Ironwood blends the talents of modern-folk singer/songwriter/guitarist Bill Ring with those of harmonica wiz Don Fenton (of 505 Blues) and jazz/Americana bassist Joe Crum to make high-energy, adult acoustic music with lyrics that are always entertaining and frequently funny. Traditional fiddler/singer Twy Bethard is a frequent welcome addition. They have appeared at the Ithaca Festival, Lost Dog Lounge, Dryden Community Center Cafe, Scale House Brewery and Pub, Tioga Trails Cafe, Smart Monkey, Blue Frog Cafe, Americana Winery, Six Mile Creek Vineyard, the Giving Tree Cafe, Harvest Cafe and Lounge, and on Ithaca's own rock radio station, WVBR-FM.

For an up-to-date list of all scheduled future shows, go to Show announcements

Ironwood does a mix of originals and covers, leaning heavily toward folk and country. The following live recordings were made during appearances on Tuesdays With the Band hosted by Dan Cole on WVBR-FM.

Twy Bethard and Bill Ring also perform as a duo. These are some live recordings made during rehearsals:

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 www.cdbaby.com.

    Joe Crum is Ithaca's premier acoustic bass player. He works with several jazz and Americana groups, including Cool Club of Hector and Los Finsteros.

    Don Fenton has been playing "harp" for 40 years. With his blues band he employs an amplified sound. Playing with Ironwood he has the opportunity to "play clean," which he also enjoys. So does the audience.

    Twy Bethard is a popular performer on the Ithaca music scene, appearing frequently with Coyote Cowgirls, and with John Paolillo in their instrumental duo, Entwyned. She often runs jams and contra dances at the Scale House, on the Commons, and elsewhere. Twy started reading music and studying piano before kindergarten, and learned fiddle tunes from her father. Music was important in her family - the small house often held three pianos. She enjoys old-time, bluegrass, Celtic, and other jams, and knows hundreds of tunes.