ABOUT ME

Tyler Westcott is a poet, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Buffalo, NY. Westcott breathes new life into roots music spanning multiple genres and decades. Also creating new music inspired by the old. He specializes in storytelling, songwriting, folk, country blues, traditional jazz, bluegrass and old time, western swing, and more. Armed with his trusty guitar, banjo, and harmonica, & the gift of the gab, he has a knack for describing the human condition with humor and joy, Often in timely and topical songs reflecting the current state of the world. Westcott will guide you through a myriad of genres and decades of eclectic roots music while seamlessly weaving in his own original cuts.

Westcott founded popular Western New York based nationally touring eclectic roots group Folkfaces in 2011, As well as traditional jazz outfit Banjo Juice Jazz Band in 2017 and Django Reinhardt style jazz band The Paper Roses in 2019. In 2022 he debuted with the Tyler Westcott Band. Westcott has a long standing residency that for the last 9 years has featured guests from all over the country and world. 6-8pm Wednesdays at Nietzsches in Buffalo NY. He's been performing in and out of the Western New York for over a decade and is well known and respected throughout New York State as well as up and down the East Coast.

Westcott released his self-titled solo debut in 2017. In 2020 Westcott released an acoustic jazz duo album called “Medical Record” with local legend and clarinet wizard Brian "Dr. Jazz" Bauer (who has accompanied Leon Redbone, Jim Kweskin, David Bromberg, Bonnie Raitt). Westcott released “Pandemic Summer” solo EP in 2022. Westcotts’ latest “Singin’ My Friends Songs” was released in December of 2023. His latest album “Royal Street Blues'” was released in March of 2024. A full band concept album, recorded in New Orleans featuring a 9 piece band of local Louisiana musicians. Westcott is currently working on another full length original solo album.

In 2022 Folkfaces celebrated their 10 year anniversary as a group!! Folkfaces have released two full length albums, their debut in 2017 "How Long?" and their follow up with "Fat Ol' Rat" in 2019. The band released their third album “PLUMS” in June of 2023. Westcott can be seen playing Electric Bass performing with Kathryn Koch Band. Westcott was an active member and banjoist of folk/bluegrass band The Observers who released two albums a self titled in 2014 and their follow up "Killing Time" in 2018. Westcott also can be seen playing lead guitar with cajun/zydeco group Black Rock Zydeco who released their debut "Show Me What You're Workin' With" in 2014.

Westcott has shared the stage with Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Peter Rowan, Tony Trischka, Willie Watson, Sierra Ferrell, Tab Benoit, JD Wilkes, Dom Flemons, Cage the Elephant, Sam Grisman Project, The Felice Brothers, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Richie Stearns, Sunny War, The Tillers, Donna the Buffalo, Aaron Jonah Lewis, Jonatavious Willis, Baby Gramps, Yes Ma'am, The Dustbowl Revival, Spirit Family Reunion, Lucid, The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys, Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Jesse Lege, Gill Landry, Antje Duvekot, Dan Bern, and many more.

Westcott founded his own music festival in 2017 called "Folkfaces Fest". The festival hosts an eclectic range of roots, rock, folk, & world music curated by Tyler Westcott! As well as workshops, art installations, activities, film festival, mycology foray, vendors and more!

Folkfaces Fest has hosted Grammy award winner Dom Flemons, Tony Trishcka, Pete Bernhard (Devil Makes Three), Rushad Eggleston, Bruce Molsky, JD Wilkes, Lonesome Ace Stringband, Scott H. Biram, Joe Beard, The Resonant Rogues, Baby Gramps, Andy Cohen, Richie Stearns, Aaron Jonah Lewis, Woody Pines, Cristina Vane and many others. The Festival is approaching its 10th year.

Westcott produces an annual burlesque and can drive/music event called "Brass & Burlesque" the event benefits local homeless shelter and soup kitchen "Friends of Night People". The event is coming up on its 10th year.

