Contemporary Folk with Seat of Our Pants (with an Opening By Kali Stoddard-Imari) (at The Buttonwood Tree 1/9 @8PM)

Carolyn Brodginski – Vocals, Guitar, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Ukulele

Mike Frantzen – Fiddle

Jeff Gorman – Acoustic bass, Harmonica

Mark Hall – Vocals, Cajon/percussion

Contemporary, acoustic folk is how SOOP likes to describe their sound. From blues with Jeff on harmonica, to bluegrass with Mike on fiddle, to acappella ballads with gorgeous harmonies by Carolyn and Mark, they do it all. For the past 4 years, SOOP has been hitting the music scene in Eastern Connecticut, performing at arts centers, music festivals, benefit concerts, as well as numerous performances at The Bread Box in Willimantic. On the air waves, they’ve appeared twice on WESU’s “Voice Of The City”, and were featured streaming on The Day’s “Live Lunch Break” concert series in New London. In 2013, they appeared on the CD “Muse In The Gold Lame Suit, A Tribute to Robert Barthell”, a collaborative CD, co-produced by Carolyn, and recorded live at Higher Grounds Coffee House in East Hampton.

2014 was a big year for SOOP, as they released their first CD, “Fresh Hot SOOP”. Recorded at The Coffee House recording studio in Middletown, the CD is a mix of songs they’ve written about people in their lives and stories they want to tell, as well as popular songs their fans insisted they include. The group has expanded from three to four musicians this year, with that additional of Mike Frantzen on fiddle, adding heart-felt leads to ballads and some gritty mountain sounds to their more upbeat tunes.



Kali Stoddard-Imari grew up in Lyndon Vermont playing around with poetry, hip hop and chorus until he picked up the guitar at 17. Although he was always routed in music, the guitar lead him through the music of the world, and gave him a better understanding. His passion grew as he fused his musical past with Americana, Island, and Folk, stripping him of a particular genre and transforming him into a singer songwriter.
After his daughter, Nia, was born in 2010, he moved with her and his wife Jennifer out of Vermont and into Boston in search of more people to spread music too. His second daughter, Asha born in 2012, his Family and positive experiences continued to inspire him and he began to make music into a career.
In 2011, he moved his family to Boston in search of musical opportunities. Inspired by family, community, and positivity, he strives to make music that uplifts the soul and brings good vibes. He has shared his craft with many people in many places, from the streets of Harvard Square to opening for Taj Mahal at the Flying Monkey in Plymouth, NH. He is currently working with Black Hat Music of Medford, MA on a full length record to debut this summer.
Visit his website here

Come in from the cold and get some Fresh Hot SOOP. You’re in for a musical feast.

“SOOP always gives a tight vocal and stringed performance with a heartwarming delivery and message. “Bruce John, Former owner of Shaboo Inn and current director of the Bread Box Folk Theater.“I Love this band!!! Always an experience of startling quality and amazement:)”

Mark Steiner – Fellow musician, East Hampton, Ct