it’s on and it feels great! I think that’s the nature of the connection.”
The Erie Times says of Donna the Buffalo, “They craft spirit- soaring songs with distinct sensibilities: Nevins’ songs are unfailingly melodic, brisk and buoyant, powered by her reassuring, wisdom-soaked vocals and ever-present fiddle and accordion. Puryear’s songs accentuate the groove with his exceptional guitar work and sly, Dylan-like way with lyrics.”
Donna the Buffalo offers everything you want in a roots band — songs that matter, a groove that makes you dance, an audience that spans generations, and a musical voice that evokes a sense of community.
