Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band deliver a high-energy fusion of West African rhythms, funk, and reggae rooted in the musical traditions of Togo. Led by vocalist and percussionist Dogo du Togo, the group blends driving polyrhythms, call-and-response vocals, and infectious grooves into a vibrant, dance-forward sound.

Drawing from styles like highlife and Afrobeat while adding their own modern edge, the band creates performances that feel both deeply traditional and electrifyingly contemporary—turning every stage into a celebration of rhythm, movement, and cultural connection.

The Bennington College Balkan Ensemble is a dynamic student performance group rooted in the ethnomusicology program at Bennington College, exploring the rich musical traditions of Southeast Europe. Directed by Joseph Alpar, the ensemble dives into everything from Macedonian wedding songs and Bulgarian dance tunes to Bosnian ballads and Turkish rhythms, embracing the region’s signature odd meters, layered harmonies, and powerful vocal styles.

Blending voices, strings, winds, and percussion, the group emphasizes learning by ear and collective performance, creating a sound that’s both intricate and celebratory. Whether in rehearsal or on stage, the ensemble channels the communal, dance-driven spirit of Balkan music—turning complex traditions into something immediate, joyful, and alive.

Following the concert, stick around for a drag afterparty in the barn, where high-energy live music meets bold performance art. The Tart Pops band will rock out your favorite hits alongside drag performances from Forrest Fleur and friends. Equal parts concert and cabaret, the event is designed as an anything-goes celebration—where live music and drag artistry meet in a shared space of glitter, movement, and community.

Los Cumpleaños are a Brooklyn-based cumbia outfit that fuse traditional tropical rhythms with a wild, experimental edge. Built around percussion, horns, and synth textures, the band creates a loose, high-energy sound that’s as danceable as it is unpredictable. Known for their theatrical live shows—complete with surreal “birthday party” rituals, costumes, and carnival imagery—the group leans into a playful, almost psychedelic take on cumbia, turning each performance into something closer to a communal celebration than a standard concert. 

The Gaslight Tinkers are a genre-bending roots band from Brattleboro, Vermont, blending traditional New England fiddle tunes with a vibrant mix of African, Caribbean, funk, reggae, and Latin rhythms. Formed in 2012, the group has built a reputation for high-energy, dance-driven performances that feel both deeply rooted and globally inspired. With rich melodies, driving grooves, and an infectious, communal spirit, their sound turns old-time music into something joyfully modern—equally at home at folk festivals, dance halls, and world music stages.

Swamp Dogg is the long-running alter ego of Jerry Williams Jr., a cult icon of American soul music whose work spans soul, R&B, country, funk, and avant-garde experimentation. Since the late 1960s, he’s built a reputation as one of music’s great outsiders—blending sharp social commentary, surreal humor, and emotional honesty into a body of work that defies easy categorization.

On stage, Swamp Dogg is backed by a tight, deeply musical band that shifts fluidly between classic soul revue energy and loose, psychedelic unpredictability. The group—often featuring seasoned players drawn from funk, R&B, and roots music circles—provides a rich, groove-heavy foundation: warm basslines, pocket drumming, vintage-style keys, and expressive guitar work that can stretch from silky ballads to jagged, off-kilter jams.

Live performances feel part revival show, part living-room sermon, and part late-night jam session. Swamp Dogg himself often acts as both frontman and provocateur—singing, storytelling, and riffing with the audience in a way that breaks down the usual distance between stage and crowd. Sets can move from tender, heartbreaking soul songs into absurdist monologues or unexpected genre detours without warning, but the band keeps everything grounded in groove.

The result is an experience that feels unpredictable but cohesive—anchored by deep musicianship, a refusal to follow rules, and the unmistakable presence of a singular artist who has spent a lifetime turning American music inside out.

Spirit Family Reunion is a Brooklyn-based Americana band known for their raw, revival-style blend of folk, bluegrass, and gospel. Formed around 2010, the group built a grassroots following through busking in subways and playing small community spaces before becoming a festival favorite. Their sound—often described as “open-door gospel”—leans on acoustic instruments, group vocals, and a loose, high-energy feel that blurs the line between past and present, channeling the spirit of traditional American music with a modern, communal edge. 

