“The unstoppable funk hip hop dance party.” From underground shows to international festivals, Sophistafunk has become known as “the hip hop band for the jam band fan (-Live for Live Music).” Featured as house band on several Food Network television shows, the band’s iconic friendship with legendary chef Guy Fieri has led to wild opportunities through the years. But from Hollywood to their home in Syracuse NY, Sophistafunk remains committed to their formula vintage tones, funky beats, mind-expanding flows, and powerful positive vibes. That’s why each Sophistafunk performance , often with a variety of special guests, is truly a celebration of what makes live music so great. 

The sibling rock band from Hartford, CT includes Brothers, Steve and Nick, who blend punk rock with heavy blues riffs. The band has been featured alongside acts such as Gary Clark Jr., Johnny Winter, Anvil, Joe Bonamassa, George Lynch, Chris Robinson, James Cotton, Gogol Bordello, Devon Allman, Melvin Seals and JGB, The Mike Dillon Band, Dub Trio, Dopapod and many more. The duo has also been featured on major festival line-ups alongside The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Linkin Park, Motley Crüe, Alice Cooper, Slayer, Iggy Pop and Elvin Bishop. Balkun Brothers has been a band for over a decade and was voted 'Best Rock Band in New England' at the 2017 New England Music Awards. Steve Balkun was also hand selected by Joe Bonamassa to join him on stage in Los Angeles, CA as part of the Guitar Center Blues Masters competition in 2013 after being voted a grand finalist at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Brothers Nick and Steve, independently produced and released their debut album in 2015 entilted, 'ReDrova', which was well received and rose to #1 on the Roots Music Report Blues-Rock album charts and was #5 on the Roots Music Report overall Blues charts. Balkun Brothers signed with European label Dixiefrog Records in 2015 and released their much-anticipated second album, 'Devil On TV', with Dixiefrog in May of 2017. On their mission to spread rock n' roll across the universe, the brothers have toured extensively throughout the United States from coast to coast. The band has also completed six European tours since 2015, performing in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France. After releasing two albums on French record label, Dixiefrog Records, The Balkun Brothers returned to their rock and blues roots on the power duo's 2019 album, ‘The Sun Studio Sessions’, which was recorded in Memphis, TN at Sun Studios. The brothers paid tribute to their musical forefathers with songs ranging from fast, up-tempo rock anthems to dirty, sweat-covered, backwoods delta blues. After Completing a full United States tour in early 2020 and playing at famed venues such as The Whiskey A Go-Go and The Viper Room in Los Angeles, CA, the power duo from Hartford, CT returned to the studio alongside legendary producer, Steve Albini, to channel grunge, punk and rock on their album, ‘Here Comes The End Of The World’, available on Aisa Music and Auto Bon Records. This album mixes rock, thrash, doom and punk all into one fast-paced adrenaline covered rampage. The high-energy songs reveal the band's versatility in the studio and their in-your-face attitude bleeds true rock n' roll into the listener’s ears with every note. The album was produced, recorded and mixed on analog tape by legendary engineer, Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies, Iggy Pop), at Electrical Audio in Chicago, IL and mastered by Bill Skibbe (Jack White, The Black Keys, The Raconteurs) at Third Man Records in Detroit, MI. Jack White even attended Balkun Brothers' mastering session. Following this album, the band released two singles in late 2020 on Color Red Records. Both singles were produced by Eddie Roberts. The two songs mix psychedelic funk, rock, jam and punk. in 2021 the duo put out an EP, 'Paris Penthouse Party', which was recorded in Paris, France at Basement Studios by UK producer, Nick Buxton. The album was mastered by Sean Magee (The Beatles, The Ramones, Iron Maiden) at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, England. Their album, '735 Farmington Ave', was released in August 2022 and is a mix of rock, funk and alternative music. Produced and mixed by Jason Randall at More Sound Studios in Syracuse, NY and mastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.    Their new album, 'TWO LEATHER JACKETS', released 11/23/25 was recorded at the legendary Sunset Sound Studio II in Los Angeles, CA with producer, Keith Snow (Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Better Than Ezra), in the same room Van Halen recorded in on Prince's famous microphones!