NORWICH – Formed following the recent completion of the group's debut, seven song EP, the Golden Novak Band will make its first-ever live appearance from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Rita's Tavern, 15 Lackawanna Avenue, Norwich.

Featuring singer/songwriter/guitarists Brian Golden and Jess Novak - who also plays fiddle on many of the band's musical offerings - the Golden Novak Band will welcome local favorites Nick Andrews (drums) and Mike O'Connor (keyboards) to the stage this weekend, laying down a funky sound that includes elements of blues, rock, soul and American roots music. According to Golden, the formation of the band is the culmination of a year long collaboration between he and Novak.

"I met Jess shortly before I made the move to Syracuse, although I'd always been a fan of her writing (Novak has been a music writer in the Syracuse area for the last five years and continues to write for the Syracuse New Times and other local, regional and national music publications)," said Golden. "She joined Master Thieves (the pair's other Syracuse band) last summer, I began sitting in with Jess and the Beards (one of Novak's other side projects), and I think it was simply a matter of time before we started up our own group, considering the amount of time we'd been spending in rehearsal and on stage."

On Wednesday, Golden and Novak put the finishing touches on their latest recording effort (Novak released her debut solo album, Bad Habit, last year, which also featured Golden on electric guitar and was eventually nominated for a Syracuse Area Music Award). The EP includes seven original tracks written by either Golden or Novak, and is expected to be available for purchase within the next month. Both said they have big hopes for both the recording and the band itself, and the pair were happy to announce an August tour of Vermont followed by an east coast tour (in September and October) to Florida and back north to Syracuse.

As for Saturday's debut performance, Golden said he's excited to bring the new sound he and Novak have put together to his hometown of Norwich.

"I can't think of a better way to introduce the band," he added. "We're going have ourselves a great time and we're hoping to see a lot of people make their way out to the show."

For those who might find the 9 p.m. start to be a bit late, even on a Saturday night, Golden and Novak will also be performing in East Park from noon to 1 p.m. as part of the Bullthistle Farmers' Market.