August Availability
August 9–14 & 16–28, 2026
Full Shoeshiners lineup in the North Country.
A North Country Musical Collective
The North Country
Shoeshiners
Rooted in Appalachia. Made in the North Country.
Honest songs, Appalachian roots, and North Country musicians brought together around good stories and genuine live music.
Who We Are
A collection of musicians brought together by a love for honest songs.
Built around the musical partnership of Kristofer Lee Bentley, a founding member of Sundy Best, and Robbie Carrier, the Shoeshiners blend Appalachian roots with North Country grit — mixing original music with timeless country, folk, bluegrass, Southern rock, and Americana.
No gimmicks. No tracks. Just two friends, a rotating cast of trusted players, and songs worth singing.
Featured Video
Songs from the Room
A quiet run-through — three players, one rug, and a song that carries.
Now Booking
Summer & Fall 2026
are filling up.
Preferred windows for the full Shoeshiners lineup. Robbie is available year-round for solo, acoustic, and regional ensemble dates.
October Availability
October 1–31, 2026
Prime fall booking window — theaters, festivals, listening rooms.
Meet the Shoeshiners
A partnership first. A collective by design.
The Shoeshiners are built around the chemistry of Kristofer Lee Bentley and Robbie Carrier — one carrying the lead vocal, the other shaping the sound — expanding from an intimate acoustic set into a fuller roots ensemble with trusted North Country players and special guests.
Lead Vocals · Acoustic Guitar · Songwriter
Kristofer Lee Bentley
A founding member of the acclaimed Kentucky duo Sundy Best, Kristofer brings a lifetime of touring, storytelling, and hard-earned stagecraft to the Shoeshiners. On any given night, his voice is the one carrying the room.
Founding Member · Musical Director · Multi-Instrumentalist
Robbie Carrier
Appalachian-born and North Country-based, Robbie founded the Shoeshiners and shapes the band's sound from behind the cajón — moving between percussion, saxophone, harmonica, harmony vocals, and acoustic guitar. He and Kristofer met in Lexington, Kentucky in 2016; without that friendship, this project would not exist.
…plus a rotating group of talented North Country musicians and guests.
On Stage Together
Chemistry, caught in the act.
Two voices, a rotating cast, and the room listening in. A curated look from the road.
Booking
Bring the Shoeshiners to Your Town
From stripped-down acoustic evenings to a full roots ensemble, we build each show to fit the room, the audience, and the occasion.
- Acoustic duo
- Trio
- Full roots ensemble
- Special guest configurations
Mailing List
Pull Up a Chair
Get new show dates, music, videos, and the occasional story from the road.