Electronic press kit · updated Sept 2026
Newburyport, Massachusetts · Est. 2011
Red Tail Hawk
Soulful groove rock · roots grit · funk pocket · sax-driven hooks
Opened for G. Love · The Brew
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with Ruby Rose Fox
Sold out The Stone Church & The Press Room
2016 run in Prague
Master + publishing controlled (one-stop sync)
What they said
“This is just a fantastic release in many different ways.”
Pitch Perfect, on Strokes (2020)
“Structurally sound and offers up a little something for everyone.”
Pitch Perfect, on Night Soup (2016)
“The production on this EP is spectacular.”
Lydia See, on the debut EP (2011)
Bio
Red Tail Hawk is a soulful groove-rock band from Newburyport, Massachusetts, formed in 2011. Led by Ben Zanfagna on vocals, guitar and tenor/soprano saxophone, the band blends roots-rock grit, vintage funk groove, R&B-inspired hooks, raw vocals and sax-driven melodies.
The catalog runs from the self-titled 2011 EP through the albums Night Soup (2016) and Strokes (2020), the EPs Magnetic Malaise, King Kong and Make Your Own Medicine, and singles including “Trees,” “Bilderberg (Remix),” “Tend Your Fire,” “Rub-a-Dub” and “The Battle Cry of Freedom,” a 2025 release that pays homage to the band’s roots and to Ben’s father, Doc Zig.
Red Tail Hawk has opened for G. Love and The Brew, played the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with Ruby Rose Fox, sold out The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH and The Press Room in Portsmouth, NH, played a short run in Prague in 2016 (Chapeau Rouge, Klub Vzorkovna), and continues to play clubs and festivals across New England.
Short bio (50 words)
Red Tail Hawk is a soulful groove-rock band from Newburyport, Massachusetts, blending roots-rock grit, vintage funk groove, R&B-inspired hooks, raw vocals and sax-driven melodies. Formed in 2011 and led by Ben Zanfagna, the band features Mike Gruen, Eric Turner, Reed Dieffenbach and Pete Whitehead, and performs across New England.
Start here
The songs the live set is built on
- 01Primalfrom Strokes3:52
- 02Rocksteadyfrom Strokes2:51
- 03Treessingle, 20185:02
- 04Bilderberg (Remix)single, 20195:40
- 05Night Soupalbum, 20168 tracks
- 06Magnetic MalaiseEP, 20145 tracks
Newest: “The Battle Cry of Freedom” (2025). WAV/MP3 downloads on request.
Discography
| Year | Release | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Battle Cry of Freedom | Single |
| 2024 | Rub-a-Dub | Single |
| 2024 | Tend Your Fire | Single |
| 2023 | Make Your Own Medicine | EP |
| 2021 | King Kong | EP |
| 2020 | Strokes | Album |
| 2019 | Bilderberg (Remix) | Single |
| 2018 | Trees | Single |
| 2016 | Night Soup | Album |
| 2015 | Zoo · Blot | Singles |
| 2014 | Magnetic Malaise | EP |
| 2011 | Red Tail Hawk | EP |
Live
- Opening slots for G. Love and The Brew
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, with Ruby Rose Fox
- Sold-out shows at The Stone Church (Newmarket, NH) and The Press Room (Portsmouth, NH)
- Prague, Czech Republic, 2016: Chapeau Rouge and Klub Vzorkovna
- Maine Oyster Festival, Freeport ME (June 2026)
- Freeport Fall Festival, Freeport ME (Oct 4, 2026)
Watch
Press & radio
- 2022The Hippo, Music Roundup
- 2021The Hippo, Music Roundup
- 2021Joppa Radio, review of King Kong
- 2020Pitch Perfect, Strokes review
- 2020Joppa Radio, Afternoon Drive
- 2019Foster’s Daily Democrat, “Five Spot: Ben Zanfagna”
- 2019WSCA 106.1 FM, frontman interview
- 2016Pitch Perfect, Night Soup review
- 2016Seacoast Online, “Red Tail Hawk swoops in”
- 2011Newburyport Arts, “Birds of a feature”
Listen & follow
Now booking
2026 & 2027 dates
Across New England
Stage Plot & Input List
For promoters and sound engineers: our stage layout and full input list on one page.
Download the stage plotFrom the Vault: Night Soup Promo
The promo we made for our 2016 album Night Soup.
Family Tree
The roots and branches of Red Tail Hawk: the music of Ben Zanfagna's father, Doc Zig, and the music Ben has made with him and on his own.
Doc Zig & Benny Z
A father-and-son duo from Newburyport: Jim "Doc Zig" Zanfagna and Ben "Benny Z" Zanfagna. Doc Zig came up playing rock and roll and R&B in the 1950s and '60s with The Revelites, and brought acoustic blues and stringed instruments to the duo. Benny Z brought saxophone, guitar and piano, plus a love of reggae and jazz.
