Live Music & More

Join us for another incredible Jazz Dinner with Lady and the Kampe!

Modern Refuge has carved out a unique space in the vibrant music scene of Connecticut and has quickly become one of the most exciting, must-see live acts around. The four-piece band cleverly combines folk warmth with psych-rock sprawl. They are known for their tightly wound indie grooves that rise into orchestral build-ups, harking back to the high-energy acts of the 70s.

Dr. Jason Winikoff is a drummer, percussionist, bandleader, and ethnomusicologist who recently relocated to Connecticut. Though born in New Jersey, music has taken him from Vancouver to Zambia and many places in between. The perpetual student, Winikoff dedicates his artistic practice to the locations and musical cultures that have shaped him. Having cut his teeth in New Orleans, he is especially drawn to the vast musical landscape of the Crescent City. As such, the Jason Winikoff Trio performs music of the often-overlooked second wave of New Orleanian jazz composers. This repertoire includes songs by Harold Battiste, Ellis Marsalis, James Black, and their contemporaries. Expect beautiful ballads, bouncy bop tunes, and driving modern compositions that challenge notions of a static New Orleanian sound. All the while recognizing the deep lineage these songs derive from, the Jason Winikoff Trio also frequently sneaks traditional jazz into sets - showcasing the diverse shapes this art form can take. Joining Winikoff are some of the region's finest jazz musicians.

The East Rock Brass Band brings the energy and music of the New Orleans street band tradition to New England. Their stage shows are high-octane, joyous, loud, non-stop parties guaranteed to keep you dancing all night. Since emerging from New Haven in 2023, they have been performing at venues all across Connecticut and Massachusetts. They are also popular in the parade circuit where they bring the infectious feeling of a second line to the streets of the Northeast. An East Rock Brass Band show features the repertoire of New Orleans brass bands (such as Rebirth, Hot 8, Treme, etc.) as well as originals that fuse hip hop, jazz, and latin feels. When they aren't performing, the members of the East Rock Brass Band can usually be found giving back to the community through music education. Firmly believing that music is an important weapon in the fight against injustice, you can also catch them supplying the soundtracks to local protests.

Matt McNulty is the guitar player and lead singer for Talkpeck Soundsystem, a dynamic tribute project that brings the music of Talking Heads, Vulfpeck, and LCD SoundSystem to life through high-energy live performances.

Trumpeter Nick Di Maria's music is a blend of modern jazz melodies mixed over the eclectic sounds of funk, fusion, world music and LoFi. His music is original, exciting and enjoyed by heavy jazz diehards and the most casual newbies. His bands and music have been described as “moody, playful and often times…danceable. In a word, ‘groovy.’”

Pangea Worldbeat is a visionary, genre-bending ensemble based out of the Nest Arts Factory in Bridgeport, CT. Pangea boldly explores the boundaries of music, blending diverse global influences into a captivating, body-enveloping groove.

The collective includes: Kris Studebaker, Seny Tatchol Camara, Will Diaz, Mike Rachinsky, Jeff Wickun, Georgios Giannios, and Nicholas Yost.​ Pangea has shared the stage with renowned ensembles such as ARMO, The Polyrhythmics, and Grammy-nominated musician Cimafunk

They play the roots of American Rock n Roll influenced by the likes of Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Little Feat, The Funky Meters, Alan Toussaint, Delbert McClinton, and Chuck Berry. The Hurricanes are a group of veteran musicians who will rock the house and are guaranteed to get things movin’ !!

Triple Bock is a talented, energetic quintet based in Stratford, Ct. The band has a wide array of fresh, energetic takes on both classic and modern tunes.

The only fruit left in the fruit salad - after all the strawberries have been picked out — is the pale, flavorless honeydew. Yet when it’s ripe, when the stars align, and the season is right, the humble honeydew explodes with a flavor surprising and pure and complex.

Albi is a NYC-based artist bringing a high-energy sound to the stage. Blending funk, pop, rock, and touches of fusion, she performs original music that’s groovy, dynamic, and fun. Backed by her band’s pro rhythm section, Albi delivers songs that tell a personal story with authenticity, groove, and a playful spirit.

Led by choice horn melodies built on boisterous grooves, and launching off of hypnotic dance rhythms, Drop Party is a genre-bending, American, 8-piece band seamlessly carved out of the coastal Connecticut post-ska scene, endowed with new age funk, apt to get the crowd moving.

