THE BAND
Sweet Maple is an alternative folk band based in central Pennsylvania, merging acoustic roots with a driving edge. With boundary-pushing originals and reimagined covers, we craft music that captivates and speaks to the spirit. Our songs blend strings, electric leads, and driving percussion, inviting audiences to experience folk music with fresh energy, purpose, and heart.
Jasper Night
// Vocals
Introducing Jasper Night, one of the voices behind Sweet Maple's music. Influenced by 70s folk icons like Peter, Paul, & Mary and The Carpenters, as well as the electro pop sounds of obscure gems like Prozzak and Chumbawamba, Jasper always has a unique treat to share when it comes to music.
Despite facing the challenges of multiple chronic illnesses and conditions, which have indefinitely halted her ability to use her pedal harp, Jasper's perseverance to continue performing and following her dreams remains unyielding.
Jasper's path has been guided by a relentless pursuit of compassion and heartfelt expression. After her serendipitous encounter with her now husband Robbie Mann back in 2016, with whom she co-founded Sweet Maple, Jasper has dedicated her life to the pursuit of her dream of performing music with him.
As Jasper continues to navigate the twists and turns of her musical adventures with all of life’s tribulations, her unwavering passion and boundless creativity serve as a reminder that the power of music transcends all boundaries, offering solace, healing, and a glimpse into the magic of the human spirit.
Robbie Mann
// Fiddle, Guitar, Vocals, & Mandolin
Robbie Mann shares knowledge of the history and content of Appalachia’s musical culture through storytelling, sharing personal experiences, and playing songs and tunes from the hills
and hollers with anyone willing to listen. In addition to passing along what has been learned about music from Appalachia’s past, Robbie will take you on a journey through time by discussing how mountain music developed over the centuries, the influences it had towards and received from other genres of music, and its relevance today.
When Robbie was six years old, his mother asked him if he wanted to study piano or violin. He said,“Violin, because you can’t carry around a piano.” Over two decades later and he hasn’t put the fiddle down since, having built his life around the instrument while holding Old-Time and Traditional Bluegrass
nearest to his heart. Robbie is also fond of Classical, Big Band and Jazz, Blues, and Rock’n’Roll.
Matthew Kerns
// Guitar, Mandolin, & Vocals
Multi-instrumentalist and folklorist, Matt Kerns, first calloused his fingers on the mandolin and guitar in the swampy heat of Savannah, Georgia. A sojourner by trade, Kerns traveled the South and honed his craft along the banks of the Arkansas River and in the hollows of the Ozark Mountains.
Kerns journeyed back across the Appalachians and found himself washed up along the shores of the Susquehanna River where the merry musicians of the Sweet Maple Singers adopted him into the quartet.
David Weisinger
// Kit Drummer
Dave has been playing drums for many years and in many different types of bands. He is adaptable to any style we throw at him. More comfortable performing than speaking, he can still throw in a zinger or two when you least expect it.
Dylan Skursky
// Bass