Slippery Sneakers is a Rhode Island-based, high energy dance band that brings together traditional and contemporary Cajun/Creole roots music originating in southwest Louisiana. The band’s sound is a spicy mix of up-tempo zydeco, blues and soul, Cajun waltzes, and a bit of rock ‘n’ roll. In addition to accordion, fiddle, guitars, bass, and drums, Slippery Sneakers features the “frattoire,” or rubboard, as a primary percussion instrument.
Led by the soulful lead vocals and accordion sounds of Robert Graves Leonard, Slippery Sneakers has broken attendance records at many monthly zydeco dances held around the Northeast, and has played major festivals of the genre from New York to Florida. Leonard is an award-winning singer/songwriter and Nashville recording artist, and contributes many original songs to the band. The band also features Jack Moore on rock-steady drums, Betsy Dawn Williams on rubboard and boundless dance energy onstage, Peter Consula on thumping bass, Mark Trichka on sizzling guitar, and Lisa Brande on rocking fiddle.
Next up on the 2012 Twilight on the Tavern Lawn concert series schedule is an evening of swampy, sultry, soulful jazz and blues by Samirah Evans and her Handsome Devils on Friday, July 27.
The seven-concert series continues every other Friday through August 24. All concerts begin at 6:30 pm in downtown Putney on the Putney Tavern lawn (bring a lawn chair or blanket) or at Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill in case of rain.
The series is sponsored by the town of Putney, Putney Food Co-Op, Putney Paper Company, The Putney Inn, The Stockwell Brothers and many other Putney businesses and organizations. The concerts are free to the public (donations are accepted) and food will be available. For information visit www.twilightmusic.org or call (802) 387-5772.


