The THIRD annual Down County Jump Music Festival is promenading into Sheffield on June 13 and 14 of this very year!
We’re blithe as larks to incant the legendary names Tony Trishka, Bruce Molsky, & Michael Daves, who will be headlining Saturday night! And, yondermore, we’re jumping over lily pads to announce four full sets on Friday night, culminating in a dance party with the international Cajun maestro Jesse Lége!
Won’t you roll out the carpets as well for Slowey and the Boats, Mamie Minch, Tamar Korn, The Lucky 5, Flophouse Follies, Eva Salina’s Driftwood Chorus, and many more to be announced everso soon!
That’s right, gentlefolk — the nation of jingle has declared its capital in the town of jangle, and once again, vernacular music will rise to save the soul of the planet at Race Brook Lodge, winged by our trusty partner Brooklyn’s beloved Jalopy Theatre and School of Music.
This year we’re offering a limited batch of Early Bird Weekend Passes for $65—your best chance to lock in a full weekend of music at the best price. Once they vanish, Regular Weekend Passes will be available for $75, with any remaining tickets at the gate for $80. Friday Night Only tickets will be released later this spring for $55.
So gather your kin, leave the dynamite to the unrefined - and enter the era of charity and kindliness with your dancing shoes tied tight. A weekend of revelry wont do any harm, we promise —The Down County Jump awaits!
Rooms at Race Brook Lodge are available for a discounted rate only for JUMP ticket holders..
Friday & Saturday, June 13th & 14th
In the Barnspace at Race Brook Lodge
864 South Undermountain road ( AKA Rt 41 ) Sheffield, MA
down county jump schedule & artists
friday, june 13, 7-11pm
7pm Driftwood Chorus
The 30-person Driftwood Chorus is a newly formed Hudson Valley-based polyphonic ensemble led by renowned Balkan Romani vocalist Eva Salina. With a repertoire spanning Balkan, Corsican, Georgian, Ukrainian, and American folk harmonies, Driftwood Chorus conjures the haunting beauty of deep-rooted oral traditions, where voices interlace like the tidal waters of the Hudson River.
8pm Flophouse Follies
Step through the velvet curtains of time with Flophouse Follies, a Berkshire-based quartet that channels the mischievous spirit of parlor ballads, novelty satires and rags of the gilded age. Imagine the songs that would have been sung on the Titanic while it was sinking and you have the portrait of Flophouse follies. Heather and Rob Fisch, Kip Beacco, and Alex Harvey revive the era when pop songs first became mass cultural myths. Expect laughter, longing, and just a touch of mischief.
9pm Jesse Lége
Capping off the evening, legendary Cajun accordionist and vocalist Jesse Lége takes the stage, bringing the kitchen wail of Southwest Louisiana’s honky-tonks to the Berkshires. A Louisiana Hall of Fame inductee and multiple Cajun French Music Association award-winner, Lége is among the last torchbearers of an old-school Cajun sound that swings, stomps, and sings straight from the heart. With his piercing voice, driving accordion, and infectious energy, he transforms any room into a Saturday-night fais do-do, where the only rule is you don’t stand still.
saturday, june 14, 2-11pm
The festival continues on saturday with a world tour of handmade heritage music traditions
2pm Moonshine Holler
A joyful revival of old-time music, Moonshine Holler brings foot-stomping tunes and high-lonesome ballads to the Down County Jump. Led by Paula Bradley and Pete Killeen, this roots powerhouse channels two decades of tradition with grit, humor, and deep musicality. Originally founded by Paula and her late husband Bill Dillof, the group now features top players like Rafe Wolman and Darren Wallace. Expect banjos, fiddles, and a raucous celebration of America’s musical soul—authentic, heartfelt, and full of life.
3pm The Lucky 5
The Lucky 5 swings with the hot energy of 1920s jazz and the sharp skill of modern masters. This Hudson Valley five-piece channels the golden age of swing with blazing horns, slapping bass, and irresistible rhythm. Whether roaring through an uptempo romp or crooning a slow ballad, they turn every show into a dance party. A hit on festival stages and speakeasy floors alike, The Lucky 5 delivers vintage jazz with grit, polish, and pure joy.
