-0001.jpg/:/fx-gs/rs=w:1209,h:1814)
Patrick Ross Band
Band Bio
The Patrick Ross Band is a testament to resilience and artistic evolution, born from the crucible of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hailing from the picturesque international border town of Canaan, Vermont, Patrick Ross, a fifth-generation fiddler, had already etched his name in the record book of music history by winning the Vermont State Fiddle Championship at the tender age of 14. However, many years later, as the world grappled with the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, Ross found himself at a crossroads, craving a fresh and diverse musical landscape.
The pandemic, while unsettling, became an unexpected catalyst for creativity. Sequestered in his studio in Newbury, VT, Patrick Ross picked up his songwriting tools for the very first time, transforming adversity into opportunity. He reflects, "There's no doubt that when the pandemic hit, I was on the verge of being burned out as a fiddle player. I craved more diversity. The solitude and lack of distractions provided an opportunity for me to break through to the next stage in my artistic development."
Enter The Patrick Ross Band—a dream realized. Ross effortlessly transitions from blues-driven electric guitar riffs on original tracks like "Woodshed," "Sugarshack," and "Bear Rock Road" to strapping an acoustic guitar to his back and wielding his fiddle on Vermont-inspired originals like "Raise Your Flag," "Uncle Joe's Camp," and "Little Red Camaro."
While the songs serve as the heartbeat of The Patrick Ross Band, the ensemble itself powers the musical engine, delivering a sonic experience that commands attention. Patrick explains, "The songs are the core of the Patrick Ross Band, but the band is the engine and the band is rhythmic. A big sound. A festival band if you will."
The band's lineup includes Mike Conerty, a multi-instrumentalist hailing from Long Island, skillfully weaving bass, keys, and trumpet into the sonic tapestry. On drums, you have Justin (Spanky) Roman, a powerhouse percussionist from The Bronx who now calls the Upper Valley home. Together, they are heavy hitters that add depth and dimension to the band's sound.
What sets The Patrick Ross Band apart is their unique "mix tape" approach to song selection. Audiences are drawn into a captivating journey through diverse musical landscapes, reflecting Patrick's artistic evolution. For a taste of their sonic adventure, visit Patrick's website, patrickrossmusic.com, and let the music speak for itself. They've proudly released two albums under the banner of Rock Farmer Records, showcasing their musical prowess.
If you find yourself grooving to their tunes, don't hesitate to join the party. The Patrick Ross Band is all-inclusive, welcoming music lovers from all walks of life to dance, sing, or simply enjoy the ride. As Patrick aptly puts it, "We're all inclusive. We like to party with everyone!"
So, whether you're seeking an electrifying blues-infused experience or a heartfelt journey through Vermont's musical heritage, The Patrick Ross Band invites you to step into their world—a world where the pandemic's crabapples have been transformed into the sweetest of musical ciders.
Photo by Paul Rogers
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
"That was the most fun wedding reception that I've ever been to"
"Hi Patrick - I just wanted to thank you for the job you did Saturday night! That was the most fun wedding reception that I’ve ever been to - you rocked it! Everyone was talking about you Sunday saying how amazing you were and I just wanted to let you know what a huge part you were of making our weekend a success!!! Looking forward to following you and seeing you live somewhere hopefully this summer!
Thanks again!
K. Fitzgerald"
- July 2021
"...If You Want The Very Best"
“If you want the very best, Patrick is the music professional that you need to hire for your wedding. From the very beginning, he was open to all of our suggestions, and even learned a new song for our ceremony processional. Our guests loved when he fiddled along to our music selections during the reception, and would have loved even more! We highly recommend booking him for your event, but do it now, because he’s in very high demand.” The Fryes
– December 28, 2018
"...Patrick Still Went Above And Beyond"
“My husband and I knew exactly who we wanted to book for our wedding music from the start and Patrick still went above and beyond our expectations. We hired him with relatively short notice to play during the ceremony and cocktail hour and then DJ the reception. He nailed it and was helpful and responsive at every step along the way.
Patrick is a talented, versatile musician and can adapt to changing circumstances at a moments notice. During the reception, he paid close attention to our requests and was spot-on at sensing the mood of the crowd. A live fiddle-accompanied “Cotton-Eyed Joe” became an instant hit! As the reception was winding down, we lit a bonfire out back and Patrick joined the late-night crowd to serenade us with some acoustic tunes. It was perfect – I would highly recommend Patrick for a super fun and personally tailored wedding music experience!” Alaina M – September 29, 2018
"...And A Pleasure To Work With"
“Patrick was a phenomenal musician and a pleasure to work with. We hired him to play during the ceremony, the cocktail hour (he brought 2 bandmates in for a very reasonable price), and DJ the reception. After asking us for a bit of guidance, Patrick understood exactly what we wanted. He was very thorough in his communication leading up to the wedding, which made the day of the wedding very easy. One highlight was when he played live fiddle along to “Wagon Wheel” during the reception. Patrick also was very helpful coordinating the toasts and sound system and made sure everything ran smoothly.