Their debut EP, Father & Son Playing for Small Change (2010), carried early versions of "Run Run" and "Cherry Hill," songs that grew into Red Tail Hawk favorites. The album Propaganda followed in 2022. The pair named their publishing company Making Music Medicine Productions, the same name behind Red Tail Hawk today.
"It's Americana realized through a filter of reggae and jazz." (Newburyport Arts, 2010)
Rest in peace. Rest in power, Doc Zig. You are loved, and we feel your love eternal.
Doc Zig and Benny Z Playing for Small Change on the boardwalk in Newburyport
Doc Zig & Charles Archer
Charlie Archer and Doc Zig at The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH, circa 1990s.
To Ben, he was "Uncle Charlie": a genius on the guitar, a country blues master and historian, Doc Zig's best friend and long-time music partner, and one of the biggest influences on Ben's early life. Charlie lived a spare, private life on Plum Island with no running water. He would come by the Zanfagna house to fill his water jugs, often stay for dinner, and join the family for holidays.
For decades Charlie was a fixture of the North Shore and Seacoast blues and folk scene, including sets with Doc Zig at The Press Room in Portsmouth. A 1979 Boston Phoenix listing has him singing and picking at St. Andrew's Church in Marblehead, and Newburyport bluesman Paul Prue still thanks him by name, alongside TJ Wheeler and Bruce Pingree.
Doc Zig and Charles Archer's album Selections From 'Live In the Moment' (2010) includes their take on Steve James's "Talco Girl" and "Money Is King."
Listen on Spotify → Bandcamp →
Benjamin Kray
Benjamin Kray Sketches album cover
Benjamin Kray is Ben Zanfagna's solo project, including the album Sketches (2018) and the single Drafting (2019).
Listen on Spotify → Apple Music →
Red Tail Hawk
Red Tail Hawk logo and trademark
In 2011, Ben and childhood friends formed Red Tail Hawk. Meet the band → Hear the music →
Press
"Everything I heard felt like it was coming from top tier talent." (Matt Jensen, Pitch Perfect)
Reviews, features, interviews and radio for Red Tail Hawk. For press and booking, email theredtailhawk@gmail.com.
Hippo Press · 2021 and 2022
The Music Roundup: New Hampshire's Hippo features Red Tail Hawk in its weekly music column (subscriber access). May 2021 → April 2022 →
Joppa Radio (WJOP 96.3 FM) · 2021
Joppa Radio Music Reviews: "King Kong": an on-air review of King Kong ahead of its release. Watch the review →
Pitch Perfect · 2020
"This is just a fantastic release in many different ways." (4.0 out of 5)
Matt Jensen reviews STROKES. Read the review →
Joppa Radio, Afternoon Drive · 2020
Afternoon Drive with Drew Moholland: Ben Zanfagna and Eric Turner play live and talk with host Drew Moholland in the PortMedia studio. Watch the session →
Foster's Daily Democrat · 2019
"Five Spot: Ben Zanfagna": a Q&A feature on the band's frontman. Read the article →
WSCA 106.1 FM, Granite Rodeo · 2019
Red Tail Hawk frontman interview on the Granite Rodeo radio show. Watch the interview →
TELEFUNKEN Live From the Lab · 2017
"Cherry Hill": the band performs live for TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik's studio session series. Watch the session →
Pitch Perfect · 2016
"…structurally sound and offers up a little something for everyone." (3.9 out of 5)
Jamie Robash reviews Night Soup, calling "All Love" an "irresistibly dance-y club hit." Read the review →
Seacoast Online · 2016
"Red Tail Hawk swoops in": an interview with Ben Zanfagna about Night Soup. Read the article →
"Red Tail Hawk swoops into Stone Church June 17": a preview of the band's Stone Church show. Read the article →
Newburyport Arts · 2011
"The music is inspired by nature, politics and art." (Ben Zanfagna)
"Birds of a feature: New band, old friends take flight": JC Lockwood sits in on an early rehearsal as childhood friends come together as Red Tail Hawk. Read the article →
Lydia See · 2011
"The production on this EP is spectacular."
On the debut Red Tail Hawk EP. Read the review →
Newburyport Arts · 2010
"It's Americana realized through a filter of reggae and jazz."
On Father & Son Playing for Small Change by Doc Zig and Benny Z, Ben's duo with his father and the roots of Red Tail Hawk. Read the review → Our family tree →
Playlists & Airplay
Media Monarchy #BestOf2021: "King Kong" made the six-hour year-end mix. See the tracklist →
Media Monarchy #PumpUpThaVolume: "King Kong" in rotation (March 2021), after the world premiere of "Strokes" (March 2020). March 2021 → March 2020 →features Red Tail Hawk in its weekly music column