BAINBRIDGE - A band with roots stretching back more than six decades will bring its traditional country sound to the Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 7, when The Driftwoods take the stage at 7 p.m., joined by special guests Jason Wicks and Ken Wilber.
The Driftwoods were founded in 1960 by Dick Thompson and performed steadily for four decades before going quiet in the early 2000s. In 2019, leadership of the group passed to Thompson’s son, John Thompson, who reassembled the band with the aim of preserving its original style and honoring his father’s legacy.
John Thompson serves as guitarist, lead vocalist and bandleader. His career has included performances with Nashville artists and musicians such as Redd Volkaert, Bill Kirchen and Arlen Roth. Much of the band’s sound is shaped by pedal steel guitarist John DeMaille, a member of the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame and widely regarded as one of the region’s leading steel players.
The band’s rhythm section includes bassist and vocalist Jody Taylor, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, and drummer Adrian McCloskey, whose background spans rock, jazz, fusion, swing and country. On keyboards is Dr. Paul Carter, a SUNY Oneonta professor who has performed with numerous bands across the Northeast and Midwest.
The evening will also feature performances by two Central New York artists. Jason Wicks, a country singer-songwriter, blends traditional influences such as George Strait and Merle Haggard with contemporary country elements. Ken Wilber, formerly the lead singer of Fly by Nite, has released two studio albums, Rollin’ My Own and Ran Out of Sky, with a third, Alcohol and Cigarettes, expected later this year.
The Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre experience includes several pre-show traditions. Audience members will hear the venue’s resident 1933 Æolian/Skinner organ—one of only five such instruments built for upstate New York and the only one known to remain intact and playable. Concessions include fresh popcorn, baked goods and beverages.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Seating is open, and tickets are $20, available at the door or in advance by calling 607-288-3882. The theatre’s gallery, featuring work by artist Danielle Haney, will be open to the public beginning at 6 p.m. and during intermission at no charge.
More information on this and future events is available at jerichoarts.com.