Emily H – July 2017
"...Able To Give A Personal Touch To Our Wedding"
“Patrick played at our wedding during spring of 2013. He was easy to work with and exceeded our expectations. Our family and friends continue to rave about Patrick’s talent to this day. Including my husband’s grandfather that passed away this summer. Up until the day he passed, he recalled how Patrick played songs upon request that he recalled from his childhood. The performance meant a lot to us and was able to give a personal touch to our wedding.”
-Olivia Tuite
"...We Can’t Recommend Him Enough"
“Just another couple that were as happy as Amber and I were to have Patrick Ross as our Musician/DJ for our wedding. Anyone else in New England getting married this year or next should contact him. We can’t recommend him enough.” – Adam Cloutier 2015
"...In A Very Professional Way"
“Patrick played music during the wedding ceremony and dinner for Kristen and me in a very professional way. He was then joined by members of Hot Flannel, and they all put on an amazing performance – our guests danced the night away and told us how much fun the band was – highly recommend him!” – Jonathan Link Logan 2015
"...Patrick Was A True Gem To Find"
“Patrick was a true gem to find to play at our wedding. He came highly recommended by our wedding venue and after we chatted with him and saw a couple of his videos, we booked him! He is incredibly talented (and super humble). Patrick played our ceremony, including playing my requested song, his rendition of “Rise” by Eddie Vedder on violin as I walked down the aisle, and fiddled everyone down the hill to cocktail hour. We also hired a guitar player, a friend of Patrick’s, to play with him for our cocktail hour and then Patrick DJ’d the night away for the reception. It was incredible, but especially when he fiddled along with the music. Our guests on the dance floor were in awe and stopped to watch him in the balcony. Guests came in from the bar to hear him play. It was so magical. Everyone has not stopped talking about how amazing that was. Patrick was one of the most easy going vendors we worked with for our wedding, a true professional and master of the fiddle for sure! Patrick was flexible, and when I had to make the call to have the ceremony outside when it was pouring rain, he was willing to still play outside with an umbrella. We are so happy we selected him and that he was able to work with us. I would highly recommend him!” -Amber C
"...I Couldn’t Believe How Flexible And Seamless He Made It."
“Patrick was amazing. We booked him to play live violin/fiddle music during the ceremony and cocktail hour and then DJ during the reception. He played Moon River as the wedding party came out (at my request like a day beforehand, eek!) and Canon in D for the procession. I NEVER thought I wanted a musician at the wedding (thought it was too formal), but it was so perfect for our small, laid back outdoor wedding. He is a musician first-and-foremost, and we basically told him to play whatever he felt like as people were sitting down and as the recessional and during the cocktail hour. People were raving about him. He set up to DJ the wedding and serve as the emcee, which he did well at. Our wedding was super small and all older and family members, and after the first dance the dance floor was abandoned to everyone talking to each other and catching up. He quickly adapted and started a background performance by combining DJ’d music with cleverly-played fiddle “overplaying” accompaniment which was really amazing. It fit the mood perfectly. He then surprised me by meeting us all at the impromptu bonfire and playing as people toasted marshmallows before heading to bed. I couldn’t believe how flexible and seamless he made it. I love that he is a musician who uses this to support himself while pursuing his other musical pursuits, and felt good about supporting a small local business. I was not disappointed, and he made some of the most memorable moments of the night.” -Christine E
"...He Is Extremely Easy To Work With"
“I have had the wonderful pleasure working with Patrick Ross! He is extremely easy to work with and so talented. I’m a wedding coordinator in the NEK and have worked many weddings with him.. alhren barn, chapel on darling hill, etc. He is not only a DJ but a professional musician and provides music for Ceremony, cocktail hour dinner and full service DJ.” – Jennifer Kirchoff Layn
"...We Were Blown Away By Patrick"
“Just incredible – The title says it all.. we were blown away by Patrick. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, commented on his talent and professionalism. He – is – AWESOME. The price on this review includes his ceremony music & DJing services that lasted from 5:30-midnight!” -Jackie N
"...You Cared About Our Special Day"
Dear Patrick,
"Music is emotion. And as you may have noticed at our wedding, we are a pretty emotional bunch. From the beginning of the ceremony when the children entered the secret garden to the end of the night when us elders gathered around the fire, your music was the perfect complement to the innocence, joy, excitement, and sanctity we felt that day.
Your willingness to learn an Itzhak Perlman song in the 1 week's time is a testament not only to your craft but also to how much you cared about our special day."
-Sarah F.-
Patrick,
"From thinking outside the box on speaker placement to the dancefloor soundcheck Dance Party and then onto a -wonderful- daylong event. Your vibe and many "uniform" changes for all types of music was remarkable. Thank you for all of it!
We do hope to hear more of your performances in the future, and we will of course recommend you at any opportunity we can.
-Nate. F.-