4pm Tamar Korn & Mamie Minch
Jazz chanteuse Tamar Korn and blues guitarist Mamie Minch breathe new life into early American music. Korn, with her elastic, water-like phrasing and love of Armstrong and Waller, scats and swoops with expressive flair. Minch’s smoky voice and deft fingerpicking anchor their set in the raw spirit of 1930s blues. Together, they blend vintage swing, country blues, and old-school charm into something timeless. Their chemistry is dazzling, their joy infectious—a duo that revives the past without a hint of nostalgia.
5pm Hinterlands
Hinterlands conjures cinematic soundscapes where tradition meets experimental fire. Violinist Ben Russell and accordionist Matt Schreiber blend Appalachian drones, Balkan rhythms, and avant-garde textures into music that’s both ancient and boldly new. Their performances—spacious, emotional, and thrillingly unpredictable—reveal deep roots and fearless exploration. With backgrounds spanning Kronos Quartet to Romani street music, this duo dissolves musical borders, creating a world where improvisation and structure dance together. Hinterlands invites you into a wild, resonant journey through sound and feeling.
6pm Trischka, Molsky & Daves - Headlining Set
Three titans of American roots music—Tony Trischka, Bruce Molsky, and Michael Daves—join forces for a thrilling, high-energy set that fuses bluegrass drive, Appalachian grit, and fearless improvisation. Bruce Molsky, dubbed “the Rembrandt of Appalachian Fiddlers,” brings raw, earthy fiddle, banjo, and songcraft rooted in deep tradition. Tony Trischka, a pioneering force of the five-string banjo, blends boundary-pushing innovation with bluegrass mastery. Michael Daves, a soulful firebrand guitarist and singer, delivers the high-lonesome sound with rebellious modern edge.
With Grammy nods, IBMA Awards, and countless collaborations with legends like Béla Fleck, Linda Ronstadt, Chris Thile, and Bill Frisell, this trio represents the cutting edge and beating heart of roots music. Their collective sound is equal parts reverent and revolutionary—blazing instrumental solos, tight harmonies, and spontaneous interplay that redefines tradition. Whether you’re a die-hard bluegrass fan or a curious newcomer, this headlining set promises to be unforgettable: joyful, unrestrained, and absolutely electrifying.
7pm Slowey and the Boats
Slowey and the Boats bring a lush, swaying blend of Hawaiian steel guitar, Western swing, and vintage lounge to the Down County Jump. Led by steel guitar virtuoso Isaac Stanford, this Philadelphia-based band delivers breezy island grooves and slinky cocktail jazz with irresistible charm. Their nostalgic, toe-tapping sound is pure dance floor magic—equal parts relaxed and refined. Grab a drink, grab a partner, and let Slowey and the Boats sweep you into a dreamy sway.
8pm Pulso de Barro
Pulso de Barro electrifies the stage with the vibrant rhythms of Son Jarocho—blending poetry, dance, and music rooted in Latin American tradition. Founded by a quartet of musicians with Mexican, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Puerto Rican roots, the group uses instruments like jarana, marimba, cajón, and quijada to create joyful, percussive soundscapes. With soulful singing and zapateado dance, their performances celebrate cultural heritage while engaging audiences in a shared, living tradition of music and meaning.
9pm Dingonek Brass, The Grand Dance Party!
Dingonek Brass closes Saturday night with a wild, unrelenting blast of Afrobeat, second-line swagger, and brass-fueled funk. This Brooklyn-based band mashes up jazz, punk, and global grooves into a sweaty, ecstatic dance frenzy. Led by Bobby Spellman, their sound fuses blazing horns, pounding drums, and chaotic joy into one massive celebration. If you’re not dancing, you’re not listening. This is the grand finale: primal, percussive, and full of fire. The floor will shake—be part of it.
Race Brook Lodge is a hidden gem in The Berkshires, at the foot of Mt. Race and a short hike from the Appalachian trail. The yoga & event barn at Race Brook is simultaneously rustic and sublime, steeped in hundreds of years of New England history. The Stagecoach Tavern is unpretentious fine dining, exquisite farm-to-table cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Much of the food is sourced from Race Farm, right on the property!
