MUST BE 21+
Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Led by Ethan Robbins (vocals/guitar/mandolin) and Ariel Bernstein (vocals/percussion/banjo), the Boston-based duo released their fourth full-length album, DUO, in the summer of 2022. “We’re growing as a band, and I think that shows in our songwriting,” says Robbins. “I see this album as a leaping off point for many more new albums to come, and that’s an exciting prospect,” adds Bernstein.
Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, Cold Chocolate has quickly gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows. The band has shared bills with Leftover Salmon, David Grisman, and Angelique Kidjo, and regularly performs at venues and music festivals across the country. Jason Verlinde of The Fretboard Journal who covered the band’s FreshGrass Festival set noted “there were plenty of magical moments…I will never forget Cold Chocolate perform.” Kathy Sands-Boehmer of No Depression raved, ” feels the music in his heart and soul and it shows when he plays. Ethan becomes the music on stage. There’s an almost mystical connection between his guitar and the notes that flow out of it.”
Drawing from 50s and 60s pop, American Songbook standards, and much more, this vibrant duo channels and fuses these influences through two voices, a guitar, and violin to bring you a mixture of original songs and dusted off covers from the past.
The two consist of Brad Bensko on Vocals and Guitar, and Kathleen Parks (of Twisted Pine) on Vocals, and Five-Stringed Fiddle.
In the fall of 2018 the duo recorded, produced, and mixed their first LP of original material split equally at their home studio full of delightful, vintage, and analog recording equipment, Bearded Cat Studio and with the master, recording engineer Chris Rival’s Middleville Studio. Since its release in 2019 it has been loved, and received high praise by audiences all over New England.
A follow up two track EP was released online in 2020 via Bandcamp. The tracks are from their last live show at Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts before the pandemic hit the states. In a way it reminisces about a time when live music was close, intimate, and there to take your troubles away for a little while.
With live music back be sure to not miss this happy duo. Join them at an upcoming show to hear selections from their album and fresh cuts from their favorite time periods!