The High and Mighty Brass Band is a Brooklyn-based powerhouse ensemble known for their explosive, party-starting concoction of New Orleans–style brass, funk, hip-hop, and R&B. Formed in 2009, the group has built a global reputation for high-energy performances that fuse tight musicianship with a loose, parade-like spirit—equally at home on festival stages, dance floors, and street-level blowouts.

With a rotating lineup of world-class players (including Grammy-winning members), their sound mixes bold original tunes with brassy, genre-bending takes on modern hits and classics. The result is a loud, joyful, and deeply danceable experience that feels less like a concert and more like a full-on celebration. 

Mojo Birds are a Durango, Colorado–based collective that blend Americana, soul, and funk into a loose, groove-driven sound built for live energy. Rooted in rich vocal harmonies and a full-band feel—often featuring horns, keys, and layered rhythms—the group pulls from influences like The Band and classic R&B while adding unexpected global touches, including Afro-Peruvian rhythms. Their music leans joyful and communal, with sing-along choruses and a raw, in-the-room vibe that carries straight from their live shows onto their recordings, including their 2025 self-titled debut album. 

John Brown’s Body is a pioneering American reggae band formed in the mid-1990s in Ithaca, New York, known for helping shape the modern U.S. reggae scene. Blending roots reggae and dub with elements of indie, electronic, and soul, the group developed a “future roots” sound that feels both deeply traditional, forward-thinking, and spiritual..

With a full-band approach—featuring rich vocals, a tight rhythm section, and a signature horn lineup—their music balances heavy grooves with melodic, atmospheric textures. Renowned for both chart-topping releases and powerful live shows, John Brown’s Body continues to stand as one of the most influential and enduring acts in contemporary American reggae.

Gogo Norales is a Bronx-based Garifuna musician and cultural ambassador whose work bridges traditional Afro-Indigenous sounds with modern global influences. Leading his project often billed as “Gogo Norales and Friends,” he blends folkloric Garifuna rhythms—especially paranda—with contemporary elements, creating a sound that feels both rooted and forward-looking.

Gogo’s band emphasizes percussion, call-and-response vocals, and vibrant rhythmic interplay, his music carries both a celebratory and activist spirit. Whether performing at festivals or community-driven events, Gogo Norales uses his band as a platform to uplift Garifuna identity and connect generations through music that’s as danceable as it is culturally resonant. 

The Big Takeover is a Hudson Valley–based reggae and soul band known for their rich, horn-driven sound and infectious live energy. Fronted by Jamaican-born vocalist NeeNee Rushie, the band blends classic Jamaican styles like reggae, ska, and rocksteady with the warmth of Motown and modern pop sensibilities.

With tight arrangements, big hooks, and a deep reverence for old-school influences, their music feels both timeless and fresh—equally rooted in vintage grooves and global fusion. Whether on record or on stage, The Big Takeover delivers a vibrant, danceable sound that turns every performance into a full-band celebration.

Alma Picante is a Vermont-based salsa band bringing high-energy Latin dance music to New England stages. Rooted in classic salsa dura and salsa romántica traditions, the group features a full rhythm section, punchy horns, and vibrant percussion that lock into infectious, dance-first grooves.

Led by a mix of seasoned local musicians and Latin music specialists, Alma Picante channels the spirit of New York–style salsa while adding their own regional flavor—tight arrangements, improvisational fire, and a strong focus on live dance floor energy. Their performances are built for movement and celebration, turning any venue into a lively, percussive party.

The Wazumbians are a global groove band known for blending Afrobeat, funk, reggae, and world music into a powerful, dance-driven sound. Led by Ghanaian vocalist and percussionist Wazumbi, the group channels West African rhythmic traditions while weaving in modern, psychedelic textures and deep-pocket grooves.

Their live shows are celebratory and immersive, built around layered percussion, tight horn lines, and call-and-response vocals that invite audience participation. The result is a vibrant, cross-cultural party atmosphere—where ancient rhythms meet contemporary jam-band energy, and every performance feels like a communal celebration of rhythm and movement.

Shokazoba Funkestra is a Western Mass-based afrobeat collective. Built around tight rhythm section grooves, blazing horns, and layered percussion, the group delivers a sound that’s both complex and undeniably danceable.

