Event

ROCKWOOD FERRY

Rockwood Ferry was formed by Tenzin Chopak in October of 2011 in Ithaca, NY with Richie Stearns (The Horse Flies, Ti Ti Chickapea, Evil City String Band), Rosie Newton (Evil City String Band, The Pearly Snaps, Ferintosh), Harry Aceto (Wild Asparagus, Djug Django), and Eric Aceto (Ti Ti Chickapea, Djug Django, Aceto Leiberman Quartet).
Tenzin Chopak, a recent arrival on the Ithaca music scene, was born in Indiana to an artist mother and a Presbyterian minister father who both loved and played music. From the age of two, he grew up in Oak Ridge, TN, where he had originally intended to follow his elder brother Greg Horne's path and become a full time professional musician before Tenzin was swept away for many years by other strange and wonderful adventures (during which the name "Tenzin Chopak" was given and stuck.) In the meantime, Tenzin kept song writing a very quiet part of his life. In 2011, after approaching Ithaca's beloved Richie Stearns for some help with revealing Tenzin's inner banjo player, he worked up the courage to request Richie's assistance in forming an ensemble. Richie then brought in Rosie Newton and Harry Aceto, while Harry brought in his brother Eric Aceto. Rockwood Ferry has also recently had the great good fortune to include Ethan Jodziewicz (Retrospectacles, Steve Selin and friends, Notes Inegales, Evil City / Richie & friends, etc.) on bass.

The name "Rockwood Ferry" comes from a road in Ten Mile, TN where Tenzin spent much time growing up. This road leads down to the old Rockwood Ferry site on the Tennessee River which was then dammed to form Watts Barr Lake. Just before reaching the water, the road passes by two mounds made by Native Americans long, long ago. A beautiful place.