On the Trail is a modern acoustic band that explores everything from bluegrass to contemporary pop, from stunning instrumentals to beautiful traditional songs. The group was founded through their love of bluegrass and the band the Punch Brothers. They have already gained recognition and praise for their exploration and strong execution of the challenging music, as well as for their new original music. The band was selected as an Emerging Artist at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in 2023. On The Trail features Austin Scelzo (fiddle and vocals), Tom Polizzi (mandolin and vocals), Charlie Widmer (guitar and vocals) and Matt Curley (upright bass and vocals). Austin Scelzo is a renowned New England-based musician, teacher, and performer known to Blackstone River Theatre audiences as the fiddler for Rock Hearts. He is an active bluegrass community advocate, teaching Wernick Method Jam classes and launching the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association. He was nominated for International Bluegrass Music Associations “Mentor of the Year” in 2023 and also for the 2024 Momentum Industry Involvement award. In 2024, the Connecticut State Government also named him 2023 Connecticut Arts Hero. Join this high-energy band in their Blackstone River Theatre debut!
