The band Cold Chocolate will make its debut at 6 On The Square in Oxford at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 28. (Submitted photo)

OXFORD - Genre-bending Americana band Cold Chocolate will make its debut at 6 On The Square in Oxford at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 28.

Led by Ethan Robbins (vocals/guitar/mandolin) and Ariel Bernstein (vocals/percussion/banjo), the Boston-based duo fuses folk, funk and bluegrass to create a unique sound. Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, Cold Chocolate has gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows. The band has shared bills with Leftover Salmon, David Grisman and Angelique Kidjo, and regularly performs at venues and music festivals across the country.

Robbins began his bluegrass career at Oberlin College, where he started to explore how this hard-driving, fast-paced genre could be stretched. A classical violinist from age 4, he fell in love with the guitar when he turned 14 and his father bought him five quintessential albums: The Band’s “Music from Big Pink,” Bob Dylan’s “Bringing it all Back Home,” John Hartford’s “Steam Powered Aereo-plane,” Hank Williams “Live at the Grand Ole Opry” and the Grateful Dead’s “Workingman’s Dead.” Ever since, Robbins has attempted to bring those raw, rootsy sounds into his own original material.

In 2012, Robbins met percussionist Bernstein at a mutual friend's gig in Boston. Like Robbins, Bernstein also studied classical percussion in college before moving to the drum set. A master of restraint, Bernstein brings a light and tasteful groove to Cold Chocolate’s tunes, filling out their sound and heightening the band’s live energy.

As for the band’s intriguing name and the story behind it, “it came from a childhood memory of mine,” Robbins says. “When my brothers and I used to visit my grandfather in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., the whole drive there from D.C. we'd be in the backseat talking about the frozen Milky Way bars that awaited us in his freezer. I still remember pulling into his driveway after a six-hour drive. He'd come out to meet us — arms wide open for a hug — and the three of us would shoot right past him, headed straight for the freezer, where awaited us the king-size Milky Way bars. So, in some ways, I dedicate the band name to my grandfather’s memory.”

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door; purchase at 6onthesquare.org or call 607-843-OTS6 (6876) to make a reservation. Doors open one hour before the start of performances. The concert also will be streamed live online for $10; more information at 6onthesquare.org.

Open Mic Night

Open Mic Night returns to 6 On The Square on Thursday, April 3, with emcee Ray Stark. Sign-in begins at 6:45 p.m. with performances at 7. Musicians and poets are encouraged to share their talents.

Performers will use our professional sound equipment, and we'll provide a sound tech. There is no charge to perform or be in the audience - but we'll gratefully take donations.

Open Mic Night will be held the first Thursday of every month through June.

Coming up

This spring at 6OTS: Rupert Wates (April 5), Abby Posner (April 12), Joe Crookston (May 11), John Flynn (May 31), Laurie MacAllister of Red Molly (June 7) and our 18th Anniversary Show with Vance Gilbert (June 21).

6 On The Square, Inc. is an intimate, not-for-profit, volunteer-based acoustic music listening room and arts venue located at 6 Lafayette Park in downtown Oxford.

- Information from 6 On The Square