Tough End String Band – Folk Fusion

Tough End String Band serves up a spicy-hot acoustic brew concocted in Orono’s historically notorious Tough End neighborhood.

This group has fun entertaining audiences with the diversity of its selections: a tango evolves into surf rock; some 1930’s jazz song might follow a traditional fiddle medley; or Paganini is juxtaposed with Tom Petty; and a transition to the blues could result in Gregg Allman funk or, instead, a Bill Monroe tune.

Formed over six years ago in the lively pub scene that has re-emerged in Orono’s Tough End (a century after the area was filled with mills, taverns, and brothels), the band has expanded its performances to festivals, fairs, receptions, and other venues. In addition, it has produced three studio-recorded albums – and, during the pandemic, two full-length, online-concert videos.

The members are Anthony Viselli on mandolin, Ryu Mitsuhashi on fiddle, Sam Furth on guitar, Paul Riechmann on bass, and Tom Bennett on percussion.