Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches Americana Band from New York City, NY

Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (*available for virtual events) specialize in Country, Folk, Bluegrass, old timey, Western Swing, 20s/30s, traditional jazz, music of New Orleans, blues, tin pan, ragtime, world music & dance. We also play an eclectic mix of traditional genres, Blues, Latin and other world musics. We take genre & song requests. Our band members have performed at such NYC venues as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, 55 Bar & around the world, including Japan, Spain, Brasil, Sweden, St. Kitts, Bermuda, Israel, Korea, Moscow, Omsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Academy City, Canada & across the U.S.. You can see our vocalist/guitarist in films: Disney's Enchanted & Mona Lisa Smile with Julia Roberts. Banjoist/guitarist, Nick Russo appears in the Sam Mendes film, Away We Go, on ABC's Good Morning and playing banjo/guitar on pilot episode of the PBS cartoon, Peg & Cat. Summer of 2013, Nick performed at Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin's place. It was an honor for Nick to meet Paul McCartney & jam with him while he played toy harmonica! Please feel free to view Gwyneth Paltrow & Stella McCartney's "An English Garden Party" video. Nick also plays with artists such as Jon Batiste (Colbert Show), actors, Antoinette Smith, Rob Morrow plus Russell Hall & Rainbow Kids and many others. We have over 70 CLIENT REVIEWS (All 5 Star) between our 4 EPKs. Here are a just a few: Hiring Nick and Betina for our wedding was a decision I would make a thousand times over. They not only played absolutely beautifully, but they also had incredible energy, charisma, and such chemistry between everyone in the band, keeping everyone going all night. They accommodated our every request, from learning new songs (with incredible arrangements), to adjusting their volume levels to suit the differing demands of the Mothers. I would recommend them for every event. Even now, months later, people are still complimenting us on our choice, and asking where they could catch more gigs! It was truly an honor to have them play for us. Review by Michael B. FROM BREEZY POINT, NY ON 9/7/2014 "Betina and her husband, Nick were completely fantastic at our wedding. Nick was able to play classical guitar at the ceremony, and also to arrange a piece from one of my favorite movies on guitar as the processional. They were able to accommodate a wide range of music, rearranged pieces creatively, and really just wowed the crowd at the reception. We got tons of comments on how fantastic they were and I'm sure they will get more gig offers from our friends. Also, they spent hours on email and the phone with us prior to the wedding, confirming every detail. They made every announcement I requested, and did everything with a smile. Love them! " Quinn D. Wedding in Stockbridge, MA 07/27/2013 Nick and Betina played at our wedding outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. Simply stated, they were incredible. They worked closely with us throughout the planning process and were very flexible and accommodating. Their energy, style, range, chemistry, and fun-loving nature were major contributions to creating a special atmosphere during our wedding. Our guests were extremely complimentary of their unique sound and impressive talent, and my wife and I would highly recommend them for other weddings! Review by Andrew F. FROM LITTLE ROCK, AR ON 10/10/2015 Nick and Betina were the absolute best thing that happened to our wedding reception! Our guests are still raving about the music. Both Nick and Betina went out of their way to make sure that everything was just as we wanted it. They even accommodated some new songs that we sprung on them at the last minute. They also added a Sax/Clarinet player that was outside of their normal band, he was amazing! This whole ensemble was truly great. Their professionalism and helpfulness truly went above and beyond. I simply cannot say enough good things about them and would hire them again in a second! The videos posted here do NOT do this band justice, they're truly amazing. -Lyman T, 10/22/2011, Wedding Reception, Lakeville, CT Nick Russo is the most