Original Music | Classic Rock Covers | Irish Folk Songs

A progressive folk rock band from Annapolis, Maryland.

Once Upon a Time. . .

John Bachkosky and Kevin Strasser grew up in Severna Park, Maryland, where they met and worked together on a few musical projects, including their first band, DeD Walrus, and Severna Park High School's Rock N Roll Revival. The two then met Greg Mazur during their time at the University of Maryland. After graduating, The Bards were born. 

In November of 2021, The Bards released their self-titled debut album, The Bards, which features orchestral elements and strong three-part harmonies in addition to their signature progressive folk rock style.

In March of 2023, the Bards released The Bards Crawl, a five-song EP consisting of traditional Irish folk tunes.

On January 26th, 2024, the Bards released their second original album: Tales from the Swindling Serpent. Featuring 14 original songs, Tales from the Swindling Serpent is brimming with tales of swindlers, pirates, dragons, and epic bar fights!

Along with their growing list of original material, The Bards play a wide range of rock covers and Irish folk tunes. Some of their favorites are Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen, Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, and the traditional tunes Drunken Sailor and Irish Rover.

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The Bards are an independent band. All Bards albums are self-produced, with Kevin Strasser acting as sound engineer and producer in his home studio: Shady Side Studios.