Scott Hopkins Roots Trio with Special Guest Luke Franco

The Scott Hopkins Roots Trio brings together three musicians who share a love of tradition, exploration, and the joy of making music together. Featuring Scott Hopkins on banjo, Lou Smaldone on bass, and Brian Melick on percussion, the trio creates a rich, genre-crossing sound rooted in bluegrass and Americana while drawing from blues, jazz, country, and Latin influences.

At the center is banjoist Scott Hopkins, who began listening to Flatt & Scruggs and The Stanley Brothers on records played by his father. He studied at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and the University of Connecticut. His solo recordings include collaborations with Tony Trischka, Mike Compton, Becky Buller, Casey Driessen, and Joe Newberry. Hopkins teaches band at Duanesburg Central School District and leads workshops and camps at The Ashokan Center, Banjo Camp North, and Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Camps. He founded the Ashokan Banjo Weekend in 2023.

Bassist Lou Smaldone is a familiar presence in the Capital Region jazz scene. Percussionist Brian Melick is sought after for his versatility and deeply creative rhythmic approach; his work includes a passion for the Udu, an ancient clay drum with a haunting, earthy sound.

Special guest Luke Franco joins the evening on guitar. A graduate of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, he performs throughout the Berkshires and New York’s Capital Region, bringing lyrical musicianship and improvisational depth.

This is roots music with wide-open ears. One moment the trio locks into the drive and sparkle of bluegrass; the next they drift into jazz improvisation, deep grooves, or global rhythms shaped by Melick’s inventive percussion. Together, the musicians create performances that feel both grounded and adventurous.

"With Scott, Lou, and Brian, it's not just a show; it's an experience." — Tanya Tobias-Tomis, Lake George Arts Project

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