accomodating musician you could ever hope to work with. He honored every song request we asked for. He went above and beyond when he and his wife helped me compose an original song for my husband as a surprise. He then accompanied me on the song at my wedding. People couldn't stop talking the entire night about how amazing the song was. His talent is phenomenal. The feel his musicianship lent to the cocktail hour & ceremony was one of elegance, sophistication, fun, uplifting, and beautiful. I highly recommend him to any future bride, not just for his talent, but for his warm and inviting personality as well. Thanks Nick! Jessica & Paul Bartels -Jessica A., Wedding Cocktail Hour in North Bergen, NJ 6/10/2012

• Banjo Nickaru and The Western Scooches Live in concert | Betina Hershey & Nick Russo
• Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey | Hughie Cannon
• Crazy | Patsy Cline
• I Gotta Woman | Ray Charles
• Just Like Rain | Alison Krauss and Union Station
• Oh Boy | Buddy Holly
• I'm Gettin Married | Betina Hershey & Nick Russo
• Take Me For Longing | Alison Krauss and Union Station
• ********************* | TRADITIONAL AMERICANA & BLUEGRASS
• Crawdad
• Cumberland Gap
• I'll Fly Away
• I am A Girl of Constant Sorrow
• Jubilee
• Keep On The Sunny Side
• New River Train
• Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
• Sail Away Ladies
• Skye Boat Song
• Two Little Boys
• ********************* | TRADITIONAL TRAIN SONGS / BLUEGRASS
• Buddy Won't You Roll Down the Line
• Engine 143
• Freight Train
• I'm Bound To Ride
• I've Been Working on the Railroad
• Life is Like A Mountain Railway
• The Longest Train
• Midnight Train
• Reuben's Train
• Roll On Buddy
• Wreck of the Old 97
• To Work Upon the Railway
• Wabash Cannonball
• *********** | ROCKABILLY & COUNTRY & BLUEGRASS
• Ain't That Lovin' You Baby | Sly and the Family Stone
• All the Road Running | Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris
• Blue Suede Shoes | Carl Perkins / Elvis Presley
• Can't Help Falling In Love With You | Elvis Presley
• Danny's Song | Kenny Loggins
• Deep River Blues | Doc Watson
• Foggy Mountain Breakdown
• Hey Good Lookin' | Hank Williams
• Ho Hey | The Lumineers
• Honey Don't | Carl Perkins / Elvis Presley
• I've Got A Woman | Ray Charles
• I Will Wait | Mumford and Sons
• Just Like Rain | Bluegrass Tune
• Let's Have A Party | Wanda Jackson
• Livin' Lovin' Wreck | Jerry Lee Lewis
• Maybellen | Chuck Berry
• Rave On | Buddy Holly
• Ring of Fire | Johnny Cash
• Rock Around the Clock | Bill Haley and The Comets
• Take Me For Longing | Alison Krauss & Union Station
• That's Alright Momma | Elvis Presley
• These Boots Are Made For Walking | Nancy Sinatra
• Wagon Wheel | Old Crow Medicine Show
• *************** | FOLK - BOB DYLAN * JONI MITCHELL
• A Case of You | Joni Mitchell
• Ain't Never Had Nobody Like You | M. Ward
• Big Yellow Taxi | Joni Mitchell
• Both Sides Now | Joni Mitchell
• Buckets of Rain | Bob Dylan
• Don't Think Twice It's Alright | Bob Dylan
• Dust in the Wind | Kansas
• Hallelujah | Leonard Cohen
• Like A Rolling Stone | Bob Dylan
• You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go | Bob Dylan
• more on request
• ******** | NEW ORLEANS TRADITIONAL JAZZ 1920-30
• All of Me
• Avalon
• Bill Bailey
• Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me
• Careless Love
• Dinah
• Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans | Louis Armstrong / Harry Connick
• Five Foot Two
• Four or Five Times
• Glow Worm | Mills Brothers
• Heebie Jeebies | The Boswell Sisters
• Honeysuckle Rose | Ella Fitzgerald
• I Can't Give You Anything But Love
• I Found A New Baby
• I Got Rhythm
• I Want to Be Happy
• I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter
• Ida
• Indiana
• Keep On The Sunny Side
• Moonglow
• Nobody But My Baby Is Getting My Love | Eva Taylor
• Oh When The Saints | Louis Armstrong
• On The Sunny Side of the Street
• Pick Yourself Up
• The Saints Go Marching In
• Smile
• Sometimes I Love You
• Sweet Georgia Brown
• The Red Red Robin
• When You're Smiling
• You Made Me Love You
• ********************* | WALTZ
• Always
• Bluesette
• I'll Take Romance
• My Romance
• Someday My Prince Will Come
• Tenderly
• ********************* | SPECIALTY SONGS
• Hava Nagila
• Copa Cabana
• Ave Maria