Acoustic Northeast

In Chris Brown's music you’ll find glimpses of people you’ve known, flashes of life’s turning points, stirrings of emotions tied to moments in time. Brown captures the simple truths that we share in song, with offhand insight and humor. He writes tales of lessons learned and of taking stock through life’s journey. It’s no wonder that Phil Ciganer, owner of the Towne Crier Café in Beacon, New York, who has presented the greatest singer-songwriters of a generation, says “Christopher Brown stands with the best of them."

It’s not easy to be a working musician in the Greater New York City region for 40 years. But Chris has built several followings that endure. He’s known as a solo artist, as well as the leader and voice of the Bookends band, which has been rocking out since the year of our nation’s bicentennial, 1976.

Whether he’s performing by himself or with friends, Chris wins over audiences without gimmicks or bluster. He has an organic stage presence. All he needs are his honeyed rumble of a voice and an unteachable ability to make any song – a good-time singalong of a favorite standard or a self-penned meditation on the passage of time – sound genuine and of the moment.

Brown has showcased his original songs on five albums: Go West (2001); Hangin' In (2004); Characterist (2011); Dots (2019); and The Brown Album (2020).

Hope Dunbar is a singer-songwriter known for her blend of Americana and country-folk sounds. Hailing from Utica, Nebraska, she has been a pioneer of what she calls "New American Prairie style," crafting semi-autobiographical songs that transform everyday life into art. Her work has garnered recognition, including being a three-time finalist at the Kerrville New Folk Song Contest.

After residing in a small town in Nebraska, Hope relocated to New Jersey, bringing her unique "Big Sky sound" to the East Coast. She has opened for national artists and has been a part of shows with Asbury Park musicians. She also co-hosts a weekly podcast, "Prompt Queens," where she and her sister-in-law write a new song each week based on a specific prompt.

Hope's latest album, "Happily Ever Elsewhere," was supported by a Kickstarter campaign, features collaborations with artists such as Darrell Scott, Eliza Gilkyson, and Cory Branan.

This week we bring you Connecticut's Charlotte Roth—singer, songwriter, actor, composer and writer. She infuses her indie folk-pop music with a unique blend of soulful melodies and honest storytelling. Her full-length album and other EPs—which are all out now and available wherever you listen—showcase her raw and emotive compositions. 

Growing up in a music- and movie-loving home, Charlotte's trajectory began to take shape early: weekends often consisted of a trip to the local video store, a Saturday morning spent with her sister reenacting their favorite scenes from the movie the night before, and a Sunday underscored by her audiophile father's massive CD and vinyl collection. This, plus the Shakespeare camp in seventh grade that officially gave her the acting bug, endless family sing-alongs that got her hooked on harmonies, trying and failing to start a band (The Disco Dolls) with her best friend in fourth grade, and winning a middle school youth group retreat game of 'American Idol' with a high fever, led to Charlotte's graduation from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016 with a dual degree in Music and Cinema, a minor in creative writing, and a burning desire to create and perform.

Currently, you can find Charlotte gigging here in the Northeast as a solo artist, acting on stage and screen, scoring film and theatrical projects, and building towards the debut of her full band Charlotte Roth and the Big Drama in 2026. 

We were lucky to be joined in the studio by one of today's most admired singer-songwriters: Ellis Paul. 

Ellis Paul doesn’t just write songs; he’s a guitar-carrying reporter who covers the human condition and details the hopes, loves, losses of those he observes, turning their stories into luminous pieces of music that get under your skin and into your bloodstream. And much like the artists who have influenced him—everyone from Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon to the singer-songwriter who is undoubtedly his greatest inspiration, Woody Guthrie—Ellis weaves deeply personal experiences with social issues and renders them as provocative works that are as timely as they are timeless.

Born and raised in Maine, Ellis attended Boston College on a track scholarship and in the evenings became a fixture on the city’s open mic circuit. After winning a Boston Acoustic Underground songwriter competition, he caught the ear of folk luminary Bill Morrissey, who produced his indie album Say Something in 1993. This led to a seven-album contract with Rounder Records and the 1994 album, Stories.

His songs have appeared in several blockbuster films (Me, Myself, and Irene; Shallow Hal, Hall Pass) and have been covered by award-winning country artists (Sugarland, Kristian Bush, Jack Ingram). Through a steady succession of albums of his own – a remarkable 23 releases so far—and a constant touring presence around the world, Ellis's audience has grown into a loyal legion of fans. 

