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Don Hoffman -
Don has been performing Live music for over 40 yrs.
Beginning with Guitar lessons at 8 yrs old. Then Singing in School & Church Chorus' and performing in rock bands at recreation nights and local parties in high school, Don has always had the music bug. .
In his 20’s he began playing banjo as well as guitar and harmonica and formed an Acoustic duet with Bill Cassidy performing at Coffee houses, clubs, fairs and festivals. This duet continued steadily for the next 25 years building a base of experience that would form his future.
In his 30’s he joined with Bill & Bruce Blinn-Knapp in the band “Sweetwater”, a 3-piece bluegrass band known for its blended harmonies and high energy shows with Rock & Blues overtones. The band had great success headlining the Adirondack Bluegrass Festival yearly and many of Albany’s and Saratoga’s festivals and First Night celebrations including The Palace in Albany.
He also performed as a sideman with Bruce at venues such as The Chance in Poughkeepsie, Berkshire Performing Arts Center Saratoga Winners in Clifton Park.
In his 30’s and into his 40’s it was Rock & Roll that dominated Don’s musical stylings. Playing Electric guitar and singing lead vocals in many different bands including “Rock River”; Blues Edge” & “Roadhouse”.
In 2006 Don picked up the bass guitar joined with his old Sweetwater bandmates to form “New Shoes” a 3-piece blues with Bill on guitar and Bruce on Drums. This band played shows all around Saratoga and the capitol region for 5 yrs before eventually adding saxophone and a female vocalist to round out the sound.
Nowadays Don has returned to his acoustic roots, playing acoustic guitar, harmonica and banjo as a solo performer, in the Duet "Two Shoes" or in the Trio "Two Shoes" doing original and cover tunes that keep everyone tapping their toes and singing along. In "Two Shoes" he is joined by Sean Cohan (fiddle, mandolin, dobro guitar and vocals) and Gary Cunningham (Bass and Vocals)