Ragged Company

RGD Co. (Ragged Company) is a Rhode Island based Acoustic Trio.  We pride ourselves on our 3 part harmonies and creative harmonica and acoustic guitar leads.  We perform acoustic blues and classic rock covers.  We also enjoy opportunities to perform our original songs, which stylistically fall somewhere in between.  Band Members: Michelle Lavin, John Wemple, and Chris Hadley

Michelle Lavin is both a pianist and a vocalist with a Bachelor’s degree in music from Rhode Island College.  She brings years of stage experience having performed regularly with other local bands and for over 15 years Michelle has taught private piano and voice lessons to countless budding musicians.  Michelle brings rich vocal tones to Ragged Company as she soars on melodies and weaves her harmonies, all the while projecting her infectious positive energy.

John Wemple, like many guitarists, picked up the instrument as a college freshman and never put it down.   John is heavily influenced by 13 years of classical trumpet training, a sonic background which infiltrates his approach to his guitar leads.  Song writing is a natural extension of John’s music interests and several of his creations have made it to the recording studio, and have since found their way onto a number of download/streaming services.

Chris Hadley fell in love with the blues when a friend brought him to see Muddy Waters play at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet at the age of 15.  His thirst for the blues continued when he picked up his first harmonica.  “I would go into my room for hours listening and repeating the harmonica solos of John Mayall and James Cotton.”   While attending the University of Massachusetts Chris worked at a club where national acts came through which gave Chris regular exposure to some of the great influences in blues and rock.  “I once sat in the green room with Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker while a friend interviewed them for the school newspaper.”  As Chris sat listening to the interview, he knew he was sitting next to the grandfathers of rock and roll.  “It was a huge moment in my life and love for music.”

Bay Spring Folk

Bay Spring Folk is a Barrington band that plays “eclectic folk” which includes traditional American folk songs and original ballads, cowboy songs, and others about social activism. Great vocal harmonies and fun instrumental work on fiddle, guitars, mandolin, bass, harmonica, recorder, dobro and egg fill out the band’s sound. Band members include Larson Gunness, Sydney Montstream-Quas, Greg Sadovnikoff, and John Wood. Their first album, Get Yours, was released in 2012. They were nominated for Best Folk Act and Best Americana Album in Motif Magazine’s 2013 Music Awards. The Providence Journal called their music “thoughtful and whimsical and fun.” Find them on Facebook at Bay Spring Folk.

 Clip Clop

Clip Clop is a Providence-based band playing all-original country music and featuring the songs of Mark Dunkelman (vocals, pedal steel guitar, and dobro). Other band members include Scott Stenhouse (vocals, guitar), Sarah Kelley (vocals, guitar), and Page Stites (vocals, bass). The band traces their style and sound back to the giants of classic country: Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, and others. Known equally for their tear-jerkers as for their cheatin’ songs, they perform regularly in the Providence area.