The musicians who will be performing for Mardi Gras for a Cause 2020 are listed below. All of these musicians are donating their time to help raise money for Backpack Snack Attack.

THE BLUE SKY BAND

Blue Sky is a hard rocking blues and classic rock cover band playing all over the Hudson Valley NY and Northern NJ. Blue Sky has been playing your favorites by The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Eagles, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more since 2008!

Band members:
J.P. Conques – Vocals and Guitar
Paul Guglielmo – Guitar
Donna Cardillo – Keyboards
Bob Antes – Bass
Geoff Seville – Drums

CATBIRD

Catbird covers a wide array of classic rock artists, from Crosby Stills and Nash to Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead, from Beatles to Pink Floyd. Catbird has been performing around the Hudson Valley since last year, including the Bethel Woods Harvest Festival, Robibero Family Vineyards, the Bashakill Winery and Aroma Thyme Bistro. 

Band members:
Keith Newman – 12-String Guitar
Lynn Reno – Electric Violin and Fiddle

DJ FAMOSO

DJ Famoso a favorite Warwick Village LATIN FUSION SPECIALISTS will have you dancing all night with an energetic celebration of Latin music fused/mixed with other genres including Jazz, Funk, Soul & Rock. Coquito’s Carnival with DJ Famoso and Famoso Entertainment will be Very Hot and Very Cool!

DANNY WRAY

Lead guitar/vocals  PLAYIN’ WITH FIRE BAND. Lead guitar/vocals Wrayband. Session guitarist Record Plant East and various Recording Studios.

FRANK “F BOMB” SORINO AND THE BOMB SQUAD

Frank Sorino … Is a musician who specializes in classic and progressive rock covers. Known for his ability to take on almost any song request, each show is unique and entertaining.

Band members:
Frank Sorino – Guitar and Vocals
Mike “A’Bomin’able” Adamo – Bass
Big Don Doughty – Percussion

JEFF BENOIT

Jeff Benoit is one of the hosts for the Mardi Gras for a Cause Young Performers Open Mic.  He is a Rhode Island native who migrated to Warwick, NY in 2013.  He graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Rhode Island.  He is the owner of Pura Vida Art Training, 314 State Route 94, Warwick NY.  Jeff is also the Art Teacher for Grades K – 8 at St. Stephen’s / St. Edwards in Warwick, NY.  The focus of his program is to help students build strong artist and musical fundamentals with an over arching theme of community service.

JEREMY LANGDALE

Jeremy Langdale has been playing throughout the Hudson Valley with a fine tuned, tried and true selection of classic blues, funk and R&B. Come on down and get a taste of his earth-quakin’, bootie shakin’, baby makin’ no prisoners taken kinda’ groove!

JIM ELWELL

Jim is one of the hosts for the Mardi Gras for a Cause Young Performers Open Mic.  He has been hosting the Caffe a la Mode Open Mic weekly for the past twelve years.

“I consider my people to be family”
~Jim Elwell

THE Mardi Gras JAZZ ENSEMBLE & GUESTS

The Mardi Gras Jazz Ensemble will weave the sounds of New Orleans into a rich musical fabric that uplifts and warms the soul and spirit for this special Fat Tuesday occasion.

Band members:
Joseph Vincent Tranchina – Piano
Steve Rubin – Drums
Rick Savage – Trumpet and Flugelhorn
J. Brunka – Bass
Gabriele Tranchina – Vocals
Special guests

 

MARK SGANGA AND FRIENDS

GUITARIST     VOCALIST     COMPOSER

Mark Sganga is a virtuoso guitarist whose performance has enthralled audiences from Stockholm to Kuala Lumpur to the Thredbo Jazz Festival in Australia.  Mark’s fingerstyle guitar weaves a rich tapestry of beautiful melody, dynamic rhythm, & imaginative improvisation.

