About Evan

Some days, he’s fronting a rock or folk band. Other days, he’s a bluegrass fiddler. But on any given day, Evan Anstey is probably working on a new song or two. Born and raised north of Buffalo, New York, Anstey’s alternative-folk sound draws inspiration from bluegrass pioneers like Flatt & Scruggs, progressive innovators like Nickel Creek and the modern folk stylings of songwriters such as Aoife O’Donovan, John Paul White and Declan O’Rourke.

Anstey started playing violin as a child, later picking up guitar, mandolin and electric bass. Songwriting has long been a hobby of his and eventually, a number of those early compositions made their way onto his 2016 debut EP, “Recent Time.”

Since then, he has released 2018's "We Will Be At Peace,” 2020’s collaboration with friend James Robert Kibby — "The Weekend Preacher,” 2023’s “Things Changed” and two entries in his “Alternates” EP series (2021, 2024).

A new solo album is anticipated for release in early 2026.

Involvement in WNY Music

Since he was a teenager, Anstey has played with various Buffalo and Rochester-based bands, performing across parts of the U.S. and Canada. In his career, he’s shared the stage with names such as Billy Sheehan, Carl Dixon, Bobby Lebel, Jessie Galante and Kansas.

In his folk and bluegrass band, Evan Anstey & the Old Ways, he is joined by Kibby (banjo, 12-string guitar), Ben Jones (bass) and Ryan Printup (mandolin).

As of 2025, he’s also been performing as a violinist with Buffalo Bound, McCarthyizm, and the nationally-touring Dave Matthews Tribute Band (DMTB).

Prior to this, Anstey spent five years as a sideman for Americana songsmith Darryl Tonemah, and also played with Acoustic Jelly from 2015 until the band’s dissolution in 2022.

Additionally, as a guitarist and lead singer, Anstey co-founded 716-based rock bands Meat Raffle, Arrowdrive and The Moon Hunters.

Life And Such

Evan Anstey graduated from Houghton University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in music. He continues to call Western New York his home alongside his wife and son, and their two cats.

Band Membership History

— Current —

  • Evan Anstey & the Old Ways | lead vocals, guitar, violin (2022-present), mandolin (2022-2024)

  • McCarthyizm | violin (2025-present)

  • Buffalo Bound | violin (2025-present)

— Inactive —

  • Finding Sodus | vocals, guitar, bass (2022-present)

  • The Seven Skilled Brewmasters | violin, electric guitar (2023-present)

  • Russlett & the Rogues | violin, mandolin (2023-present)

— Former —

  • Meat Raffle | guitar, vocals (2019-2025)

  • Tonemah | violin, mandolin (2019-2024)

  • Alex Feig & Friends/Bunch of Bloody Guts | guitar (2023), bass (2021-2023), backing vocals (2021-2023)

  • Acoustic Jelly | violin, mandolin, vocals (2015-2022)

  • Arrowdrive/Community Property | guitar, vocals (2011-2012, 2019-2020)

  • Trailer Park Barbies | guitar, vocals (2018-2019)

  • The Moon Hunters | guitar, vocals (2012-2019)

  • Thirty Mile | guitar, mandolin, violin, vocals (2016-2017)

  • Fake News/Faces for Radio | guitar, vocals (2015-2016)

  • Evan Anstey & the Unsupervised | guitar, vocals (2015-2016)

— Guest Appearances —

  • The Dave Matthews Tribute Band (DMTB) | violin

  • The Twang Gang | violin, guitar, vocals

  • Garden Party | violin

  • Yellow Jack | mandolin

  • MOB: Musicians of Buffalo | violin

  • ‘A’ Blues Band | bass, guitar

  • Mystery Machine | bass

  • 3D Trio | violin, vocals

Photo by Mark Vosburgh