Bigger Beast Records

Bigger Beast Records Independent Record Label w/ A Community Outreach Arm - Founded In 2024 Out of Connecticut.

09/16/2026

Some songs carry a little more history than you can hear in the grooves.

Twenty-two years ago, Bigger Beast Records founder Frank Viele met Kentavius Jones at a guitar camp at Berklee College of Music. KJ with his teal Telecaster made sure the young kid with the acoustic guitar didn’t feel like an outsider - and a friendship was born that has lasted more than two decades.

So when we started the Acoustic Barn Sessions, Kentavius was an easy call.

On a hundred-plus-degree day, he walked into the barn, borrowed Frank’s guitar and said, “This is a new one I just wrote.”

Then he played “Rock You.”

A beautiful song about friendship, loyalty, and showing up when somebody else’s cup is empty.

This performance lives on the first annual Acoustic Barn Sessions vinyl compilation - only 250 copies will ever be pressed and they come with a free CD version as well, with proceeds supporting Toys for Tots this holiday season.

Great songs. Great people. Music doing a little good in the world.

(Link in bio)
Grab your copy while you can.

IMPORTANT SHOW UPDATE - PAT McGEE AT MARKETPLACE:Sometimes you make the call you wish you didn’t have to make.Due to the...
09/13/2026

IMPORTANT SHOW UPDATE - PAT McGEE AT MARKETPLACE:

Sometimes you make the call you wish you didn’t have to make.

Due to the Flash Flood Warning currently impacting Guilford and the surrounding shoreline, we have made the difficult decision to cancel today’s Pat McGee performance at Marketplace in Guilford.

We were incredibly excited about this show. Pat McGee is one of our all time favorite artists and being able to present a show with him in such an intimate listening venue is nothing short of a dream come true.

But live music is about bringing people together, and no concert is worth asking our artists, staff, volunteers, or audience to travel when conditions may not be safe.

All tickets will be fully refunded at the point of purchase. Please allow a little time for those refunds to process.

We’re incredibly grateful to Pat, the team at Marketplace, and every single person who made plans to spend their Sunday with us.

Most importantly, please stay safe today, avoid flooded roadways, and keep a look out for a new Pat McGee show date in 2027.

Stay safe and we’ll see you soon!

Frank Viele
Bigger Beast Records

Tonight’s the night!6pm show time!Doors at 5pm!Pat Mcgee of pat mcgee alongside Patrick McAloon will be performing at Bi...
09/13/2026

Tonight’s the night!

6pm show time!
Doors at 5pm!

Pat Mcgee of pat mcgee alongside Patrick McAloon will be performing at Bigger Beast’s new home The Marketplace !

Don’t miss this show!

09/12/2026

There’s something different about a song when you strip away everything it can hide behind.

One room. One microphone. One take. A voice, a guitar, and whatever truth somebody carried through the door with them that day.

Here’s Frank Viele performing “Trying To Raise A Man” live at the Acoustic Barn - his contribution to the first-annual Bigger Beast Records Acoustic Barn Sessions vinyl compilation.

12 artists. 12 songs. One room.

And only 250 copies will ever exist.

This limited-edition vinyl captures twelve independent artists live at the Acoustic Barn, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Toys for Tots this holiday season.

That means every record we sell helps support independent music while helping put a toy in the hands of a child this holiday season.

The test pressing is spinning. The finished records are coming. And pre-orders are open now.

No second pressing. No endless inventory.

Just 250 records, twelve performances, and a chance for a little independent music to do some good in the world.

Pre-order yours now through the link in our bio.

The Acoustic Barn Sessions - Year One.

Tip of The Hat (John Prine Edition) was a sowcial@one last night as Shawn Taylor, Terri LaChance, and Bryan Titus perfor...
09/11/2026

Tip of The Hat (John Prine Edition) was a sowcial@one last night as Shawn Taylor, Terri LaChance, and Bryan Titus performed songs of their own and songs from the John Prine Songbook at The Marketplace !

Hosted by Frank Critelli !

📸 by Frank Critelli

09/11/2026

Well… this is pretty awesome. ❤️🎶

The test pressing for The Acoustic Barn Sessions: Volume One has officially landed - and for the first time, we’re hearing this little idea of ours spinning around on an actual turntable.

So naturally, we dropped the needle.

What you’re hearing here is a little piece of Sam Robbins performing “Live Them In Love” — one of twelve songs recorded live in the Acoustic Barn and now pressed into the grooves of this record.

And what a group of songwriters we somehow managed to fit onto two sides of vinyl:
Sam Robbins - “Live Them In Love”
Jesse Terry - “Where You Came From”
Frank Viele - “Trying To Raise A Man”
Halley Neal - “Someone Like You Someday”
Kentavius Jones - “This Life”
Kemp Harris - “Baby Let Me See Your Phone”
Danielle Miraglia - “The Ones Who Made Him”
Bryan Titus - “How You Make A Hurricane”
Jessica Smucker - “Dinosaurs”
Rees Shad - “Threadbare”
Laura Clapp - “Not For Me”
Kristen Ford - “Massachusetts”

Twelve artists. Twelve songs. One barn.

No giant studio. No chasing perfection. Just songwriters walking into a room, sitting down with their instruments, and giving us a song exactly the way songs have been passed from one person to another forever.

