The musicians who we have confirmed will be performing for Mardi Gras for a Cause 2023 are listed below. All of these musicians are donating their time to help raise money for Backpack Snack Attack.
DAVE & JOHN ACOUSTIC
Dave & John Acoustic will be debuting at the 11th Annual Mardi Gras for a Cause Celebration! Blending guitars and vocal harmonies, Dave & John Acoustic are a seasoned and engaging duo focused on delivering upbeat, feel-good music by a variety of artists spanning the last few decades.
Band members:
Dave – Vocals and Guitar
John – Vocals and Guitar
COUNTY ONE
For Immediate Release! County One will be Debuting at the 2023 Mardi Gras for a Cause! Playing the event for the first time, Dara, Terry, Mike, Pete and Dennis are looking forward to their first time helping the cause! You might recognize a few of them from local bands dating back to the 80’s and 90’s! County One plays songs you love from the past 50 years. Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Pretenders, Linda Ronstatdt and plenty of others to get you up and dancing . . . and having FUN!
Band members:
Dara Ellen Breitkopf – Lead Vocals
Michael LeRose – Lead Guitar and Vocals
Terry McDonough – Keyboards and Vocals
Dennis Maddalone – Bass Guitar
Pete Wanczyk – Drums
FRANK “F BOMB” SORINO
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. He has been performing at Mardi Gras for a Cause since the 2013 inaugural year!
GUILTY AS HELL
Guilty As Hell is a five-piece Classic Rock, Country, Pop, and Alternative music cover band playing venues across the mid-Hudson Valley, from Poughkeepsie to Central Valley and all points in between. Together since 2015, the band has been heavily influenced by rock and roll’s legendary acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC, Queen, Motley Crue, Poison, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bon Jovi, Journey, and more. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses instantly recognizable & popular hit songs with audience participation and a high-energy performance that will make you want to rock and roll all night long!
Band members:
Scott – Lead Vocals
Gordon – Lead Guitar
Tommy – Rhythm Guitar
Richie – Bass
Ray – Drums
HV JAZZ FEST QUARTET
Sponsored By The HV Jazz Festival
The HV Jazz Fest Quartet, sponsored by the HV Jazz Festival for their 2023 Mardi Gras for a Cause performance, is comprised of artists that have been part of The Hudson Valley Jazz Festival (returning Aug 9-13-23) over the past 13 years. The group is available as a trio to an octet and has been heard at The Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, Jazz on Main in Mt. Kisco, “On The Lawn” series in Sugar Loaf and other tri-state venues. They are part of The Cove in Greenwood Lake, jazz brunch series. These COOL Cats will get you into the Mardi Gras spirit with some Jazz that will fill your soul!!
Band members:
J. Brunka – Bass
Rick Savage – Trumpet
Joe Vincent Tranchina – Keyboards
Steve Rubin – Drums
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! This year he will be joining J.P. Conques and The Mardi Gras All Star Band as they close out the 2023 Mardi Gras After Party.
J.P. CONQUES WITH BLACK CAT BONE & THE MARDI GRAS ALL STAR BAND
J.P. Conques, a Powerhouse Performer, will headline the closing “act” of the 11th Annual Mardi Gras for a Cause Celebration. Joining J.P. will be The Mardi Gras All Stars comprised of some of the finest and favorite area musicians. Performing at the After Party JAM will be members of Black Cat Bone, Pete Francovilla (Keyboard) and Alan Greene (Bass & Farmer Drums) J.P’s.his newest musical project. Jeremy Langdale with his earth-quakin’, bootie shakin’, baby makin’ no prisoners taken kinda’ groove and Matt Durgin, Saxist extraordinaire, from one of the area’s most popular bands THE TONEBENDERS. will join the All Stars on Stage. We expect several musicians who will be playing, earlier in the evening at venues throughout the Village of Warwick to “jump in” for the After Party Mardi Gras Jam!! Laissez les BON Temps Rouler … Let the GOOD Times Roll!.
Band members:
J.P. Conques – Lead Singer and Guitar
Pete Francovilla – Keyboard
Alan Greene – Bass Guitar and Farmer Drums
Jeremy Langdale – Guitar and Vocals
Matt Durgin – Sax and Vocals
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 Sganga – Guitar and Vocals
John Arbo – Bass
Karl Lathan – Percussion
NAILED SHUTT
Jams, Grooves, Assorted Rhythms and some good old Grateful Dead and classic rock with Electric and Acoustic sets of Americana music!
Band members:
Ken Flood – Guitar and Vocals
Steve Jacobus – Fiddle, Mandolin, Flute and Vocals
Tom Gagliardi – Percussion and Vocals
Joe Gryzcho – Bass
OSSI & TRENT
Ron Ossi (Vocals, Guitar) and Joe Trentacosta (Keyboards, Vocals), are a local duo who have been performing with each other since they were kids, and have graced stages from Harrah’s AC, Martell’s Tiki Bar, and Jenksinson’s Pavilion in Point Pleasant, to literally almost every local bar in a 10 mile radius of their hometown of Wanaque, NJ. Their “Everly-esque” harmonies and extensive setlist borrowing from the old as well as Top 40 hits, keep their strong local following happy at every show.
For Mardi Gras the band will include:
Ron Ossi – Vocals and Guitar
Joe Trentacosta – Vocals and Keyboards
PAULY DI DIO
Pauly Di Dio is a New York City based guitarist/vocalist known for his passionate vocal delivery and unique guitar picking style. Known as “The Bluesman”, Pauly is sought after by all the “Hot” area music venues. He is an extremely popular performer, and one of the best soloists around! We look forward to his Mardi Gras for a Cause debut.
THE TONEBENDERS
The TONEBENDERS band consists of seasoned musicians and vocalists with decades of professional experience and have played in some of the most popular spots in the Hudson Valley.
The group covers a wide variety of musical genres including R+B, dance, rock, pop, and classics from any decade to current hits and country favorites. Playing music to listen to or dance the night away to… Tom Petty, Toto, Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Dua Lipa, Steely Dan, and many more…The group makes it a party by taking requests and having a fun night with everyone in the room.
For Mardi Gras the band will include:
Erol Ogut – Guitar and Vocals
Gregg Pillar – Drums and Vocals
John Diviglio – Bass and Vocals
Matt Durgin – Sax and Vocals
UNCLE SHOEHORN
A 9-piece band from Warwick, Uncle Shoehorn’s Funky Dance Party takes audiences on a unique journey through America’s musical heritage including selections and styles from all notable US regions. With a heavy emphasis on New Orleans funk selections from the Funky Meters, Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Galactic and Allen Toussaint to blues music including Delta-style blues from Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters and Chicago blues from the likes of Butterfield Blues Band, Son Seals, Magic Sam, Little Milton and many more. Uncle Shoehorn explores selections from across the wide spectrum of American musical styles including Blues, Funk, Soul, R&B, Rock & Roll, Folk, Classic Country, and even a taste of Bluegrass.
Band members:
Tony Vee – Lead Singer and Guitar
Todd Lapenna – Guitar and Vocals
Max Aronov – Bass Guitar
Warren Congdon – Drums and Vocals
Rick Savage – Trumpet
Barton Schindler – Tenor Sax
Rave Tesar – Keys
Billy Losier – Trumpet
Barton Schindler – Tenor Sax
Dean Aulogia – Trombone
Wayne Tice – Baritone Sax
Mardi Gras for a Cause 