Connecticut's Stephen Bennett is one of the most well regarded finger-style guitarists of his generation. He is also a leading exponent of the harp guitar (see photo). A challenging teacher, a gifted composer, and a performer of “great sensitivity,” the Toronto Finger-Style Guitar Association has referred to him as “the Jedi Master of Finger-style Guitar”.

Stephen has performed around the world, shared the stage with some of the finest guitarists there are, and created a sizable body of work.

He won the National Flatpicking Guitar Championship in 1987 and the International Finger Style Guitar Championship in 2024. Both contests are held in Winfield, Kansas, at the Walnut Valley Festival.

Decades ago, a young folk trio started to make a name for themselves. Two of them, John Gorka and Richard Shindell, soared to the heights of folk, but Doug Anderson—nicknamed "Moose" for his enormous physical strength—chose a different path. He finally earned his Ph.D in philosophy and settled in for the next three decades as a philosophy professor and department chair.

Still, he never set down his guitar. About 20 years ago he started playing out again, with various duos and trios. He returned to recording, too. His voice rings with folk authenticity, and his laid-back character draws an audience whether he is singing or sharing a beer.

Moose also plays music out with his nephew, Alex Radus, who has been a guest on Acoustic Northeast.

Hailing from the East Coast and married to a deep love of storytelling, Sarah Mac weaves songs of love, loss and the human spirit that feel timeless and deeply personal. With a voice that blends natural strength and vulnerability, she paints vivid portraits of life’s highs and lows, drawing inspiration from an experience that seems equally familiar with deep sorrow and powerful joy. Whether performing on renowned stages or in the warmth of a living room, her lyrics capture the essence of everyday life—its quiet moments, its struggles, and its beauty. Known for her authenticity and heartfelt connection to her audience, she is carving out her place as an important voice in the New England singer-songwriter landscape.

Sarah joins us in the studio accompanied on upright bass with her friend and manager Corina Malbaurn.

From touring with Gordon Lightfoot, headlining major US festivals, receiving Folk Alliance International “Album of the Year,” releasing NINE BECOMES ONE (2023-2025) to being named Folk Alliance International Artist-in-Residence, Joe Crookston is making waves.  He’s played with Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, David Francey, John McCutcheon, John Gorka, Judy Collins and 100’s more. His songs are being made into award-winning films.

Joe's songs are reflective and deeply insightful, whether conveying his own story or that of a character whom he has connected with.

Joe's artwork & paintings have been installed in many galleries, most notably The True North Gallery, alongside paintings by other musicians including Andy Warhold, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Leonard Cohen and Janis Joplin.

Dustin Lowman is a New York City-based folksinger. In his earliest days of angst, Lowman became enraptured by Pete Townshend. Shortly thereafter, he became enraptured by Bob Dylan in whom Lowman saw a ghost and identified with it.

When confounded by betrayals of head, heart, and spirit, Dustin would retreat into his inner sanctum to compose ballads on the matters at hand. When his parents divorced, and undermined his teenage notions of eternal love, he took to the sanctum to question. Making such pilgrimages with such frequency, the songwriting sanctum became an enduringly dignified space.

Dustin says his mission is to share the results of his sessions in the inner sanctum. His songs are comedic, tragic, absurd, naturalistic, traditional, and, happily, heretical.

A self-described "Dylanologist," Dustin also posts frequently on YouTube his thoughtful takes on such icons as Dylan, Springsteen and Cohen.

From harmony in voice to harmony for humanity, husband and wife duo The Levins, have created a hopeful, resonant sound that feels like both a refuge and a call to action. Ira and Julia’s music has never faltered from their original personal and artistic intention that they set many years ago: to bridge communities, invite connection, and inspire healing, understanding and uplift. 

The Levins have garnered  accolades and acclaim for their uncompromising and heartfelt music. Select highlights include ranking on Folk and Roots DJ charts, nabbing Top 10 positions and landing on multiple DJ yearly Top 10 song and album lists. Their songs bridge genres and communities, offering them opportunities to perform at The Parliament of World Religions and co-produce an original full-scale musical theater/Euro-Circus production in San Francisco, based on their album, "My Friend Hafiz," which is inspired by Daniel Ladinsky's poetic renditions of the mystic poet, Hafiz.