OSWEGO — The Oswego Music Hall welcomes The Rough & Tumble and the Honey Badgers back for a new 2×2 Partner Series co-bill on Saturday, April 11. “This is a fun and exciting new format as the two bands will alternate playing individually and together” Artistic Director Tom Lambert said. “To be able to pay $17 to see a national performance in an intimate setting with cabaret-style seating is an incredible experience and so reasonable.”
Doors open at 7:00 pm and the show will start at 7:30 pm.
“Wow, [The Rough & Tumble] what an appealing package. High-quality originals in all sorts of traditional veins, from haunting ballads to stomping, screaming folk anthems”, M. McLeod of Empty Nest Concerts.
The Rough & Tumble, a dynamic duo comprised of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, have been captivating audiences with their unique blend of dumpster-folk and thrift store-Americana for over a decade. The Pennsylvania-born Graham and Central California’s Tyler have a knack for weaving together elements of joy, sorrow, comedy, and drama in their music, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats. On November 24, 2024, the band released their new record, Hymns for My Atheist Sister & Her Friends to Sing Along To.
An album for the faithful, the faithless and the somewhere-in-between. This latest album is a record wherein all are welcome. For those that are brokenhearted from a faith that didn’t love them back, those who are still carrying religious baggage, or those who are continuing in the faith they were taught as children. It’s an album about truth, about mystery, and most importantly about loving your neighbor. This message is at the forefront of the vocally expansive opening track and first single “Love Them Too,” released October 4, 2024.
All instrumentation on this record was limited to what Graham was permitted to have in her church growing up– piano, organ, guitar, and tambourine. This intention meant that The Rough & Tumble would lean heavily on the human voice– and not just their own. Orchestrating from across the country, the duo called on fellow musicians Dave Coleman, Alice Wallace, Flagship Romance, Halley Neal, The Honey Badgers, Ordinary Elephant & Sam Robbins to fly in vocals from afar. The result is what the duo calls “The Congregation of Kind Souls.” The collaboration not only forms an irrepressibly emotive sound, but embodies the theme of inclusion and acceptance, as each artist utilized their artistic voice with full creative license without Graham & Tyler dictating specific notation.
The curious listener may not be able to decipher the particulars of the band’s beliefs from listening to the record– and that might be the point. Hymns for My Atheist Sister & Her Friends to Sing Along To is neither dogma nor doctrine, but a direct path to the soul.
“Hope in a chaotic world… The Honey Badgers are true poets who know the secret of thoughtful lyrics.” – Indie Boulevard
When Michael Natrin asked Erin Magnin to dust off her fiddle and join him for a couple songs at a local songwriter showcase, the two never imagined they were creating a musical partnership that would continue far into the future. Playfully calling themselves The Honey Badgers, more to make themselves chuckle than to make any sort of a statement, the two discovered a chemistry between their voices that demanded to be heard. Thus, the duo was born.
The Honey Badgers have been creating music together since the summer of 2011. In their first several years working together, they released their debut EP, “Booth Bay”, a thoughtfully crafted second EP, “Soul”, as well as a collection of live recordings entitled “Mad Season”.
In 2019 they committed to diving further into their music in many ways, quitting their respective jobs to pursue music full time, and releasing their first full length album, “Meet Me” in March 2019. “Meet Me” is a colorful story that has been unfolding since Michael and Erin met. The songs are new, but the feelings within them are familiar – from the blooming of new love to the comfort of seasoned love, losing yourself and finding yourself, from feeling alone in a fast-moving world to finding connection in a room full of strangers.
In June of 2024, following a devastating few years of navigating personal loss and a global pandemic, The Honey Badgers released their second full-length album, “The Earth Turns and So Do We”, a mature and varied collection of original songs focused on the repeating cycles of life, death, love, and time itself. The album reached #15 on the July 2024 FAI Folk Radio Chart. A song from the album, “Bring With You Nothing,” won Gold in the Folk Category and 3rd place overall in the 2025 SAW Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.
