Ponyhustle — When it comes to country music, Vermont appreciates authenticity. You'll find no flag-waving, watered-down country full of cliché lyrics here — leave that to the beer commercials. Instead, we have the likes of Ponyhustle, a Burlington band dedicated to the very roots of country music and the honky-tonk vibes of the 1950s and '60s.
With Eric George and John Abair on guitar and vocals, Luke Hausman on bass, Trevor Michalak on drums, Rick Soszynski on lead guitar, Erich Meisberger on pedal steel, and Collin Cope on harmonica, Ponyhustle create a massive, boot-stomping sound. The septet is equally capable of laying out gorgeous country ballads as starting a high-tempo hoedown.
The band has been the primary host of the Honky Tonk Tuesday series at Radio Bean since 2015, continuing one of Burlington's most beloved and well-attended institutions. It also finally released a debut record earlier this year to rave reviews. Sure, 2025 may be the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac, but in Vermont, it's the Year of the Pony.