Double Feature: The Mammals and Dustin Lowman
*** Admission: $20/$15 (FP members); Age 12 and under free with adult.***
“The Mammals are folksingers Ruth Ungar, Mike Merenda, and a dynamic quintet of multi-instrumentalists whose sound spans fiddle, banjo, guitar, organ, bass, and drums. Over two decades, this fiercely independent band has built a legacy of genre-defying, politically charged, and emotionally resonant folk-rock praised as “some of the best songwriting of their generation” (LA Times). Their music resonates with urgency and tenderness—amplifying voices of conscience, connection, and the full spectrum of human experience. The forthcoming release, Touch Grass Vol. 1 & 2 (2025), is a double album that rages, reflects, and rejoices—equal parts protest and balm, recorded at their own Humble Abode Music studio. Whether playing international stages or hosting their semi-annual Catskills festival, The Hoot, The Mammals bring warmth, defiance, and harmony to every performance.
“Some of the best songwriting of their generation.” — LA Times
“A party band with a conscience.” — Boston Globe
“A national treasure.” — Anaïs Mitchell”
Dustin Lowman exudes wit, warmth, and wounded wonder through a poet’s eye and a voice that’s pure and true. A soulful folk singer whose songs spring from the quiet sanctum of reflection and the harsh echoes of rebellion, he delivers ballads both tender and absurd, stories shaped by heartbreak, hilarity, and a deep literary streak. With echoes of Dylan and the rawness of lived truth, his performances walk the line between traditional and heretical, inviting audiences into a shared human moment. Dustin finds harmony in the chaos that life brings and knows how to bring it to his audiences.