The Down Hill Strugglers (formerly known as the Dust Busters) is an old time string band based out of Brooklyn, NY, playing songs, ballads, fiddle tunes and banjo breakdowns.  They have released an album on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and are featured on the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers film, “Inside Llewyn Davis” produced by T-Bone Burnett.  The Down Hill Strugglers band formed while hanging out at the home of their mutual friend Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders, where they also met friend and mentor John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers.

By carrying the music of the old rural America forward with verve and creativity, The Down Hill Strugglers are extending the legacy of the New Lost City Ramblers by bringing archaic sounds into the present.

“They have built their repertoire from some of the best music of the past and they keep it alive and lively.  They have found resonance with the intensity of rural music, while delighting in the nuances that preserve the individual uniqueness of the genre.  This is music that will keep your mind dancing. 

The Down Hill Strugglers are reaching for new musical highs, and they play the kind of music I want to hear.”

– John Cohen, New Lost City Ramblers

BREAKING NEWS: Jay Farrar, American songwriter and musician, will be our Saturday headliner!!!

Farrar is an alternative country artist based in St. Louis, Missouri. Before going solo in 2001, he was a member of critically acclaimed music groups Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt, and helped popularize the alt country movement in the 1990s. “Trace” was Son Volt’s acclaimed debut album, with all but one song written by Farrar.

While solo, Farrar collaborated with various artists including Varnaline’s Anders Parker and Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard. Farrar has established talents in songwriting, singing, guitar, the harmonica and the piano.

Farrar is celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Trace” with tour dates featuring original pedal steel player, Eric Heywood, along with multi-instrumentalist, Gary Hunt.
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We are very excited to be welcoming him to our stage this summer!

They also play country, ragtime, hot jazz, hillbilly… it’s all the same to them. It’s all taken from the same deep, muddy well called American Music.  And they’re bringing it all to the 2016 Sugar Maple Fest stage.

We are proud to announce our first band signing of the year — The Tillers! Their sound encompasses a wide range of musical styles- traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz, punk rock and anything else they might run into. With a distinctive bite that sets them apart from most other folk acts-they feature a hard-driving percussive strum and stomp that brings new pulse and vinegar to some very old songs. With a musical range stretching from hard-tackle thumping to tender graceful melody, all topped by clear tenor harmonies, The Tillers approaches each show with an incredible amount of energy, talent and humor. They are magnetic showmen, mature musicians, and colorful storytellers. We are sure you won’t want to miss the Tillers!

If you’re a fan of traditional Bluegrass, you’re a fan of Joe Mullins (or about to be). You may have seen him as a founding member of Traditional Grass or heard on of his recordings with Longview. Joe and the Radio Ramblers are the real deal and kick out some powerful Bluegrass!

Joe and the boys play two sets Saturday. You can catch Joe’s and Bruce Molsky’s workshop for Bluegrass and Old-time banjo. You’ll also hear Evan McGregor as part of our Fiddlers in the Round workshop.