Westcott has performed at festivals across New York State and beyond including:

Fanny's Meadow (Somerset, UK)

Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance (Trumansburg, NY)

Shakori Hills Grassroots (Pittsboro, NC)

Virginia Key Grassroots (Miami, FL)

Borderland Music & Art Festival (East Aurora, NY)

East Aurora Music Fest (East Aurora, NY)

Fairchild Folk Fest (Remsen, NY)

North West Jazz Festival (Lewiston, NY)

Geneva Jazz Fest (Geneva, NY)

Naples Grape Fest (Naples, NY)

Bayou in Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY)

Walk This Earth Festival (Albany, Texas)

Blue Heron Music Festival (Sherman, NY)

Night Lights Music Festival (Sherman, NY)

Nights of Fire (Franklinville, NY)

West Almond Stomp (West Almond, NY)

Slyfest (Sherman, NY)

The Capitol's 4th of July celebration (Albany, NY)

Fairchild Folk Festival (Remsen, NY)

Music Is Art (Buffalo, NY)

Buffalo Blues Festival (Buffalo, NY)

Eastbound Throwdown (Salem, NY)

Northern Current (Saranac Lake, NY)

Renaissance Jamboree (Bloomsburg, PA)

Allentown Art Festival (Buffalo, NY)

Strawberry Jam (Turin, NY)

Buffalove Music Festival (Franklinville, NY)

The Fall Down (Hannibal, NY)

The Family Hoedown (Hannibal, NY)

The "G" Jam (Hannibal, NY)

Sterling Stage (Sterling, NY)

East Aurora music festival (East Aurora, NY)

Purple Pig Music Festival (Naples, NY)

Elmwood Avenue Festival (Buffalo, NY)

Sleepy Creek SpringDig (Berkeley Springs, WV)

Madsummer Meltdown (Schuylkill Haven, PA)

Kerfuffle (Buffalo, NY)

Cobblestone live (Buffalo, NY)

Grass in the Glades (Gibbonglade, PA)

I Love Blues and BBQ (Lake Placid, NY)

Winter Carnival (Saranac Lake, NY)

Quotes and Reviews:

"Singing hearty melodies with occasional falsetto leaps that evoke heartache, Westcott really embodies the blues, as his feelings seem to pour outward into every listener’s soul. Quick-moving lyrics tell stories of love and heartbreak, perseverance and letting loose." - Katie Halligan (Rochester City Newspaper)

“Folkfaces is arguably the most ubiquitous roots-Americana band in upstate New York. If you love hearing music live, you've probably caught the Buffalo-based quartet's infectious blend of bluegrass, folk, blues, and hot jazz. Led by tireless frontman Tyler Westcott, Folkfaces are sure to paste a smile on your face with lightning-fast musical chops wrapped up in punk rock energy. The band recently released "PLUMS" - its first album with newest member Brendan Gosson on fiddle and mandolin - which includes a full-band version of Westcott's brilliant and charming “When Lockdown Lifts." - Daniel Kushner CITY Paper

"Well most of us see Tyler Westcott lighting it up with his various groups such as Folkfaces, Paper Roses, and The Observers, and that’s just what he did in Canandaigua with Folkfaces to a packed house at Ploughshares on Saturday night. On Sunday, however, an incredible transformation occurred when Tyler came to Quiote at Rio Tomatlan with just his guitar, banjo, harmonica, and well-crafted original songs and stories of his personal life and life on the road as a full-time musician. For two hours with no intermission from the first note to the last he had his audience in the palm of his hand, and they responded enthusiastically with hoots and shouts of affirmation. The ease with which he moved from one story and song to another displayed a professionalism comparable to iconic musicians who travel the national circuit. His delivery, very similar to Arlo Guthrie’s, reflected other greats such as Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave, Van Ronk, Bob Dylan, and of course Arlo’s father, Woody. Just like these greats, his honesty presented with a terrific sense of humor was beyond being refreshing and satisfying. Throughout the afternoon, sometimes I thought I was at a coffee house in Greenwich Village, and other times I thought I was sitting in a government camp along Route 66 during the 1930s. Whether rocking out with one of his bands or doing an intimate solo show, Tyler makes people happy with his music. He has found his Niche, and I look forward to more great stories and songs. I’d like to thank Tyler’s mom for grounding him a lot when he was a kid, only allowing him access to a guitar. Had she not done this, we might not have gotten this incredible singer/songwriter and performer. Big thanks to Tyler for a terrific show!" - Frank Meyer (Curator of Meyer & McGuire songwriter concert series at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua, NY)

Music releases:

Solo self titled 2017

https://bankruptstudios716.bandcamp.com/album/tyler-westcott

The Observers "Killing Time" 2018

https://theobservers.bandcamp.com/

Folkfaces "Fat Ol' Rat" 2019

https://folkfaces.bandcamp.com/track/fat-ol-rat

Tyler Westcott & Dr. Jazz “Medical Record” 2020

https://tylerwestcottdrjazz.bandcamp.com/album/medical-record

Tyler Westcott “Pandemic Summer” 2022

https://tylerwestcott.bandcamp.com/album/pandemic-summer

Folkfaces “PLUMS” 2023