Some of the most successful entertainment groups of all time have been duos, paving the way for styles like local performers, The Gold Hope Duo.
Founded in 2012, The Gold Hope Duo, comprised of Lara Hope and Matt “The Knife” Goldpaugh, have made a splash in the Hudson Valley and will be performing their combination of rhythm, blues, country, folk and rockabilly music on stage at Bacchus Restaurant.
This is not the band’s first rodeo at Bacchus, and Bar Manager Dave Ellison said the band’s style is something different than others he has seen.
“We start the music earlier [than other bars in town] so it’s a good fit to have a lighter punk-swing sound,” he said. “They do something unique that no one else plays.”
Hope coined the term “Merry-Cana” to describe the pair’s sound, with each performance including a bit of humor to the couple’s livelihood.
“We dwell in the Americana/roots music world, but while being very upbeat and fun,” she said. “Onstage we always have lots of off-the-cuff banter happening, coupled with some loosely scripted jokes. Some of the songs are funny, some not, but we present them in an upbeat and cheery way and have fun doing it.”
Hope added she hopes the audience at their Bacchus performance leaves with “inspiration, pain from laughing, soreness from dancing and wet pants.”
The duo has had much success in the local area with more than 1,000 likes on their Facebook page. The pair regularly performs “literally everywhere in Ulster County that hosts live music,” according to Hope. They have gained increasing local recognition performing around local venues including Oasis, Snugs, and SUNY New Paltz.
The duo just arrived back in the region after an eight-week-long national tour during which they traveled from Kentucky to Seattle.
The two plan to grace the stage at Bacchus on Friday, April 4 at 10 p.m. with their eclectic sound and instruments, ranging from guitars to bass, banjo and kazzoo.