Colin Dooman is a bassist and composer/producer from the New Haven area. He began his musical journey on the saxophone before switching to the electric and upright bass and moving on to study at SUNY Purchase. While there he was fortunate enough to learn from Scott Colley, Todd Coolman, and Doug Weiss. Since then he has performed locally with Fever (wedding/top forty band) and Nick DiMaria (jazz/fusion), as well as around New York and New England with the likes of Sal Valentinetti (The Voice) and Bilaal Avaz (American Idol)- all while teaching and leading the occasional small combo.

Mastering the saxophone for nearly three decades and performing professionally worldwide 16 years, Wilbur co-founded Moon Hooch, the pioneering two-saxophone-led dance band that ignited a brass/sax revolution. Rising from NYC subway busking to global stages, they've headlined festivals and played in over 20 countries, blending explosive EDM, jazz, hip-hop, soul, and house into unstoppable grooves.

Bob Dylan's vast catalog, reimagined through a female lens. She Sings Dylan performs music audiences already know in their bones, delivered in a way they've never heard before.

Lead vocalist Kate Hubbard and multi-instrumentalist Sophia Coppola (vocals, mandolin, melodica, clarinet) anchor the group, backed by a seasoned Northeast lineup: Jeff Martinson (guitar), Bill Carbone (drums), Sean Elkind (keys), and Marty Moroney (bass) — veterans of Max Creek, The Z3, 10ft Ganja Plant, Mystic Dead, and more.

Trumpeter Nick Di Maria's music is a blend of modern jazz melodies mixed over the eclectic sounds of funk, fusion, world music and LoFi. His music is original, exciting and enjoyed by heavy jazz diehards and the most casual newbies. His bands and music have been described as “moody, playful and often times…danceable. In a word, ‘groovy.’”

The Fundamental Sound is an Instrumental Soul band led by Producer and Multi Instrumentalist, Dan Klug. This project started as an exploration in music production that listeners can still follow along to on Instagram (@thefundamentalsound) and has grown into 8 releases and gigs in some of the biggest music cities in the USA. While all sounds on recordings are made by Dan, he hires some of the best local musicians wherever The Fundamental Sound is booked so listeners can always expect a top notch blend of Beats, Boogie, Funk and Soul.

Sequel is a high-energy four piece band bridging the past and present of hit music function as the conduit to dance all night long. Sequel’s sound is equal parts nostalgic, dance oriented, and infectious with its soul and melody. With its tight rhythm section, Latin influence, and a flair for the theatrical, Sequel turns every show into a night of fun, song, and dance.

Purveyors of Traditional New Orleans-Style Jazz

Frank and Jim Kovac combine over 30 years of music experience and a craving for originality to create Kovac Brothers. The sound emerges with a courageous style of Rock, with a Country-Jazz Spice! Drawing on their unique experiences the brothers instinctively realized how to work towards making music that had mass appeal but was interesting enough to hold the attention of the most discerning listener. Their first album “Seeing is Believing” revealed a wide range of influences and their new material has displayed this trend with a bit more risk taking. Moreover, their interesting versions of various covers are creative and just fun, ranging from TLC, The Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, The Meters, Beyonce, and beyond. For every listener there is always a surprise about to be heard.

Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and all around energetic and engaging performer, Fuzz has enjoyed a successful career as an international touring and recording artist for the past twenty-five years. Most notably with projects he created such as Deep Banana Blackout, Caravan of Thieves and Big Fuzz in addition to touring with the Tom Tom Club and sharing the stage with The Allman Brothers, John Scofield, Keb Mo, Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, The Meters, members of Phish, the James Brown band and many others.

Being a creative visionary, Fuzz has been able to blend a variety of styles in each of his projects resulting in a uniquely unified sound and securing his niche on the funk, jam, folk, jazz and performing arts scenes. His latest endeavor, “Fuzz On It” is a culmination of all of these efforts bringing together the essential elements of his past projects while stirring in some island seasoning for a little sunny ‘funk in the sun’. Performances can range from solo acoustic to a large electric band filled with some of the many talented musicians Fuzz has collaborated with over the years. Regardless of the configuration however, the delivery is consistently dynamic, fun, and full of energy. Life is good!