UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH 15 - HALLIGANS - AUBURN, MA @ 8:30
MARCH 23 - FIREFLYS BBQ - MARLBORO, MA @ 9:00
APRIL 13 - THE FIX - LEOMINSTER, MA @ 8:00
APRIL 19 - LAST RESORT - SMITHFIELD, RI @ 3:00
MAY 18 - DISTRICT CTR FOR THE ARTS - TAUNTON, MA @ 8:00
MAY 24 - TWIN RIVER CASINO - LINCOLN, RI @ 9:00
JULY 14 - MCL - WORCESTER, MA @ 3:00
JULY 20 - TWIN RIVER CASINO - LINCOLN, RI @ 9:00
JULY 27 - GARDNER COMMON - GARDNER, MA @ 6:00
AUGUST 9 - KIMBALL FARM - WESTFORD, MA @ 6:00
SEPTEMBER 1 - LAST RESORT - SMITHFIELD, RI @ 3:00
OCTOBER 4 - FIREFLYS BBQ - MARLBORO, MA @ 9:00
OCTOBER 12 - DOCKSIDE RIPTIDE - NEWPORT, RI @ 8:00
OCTOBER 18 - WACHUSETT BREWERY - WESTMINSTER, MA @ 6:00
NOVEMBER 8 - HALLIGANS - AUBURN, MA @ 8:30
DECEMBER 7 - POINT BREEZE - WEBSTER, MA @ 8:30
ABOUT US
Gold Dust Refugee is New England’s only tribute band that recreates the full concert experience of Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty, replicating the biggest hits of both of these music icons, while also showcasing the unique collaboration between Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks. The band’s musicianship, soaring vocals and consummate harmonies provide audiences with an immersive journey through the soundtrack of their lives.
THE BAND
Lynn has a passion for singing and performing that began at the age of 10. She sang with various school and community choral groups and musical theatre spanning four decades. As a lifelong Alto, it was in particular, the a cappella and jazz octet groups she sang with that gave her a lifelong appreciation for tight and accurate vocals and harmonies. Her early contemporary musical influences mirrored this appreciation and included Linda Ronstadt, Karen Carpenter, Fleetwood Mac, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Mamas & The Papas, and The Eagles among others.
Early involvement in bands was limited to her late teens having done some studio work with one of her brother’s bands as well as for some songwriters. Realizing that performing regularly with a band was a bucket list item surfaced a mere 5 years ago! That bucket list began with and currently consists of The Verge, two acoustic duos, one of those being Voxx88, and most recently as “Stevie Nicks” with Gold Dust Refugee where Lynn’s trained alto voice plays triple duty as Stevie, Christine McVie and harmonies on the Tom Petty tunes.
Ron on vocals and guitar, plays the role of Tom Petty for the Gold Dust Refugee project. Ron started playing guitar at the age of 8, played his first night club gig at the age of 14 and never looked back from there. In the early 80s Ron went on to sing and play guitar for the band Medallion as they toured the east coast from Maine to PA. The Econoline van was our home. From there Ron played in numerous projects such as Ceptor, Shaky Ground, The SGS Project and Trak Down. You can also find Ron playing the local pubs with his acoustic duo called Blue House Between. Ron pays great attention to detail which translates into a great musical experience for all.
George, at the age of sixteen, found himself filling in for the bass player in a friend’s band, Equinox (it was the early 70’s), and he instantly fell in love with the low end. He played in a number of different bands through the 70’s and 80’s around the Boston area before taking a break while starting a family.
By the late 90’s the bug was back and he started finding musicians to play with. That led to the band Millhouse that played around the Worcester area for several years. Various other projects connected him with the current line-up of Gold Dust Refugee where he fills out the low end and finds the groove.
“You hear the music. You feel the bass.”
Mark began playing piano at age three, imitating just about anything he heard, from folk songs to TV jingles. Growing up in the midst of “Beatlemania” and having a knack for picking up songs quickly, he was often called upon by friends and classmates to play Beatles songs for them on the piano.
Mark studied piano and trombone through high school, and continued with trombone through college, earning a music degree from the University of Lowell. It was the trombone that landed Mark his first gig with a band. In 1976, through a tip from a music teacher, he joined up with Beginnings, a Chicago tribute band. The band quickly became popular for proms and weddings. Mark was called upon to write brass arrangements.
“Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have worked with some of the most talented musicians. The friendships and musical connections I’ve made have been extremely valuable and fulfilling”.
Rich took an interest in the drums at age 10 and took private lessons for several years. Rich grew up in a musical family, his mom played the organ and his siblings played guitar. His mentor growing up was of course the one and only, world renowned Jazz/Swing, Big Band Drummer, Buddy Rich. Band influences even to this day are: Earth Wind and Fire, Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Sly and the Family Stone, and Boston. During his teen years, Rich started playing with other musician friends, and eventually formed his first Rock Band which played all original music.
Rich also played in a country band called Knoxville Crossing then later joined a Show Tune/ Swing Band called The Sounds of New England that was hired for many years to be the house band for The Old Timers Restaurant in Clinton MA, Boyatzi’s Holden Hills Country Club, and at Brian’s Point Breeze in Webster MA while playing for numerous weddings and other private events.
Marc grew up singing and playing guitar in the 80’s, a time when the guitar gods were worshiped. His influences include Phil Keaggy, Eric Johnson, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Morse, Dann Huff, and of course, Eddie Van Halen. Growing up in NJ, his early projects in high school and college consisted of Contemporary Christian Music bands, doing both originals and covers. Marc moved to Massachusetts in his early 20s and after coaching ice hockey for many years, returned to the gigging scene playing with several area bands and an acoustic duo.. “It’s extremely fun and rewarding playing music with Gold Dust Refugee, and trying my best to emulate two guitar greats in Mike Campbell and Lindsey Buckingham”.