And maybe the part we’re proudest of:

100% of the proceeds from this record will support our annual Holiday Toy Drive benefiting Toys for Tots.

So every time one of these records finds a home, independent music gets supported - and a few more toys get put into the hands of kids who deserve a little extra magic this holiday season.

That was the whole idea behind the Acoustic Barn Sessions.

Make something beautiful with artists we believe in.

Put it on wax.

And use it to do a little good in the world.

Hearing it come through the speakers for the first time?

Yeah.

This one means a lot. ❤️

The Acoustic Barn Sessions: Volume One.

Pre order your copy at the link in our bio!

THIS IS THE TIME. 🎹❤️We’re incredibly excited to announce a brand-new Bigger Beast Records event coming to Western Massa...
09/04/2026

THIS IS THE TIME. 🎹❤️

We’re incredibly excited to announce a brand-new Bigger Beast Records event coming to Western Massachusetts this fall!

On Sunday, October 4, 15 singer-songwriters will come together at The Barn for one special night celebrating their own music and the legendary songbook of Billy Joel - all in support of the incredible The People’s Pantry in Great Barrington, MA.

And here’s the part that matters most:

100% of the proceeds go directly to The People’s Pantry.
Great songs. Great artists. A beautiful setting. And music being used to do some good in the community.

That’s exactly what Bigger Beast is all about.

🎹 THIS IS THE TIME
📍 Buttonball Barn • South Egremont, MA
📅 Sunday, October 4 • 4–8 PM
🎟️ Tickets start at $35 • Kids under 12 FREE

Come sing along with us and help us turn one great night of music into something that matters. ❤️

Tickets available now - link in our story!

🎄 BIGGER BEAST — IT’S TIME TO FILL A TRUCK. 🎄We are incredibly excited to officially announce the lineup for the 2nd Ann...
09/02/2026

🎄 BIGGER BEAST — IT’S TIME TO FILL A TRUCK. 🎄

We are incredibly excited to officially announce the lineup for the 2nd Annual Bigger Beast Records Holiday Toy Drive Concert! 🧸🎸❤️

Last year showed us what can happen when a bunch of artists, music lovers and good humans decide to show up for their community.

So this year?

WE’RE GOING BIGGER.

📍 We’ve moved into a bigger room at The Marketplace in Guilford, CT.

🎟️ There is NO ticket price.

🧸 Admission is simply ONE NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY.

And every additional toy you bring earns you another raffle ticket for a chance to win some incredible prizes throughout the night!

That means you can bring one toy.

Or five.

Or ten.

Because on December 4th, we have one beautifully ridiculous goal:

🚚 LET’S PACK A U-HAUL WITH TOYS. 🚚

Come hear an incredible night of live music.

Come support some amazing artists.

Come hang with the Bigger Beast community.

And most importantly, help us make Christmas morning a little brighter for a whole bunch of kids.

📅 DECEMBER 5
📍 THE MARKETPLACE — GUILFORD, CT
🎟️ ADMISSION: ONE NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY

Where community and artists roar as one. ❤️

Now let’s fill that truck!

What an amazing crowd we had for this full day festival!Thank you to everybody who helped make the 2nd Annual 21 Songwri...
09/01/2026

What an amazing crowd we had for this full day festival!

Thank you to everybody who helped make the 2nd Annual 21 Songwriters Music Festival & Conference (Western New England Edition) on Saturday a truly special day!

Spark Sessions returns this Friday, August 21st @ 7:30PM in the BackLight Listening Room at Bright Ideas Brewing Westfie...
08/21/2026

Spark Sessions returns this Friday, August 21st @ 7:30PM in the BackLight Listening Room at Bright Ideas Brewing Westfield!

Join us for an amazing show featuring Shanna in a Dress with Stephen Peter Rodgers and Bekka Dowland.

Advanced tickets just $25

You’ll not only experience a great show, but also Award-winning craft brews and dynamite food are just down the hall from Chappy's for this intimate listening experience. Check it out!

📍 109 Apremont Way, Westfield, MA, 01085
🍻 Taproom Open at 12:00 PM
🎶 Show at 7:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets are $25

🍕 Enjoy Chappy's @ Bright wood fired pizza, wings & delicious local cuisine!

🎤 Shanna in a Dress is an American folk-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known especially for her humor, extreme candor, and deeply emotional storytelling. Often described as a mix between Ingrid Michaelson, John Prine, and the fictional character Phoebe Buffay from Friends, she frequently takes audiences on a “roller coaster” of laughter and tears.

🎤 Stephen Peter Rodgers is an accomplished American singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who has been a cornerstone of the New Haven, CT indie music scene for over three decades. His recent solo work focuses on introspective Americana, rootsy folk, and vintage country vibes driven by hope and lived experience. With a rich and comforting voice, his tunes are sure to warm your heart and put an extra hop in your step!

🎤 Bekka Dowland is a singer-songwriter based out of Western Massachusetts who writes and performs a blend of New England country and modern pop. Her sound fuses the narrative, vulnerable storytelling of traditional country music with catchy, modern pop sensibilities. Her lyricism centers around real-life human experiences, including topics of resilience, heartbreak, grief, healing, and self-discovery. Bekka was named one of BUZZMUSIC’s Best Artists of 2025.

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Hamden, CT
06514

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