With the release of their most recent album, The Honey Badgers are back to touring, creating, and building community on the road. They continue to meet new people, fall in love with new places, and write new songs. Their most recent single, “Summer Skin”, reached #1 on the June 2025 FAI folk radio charts. They hope to continue growing alongside their music – after winning the 2023 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase and the 2024 Susquehanna Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase, “emerging” has become a guiding light for the two musicians.
The Oswego Music Hall Open Mic Friday is on April 10, beginning at 7 pm with sign-ups at 6:30. Guest Host, Lloyd Polack, leads off Open Mic Friday and will be followed by performers who sign up that night. Doors open at 6:30 with sign-ups taking place then and throughout the evening, as space allows. Musicians typically play three songs each. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Budding performers, singer-songwriters and musicians of all genres are given an opportunity to perform in a supportive environment using cutting edge professional sound and lighting equipment. Scheduling guest hosts for Open Mic Fridays is Coordinator Bryan Dickenson.
For a complete performance schedule and ticket information, visit the website at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ or stop at the river’s end bookstore, 19 West Bridge Street in Oswego.
Tickets are on sale online now at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ ($17-22), or at the rivers end Bookstore, although you may be able to get tickets at the door if it is not sold out. The community is encouraged to buy tickets early to ensure a seat.
Ticket prices for the National Stage range from a low of $17 to $25 at the door. Children 16 and under are half price and under 5 are free. Purchase tickets at any concert, online or at the river’s end bookstore. Tickets purchased at the door and refreshments are cash or check only.
The wheelchair accessible venue is located in the McCrobie Civic Center, on 41 Lake Street in Oswego. It is adjacent to Breitbeck Park and overlooks Lake Ontario and the Oswego Harbor. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding a small stage. Light refreshments will be available at reasonable prices.
Oswego Music Hall is a family-friendly, non-profit organization that has been run entirely by volunteers since its inception in 1977. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through various tasks — from event support to making popcorn. Students can also earn credit for community service. To volunteer, email Volunteer Coordinator Michael Moss at [email protected].
Find more information online at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/, on Facebook and Instagram, or email [email protected].
Concerts are made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and New York Legislature. Other major supporters are the City of Oswego and Shineman Foundation.
PSA/Calendar
On Friday, April 10th 7 PM (sign-ups at 6:30) at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall continues its Open Mic with Host, Lloyd Polack. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
On Saturday, April 11th 7:30 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall will feature a new 2×2 Partner Series co-bill featuring The Rough & Tumble and the Honey Badgers. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
On Friday, April 17th, 7:30 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall will feature Monk Rowe’s Five Families Ensemble. Jazz-by-the-Lake. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
On Friday, April 24th 7 PM (sign-ups at 6:30) at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall continues its Open Mic with Host, Larry Kyle. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
On Saturday, April 25th 7:30 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall will feature Tom Rush accompanied by Brendan Cleary. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
On Saturday, May 2nd 7 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall will feature Music, Movement & Mindfulness with musicians Desirée Dawson and Travis Knapp and yoga instructor Ann Buchau. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
On Saturday, May 9th 7:30 PM at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall Season Finale & Emerging Artist Showcase. Headliner Abigayle Oakley. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
2026 Music Hall Events Calendar – Spring Season
National Stage 49th season
Apr. 11 2×2 Partner Series. Co-bill with The Rough & Tumble & The Honey Badgers
25 Tom Rush accompanied by Brendan Cleary
May 9 Season Finale & Emerging Artist Showcase. Headliner: Abigayle Oakley
Open Mic Friday Guest Hosts
4/10 Lloyd Polack
4/24 Larry Kyle
Guest Curator Series
4/17 Jazz-by-the-Lake Monk Rowe’s Five Families Ensemble, curator Dave Kaspar
5/2 Music, Movement & Mindfulness, with Desirée Dawson and Travis Knapp, curator/yoga instructor Ann Buchau
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