Fronted by veteran musicians with deep roots in funk and world music traditions, Shokazoba Funkestra thrives in live settings where extended jams, spontaneous solos, and crowd-driven energy take center stage. Their performances feel like a nonstop groove experiment—equal parts precision and chaos—turning every show into a full-body celebration of rhythm.

Big Nazo is a wildly theatrical performance group known for fusing live music with surreal creature design, puppetry, and street-theater spectacle. Originating from the Big Nazo Lab in Providence, Rhode Island, the ensemble performs in elaborate handmade monster costumes, turning every show into a hybrid of concert, carnival, and avant-garde art installation.

Their music—often funky, rhythmic, and percussion-heavy—serves as the engine for chaotic, playful performances that blur the line between band and living cartoon. Equal parts absurd, immersive, and infectious, Big Nazo’s Creature Band creates a one-of-a-kind experience where music and visual performance collide in loud, weird, and unforgettable ways.

The Ulsterados, our favorite Hudson Valley honkytonkers will be joining and supporting Big Nazo; tearring up all those country classics, while the wild rumpus unfolds. This show was the absolute highlight of 2025 and we can’t wait to see what gonzo adventures await us this time around.

Billy Wylder is an art-rock troupe led by songwriter and guitarist Avi Salloway, who folds indie rock, folk, and global influences into a cinematic, rhythm-forward sound. Shaped by Salloway’s background in activism and cross-cultural collaboration, the band moves between intimate, acoustic-leaning passages and expansive, high-energy arrangements.

Billy Wylder’s music draws on desert blues, American roots, and experimental rock textures, creating a sound that is grounded, far-reaching, and fun. Don’t miss Billy Wylder’s 10th annual Moonshine performance at Earth Sky Time!

Bow Thayer is a Vermont-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and instrument builder known for his adventurous blend of Americana, folk, blues, rock, and experimental roots music. Originally emerging from the Boston scene, he played in several bands before relocating to Vermont, where he became a central figure in the state’s independent music community.

Bow’s music is rooted in traditional American forms but constantly pushes outward—mixing banjo, guitar, slide blues, and his own hybrid instrument, the Bojotar, into a distinctive, forward-leaning sound. Across decades of work, Thayer has built a reputation for constant reinvention, rich storytelling, and a deep connection to the Vermont landscape that continues to shape his songs. For this year’s Moonshine set, Bow will be joined by his bandmates, family, and friends, affectionately known as The Bowmen.

Jackson and the Janks is a Brooklyn and New Orleans based rock ’n’ roll and R&B band led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jackson Lynch. Their sound draws from vintage soul, blending tight grooves, punchy horns, and catchy melodies with a retro spirit.

Known as a powerhouse dance band, the Janks channel the spirit of old time rhythm and blues with a modern edge—delivering danceable songs that feel both nostalgic and immediate.

Saints & Liars is our hometown band known for their gritty, road-tested blend of honky-tonk, folk, bluegrass, and rock ’n’ roll. They’ve built their reputation as a hardworking band of brothers, developing a rootsy, high-energy sound. Their music mixes driving rhythms and traditional Americana storytelling, often moving fluidly between twangy country swing, bluegrass-inspired picking, and full-on rock n’ roll. Additionally, Jed, the unassuming bandleader is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet!

Kotoko Brass is a Boston-area global musical hybrid, layering West African drumming traditions, Caribbean grooves, and New Orleans–style brass band energy. Centered on the rhythmic power of Ghanaian percussion, the band weaves complex polyrhythms with deep bass, funky keyboards, and bright horn lines to create an unmistakably dance-heavy sound.

Featuring musicians from Ghana, the United States, Japan, and beyond, Kotoko Brass brings together diverse musical lineages into a unified, high-energy performance style built for movement and celebration. Their live shows are immersive, rhythmic, and joyfully physical—often described as “propulsive, infectious party music” that turns any room into a dance floor. 

TM Street Band is a funky world music party band, which brings out bandleader Tal Mashiach’s inner child playfulness, fusing genres with no borders. TM Street Band has toured Europe and plays frequently in New York clubs. The band members are all jazz virtuosos but they lean into the zany side with costumes, chanting, harmonicas, and a willingness to push the party into uncharted territory.