For nearly three years, Ironwood has combined the talents of singer/songwriter/guitarist Bill Ring with those of bassist Joe Crum and other premier instrumentalists like harmonica wiz Don Fenton to make high-energy, adult acoustic music with lyrics that are always entertaining and often funny. Now with the addition of vocalist Stacy Farina, drummer and percussionist Sue Spencer, and lead guitarist "Skinny Joe", they are plugging in for full electric gigs as well. Following the lead of groups like Hot Tuna, Ironwood will be presenting both acoustic and electric performances in future. For an up-to-date list of all scheduled future shows, go to Show announcements .  Ironwood plays a mix of originals and covers, including country, blues, and rock

    Ironwood has appeared at the Ithaca Festival, Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival, Da Westy, Americana Winery, Cyber Cafe West, Eagle Hotel, Crooked Rooster Brewpub, Scale House Brewery and Pub, Six Mile Creek Vineyard, Tioga Trails Cafe, Freeville Harvest Festival, Harvest Cafe and Lounge, Ithaca Farmers' Market, and on Ithaca's own rock radio station, WVBR-FM. For a complete list of venues played, click here.

For booking contact Bill Ring     Email: billring99@gmail.com       Phone: (607) 387-4074

    Before moving to the Finger Lakes region in 2007, Bill Ring lived for five years in a renovated barn in New Paltz, NY, where he set up the recording studio in which he completed all five of his CD's. The first four were remastered compilations of earlier recordings. The fifth, Still On My Mind, was recorded and mixed in the barn.

   "That barn had the most incredible sound - better than any studio I've ever worked in. The high ceiling and oddly angled walls gave it a natural ambience like nothing I've ever heard. The first time I walked into the place I clapped my hands, listened to the reverberation, and just about knocked the landlady down and forced-fed her my deposit check.

    "The completion of Still On My Mind is the end of a creative and technical Odyssey that began with buying my first guitar at age 16 and getting my first sound-mixing gig as roadie for the Elephant's Memory in 1969. I've been writing songs, performing, and engineering ever since."

    Bill began playing in New York City in 1968. His first band, Another Country, was a folk-rock group that played mostly at the appropriately named Cafe Bizarre on Third St. in Greenwich Village. After 15 years of solo performing, he joined with Sally Eaton, (of the original Broadway cast of Hair) and multi-instrumentalist Peter Pasco to form a new version of Another Country, featuring assorted acoustic instruments, three-part harmonies, and the considerable songwriting talents of all three. The acoustic edition of Another Country appeared frequently at Speakeasy and Folk City.

    He then began working with his backup band, Ironwood, which at one time or another has included many prominent New York City players, including Brahm Stuart, Bob Lepre, and numerous others. In 1991 Bill teamed with Constance Taylor to front Ironwood. They also appeared as a duo under the name Cool Dolphin. Constance now lives and performs in San Francisco. She and Bill still play together whenever they can.

    Bill Ring has been heard live and recorded on NY area radio stations, including WBAI and WQXR, and on college and community stations around the USA, including WVBR-FM in Ithaca. His songs are also available on many internet download sites, including Itunes. His five independently released CD's are available from cdbaby.com. For a complete discography, click here.

    Joe Crum is Ithaca's premier jazz/Americana bassist, equally at home on electric and upright. In addition to Ironwood, he works with several jazz and Americana groups, including Cool Club and Los Finsteros.

    Don Fenton has been playing "harp" for 40 years, both amplified "Chicago" style, and with a clean country folk sound.

    Stacy Farina is a PhD candidate at Cornell and a competetive fencer as well as a superb vocalist.

    Sue Spencer has been playing with various bands in the Finger Lakes region for many years. With the acoustic Ironwood ensemble her main instrument is Djembe, combined with hi-hat and other percussion. For electric performances she favors the full trap kit.

    Skinny Joe is a recent transplant from Canada, where he has released several CD's under his "nom de guitarre." Hot licks from the frozen north.

Americana Vineyards & Winery
Bernie Milton Pavilion
Blue Frog Cafe
Buttonwood Grove Winery
Crooked Rooster Brewpub
Corks & More
Crooked Rooster Brewpub
Cyber Cafe West
Da Westy
Dorothy's Music Room
Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival
Downtown Ithaca Employee Appreciation
Dryden Community Center Cafe
Eagle Hotel
Eve Galleria
Farm Sanctuary Walk For Farm Animals
Freeville Harvest Festival
Giving Tree Cafe (formerly ABC)
Kellish Hill Farm
The Harvest Cafe and Lounge
Heebasquabee Festival
Iona Corners Tavern
Ithaca Farmers' Market
Ithaca Festival, Cayuga St Pavilion
Jamnesty Amnesty International Benefit Concert
Lost Dog Cafe Lounge
Plantation Bar & Grill
Rascal's
Rongovian Embassy
Scale House Brewery and Pub
Six Mile Creek Vineyard
Smart Monkey Cafe
T-Burg Mini Golf Family Entertainment
Tioga Trails Cafe
Veterans' Sanctuary Benefit
Waterside Wine Bar
WVBR-FM Tuesdays With the Band with Dan Cole

Discography

Still On My Mind: Features drums by Bob Lepre, bass by Rusty Boris, fiddle by Brahm Stuart of Shaman, sax by Chuck Hancock, harmonies by Bibi Farber and Constance Taylor, and guitars, harmonica, and vocals by Bill Ring.

Bill Ring and Friends: Digitally remastered cuts from early releases. Lots of acoustic instruments, including 6- and 12-string guitars, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, flute, harmonica, harmonium, percussion, and bass.

Beneath a Violet Sun: Dark and moody, beginning with a Quicksilver-esque rock number, ending with a long sound sculpture featuring rain stick and assorted small percussion instruments. Very different from other albums.

Invisible Fingers: A solo effort with guitars, harmonica, vocals, and midi programming by Bill Ring.

You Are Here: The fourth and final album compiling Bill Ring's pre-millennium private release recordings.

All CD's are available from cdbaby.com, and as downloads from Itunes and many other online services.