Fusing influences from South America & around the world, Mark creates an entrancing travelogue, as an instrumentalist, bandleader, singer-songwriter & educator.  He has been featured on tours & recordings with Indian violin virtuoso Dr. L. Subramaniam, alongside Larry Coryell & Herbie Hancock. He has played opposite the legendary Taj Mahal & Les Paul among other greats. Most recently, Mark and his Trio headlined the Clayton Jazz Festival opposite Bernie Williams. He is a repeat featured performer & judge at The Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Competition as well as a main-stage performer at the venerable Walnut Valley Festival in Wichita, KS where Mark won first place in the 2009 International Fingerstyle Guitar Competition.

Band members:
Mark Scanga – Guitar and Vocals
Freddy Pastore – Bass
Candyce Giaquinto – Percussion, Vox, Harmonica and Flute

MIKE O’BRIEN & FRIENDS

This is Special! All the band members of the Dark Horses, a powerhouse line-up of Orange County musicians, will join founding member Mike O’Brien for a Rockin’ ‘Mardi Gras After Party!! Featuring some of George Harrison’s iconic songs, Motown Classics and good old Rock & Roll!! Mike and Friends (The Dark Horses) will invite Mardi Gras “Jammers” to join them in closing out the Fat Tuesday Celebration!! 

Band members:
Paul Binotto – Bass Guitar and Vocals
Mike Hickey – Drums and Vocals
Melissa Pinglora Mahony – Chanteuse and Vocals
Gloria Esch – Vocals
Michael O’Brien – Guitar and Vocals
Gee Mancini – Strings
Glenn John Aronowitz – Keyboard
Barton Schindler – Tenor Sax
Mike Pacer – Alto and Barritone Sax

OC5

Orange County, New York’s premier cover band! We play an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary rock, pop, and indie!

Band members:
Jim Huzella – Keys and Vocals
Ken Scarpa – Guitar and Vocals
Dana Drevitson – Drums and Vocals
Joe Crescimanno – Bass
Guy Callari – Guitar and Vocals

PAT CORCORAN

Pat started playing drums when he was 9 years old and has been playing for 45 years. He played with several bands between 1972 and 1976, playing rock, country/southern rock, and jazz, with a preference for Zepplin, Hendrix and many others from the 60’s. After college, Pat played in a few country-based bands and then took 25 years off to focus on his family. Over the past six years, he created bands with people from his company to play at work gigs. Pat has been playing drums in local Warwick bands, Full Circle with Bobby Messano, The Steve DiVenuta Band, and now Some Guys and a Broad.

PAUL BINOTTO

Paul’s work has spanned the globe including six Broadway shows, off-Broadway, international performances, recordings, commercials and a command performance at the White House.

STEREO MIKE’S & FRIENDS

Stereo Mikes is an acoustic duo performing in and around the Orange County and New York’s Hudson Valley. Members Michael Gailie from the rock band Tangent and Michael Holmes, accomplished original recording artist and former founding member of Groovy Tuesday have great renditions of folk, funk, soul, rock & alternative eclectic mixes.

Band members:
Michael Gaile – Guitar and Vocals
Michael Holmes – Guitar and Vocals
Pete Verutus – Bass
Billy Lindsay – Percussion

STORM KING DUO

Judith Tulloch-guitar & vocals. Stephen Franchino-silver flute, alto flute, bansuri, and other bamboo flutes from around the world including Native American flutes perform.a perfect mix of Bossa Nova, Jazz, Pop, American songbook & World Music. Judith and Stephen warmed up the stage as an opening act for Michael McDonald, Maria Muldaur, Pete Seeger, Paul Winter, Janet Hamill & Moving Star, Patti Smith, Levon Helm, Lucy Kaplansky, Bo Diddley, Tom Chapin, and many others. They perform at all types of venues ranging from large concert halls, to clubs, cafes, restaurants, art galleries, cultural events, wedding ceremonies, corporate events, and special benefits for those in need. Music that has been described as world-pop-fusion with a jazzy edge.

Band members:
Judith Tulloch – Guitar and Vocals
Stephen Franchino – Silver Flute