Fantastic Cat Headlines Free AvonLIVE Concert at Nottingham Park

“Fantastic Cat.”

That’s the name. It’s also, apparently, the name of the band, chosen because the members agreed all band names are inherently uncool and decided to ask a waitress for a suggestion. When she returned, she didn’t hesitate.

“You’re Fantastic Cat,” she said.

And just like that, a fun weekend recording session at Don DiLego’s studio in New York City became a permanent fixture in the Americana world. The band, comprised of singer-songwriters Brian Dunne, Anthony D’Amato, Mike Montali, and DiLego himself, didn’t set out to be a phenomenon. They set out to play one show for friends.

Now, they’re headlining AvonLIVE! at Nottingham Park on Wednesday night.

It’s another night of free music in the valley, part of the ongoing concert series that has become a staple for locals looking to unwind after a long week. But this week’s act is different. “Rolling Stone” has called them “the Harlem Globetrotters of Americana.” “The Village Voice” labeled them “The Wu-Tang Clan of folk rock.” DiLego even jokes that “Rolling Stone” called them “the supergroup you need to know,” though he clarifies the irony: usually, a supergroup means everyone knows who the members are. Here, the members were relatively unknown to the wider public when they started.

“There was a record that came out in the late ’90s called ‘Weird Tales’ by Golden Smog,” DiLego explained. “It was a sort of supergroup in the alt-country/Americana world that had members of The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and Jeff Tweedy from Wilco. And of course, ‘supergroups’ were not a new thing, but I thought what if we formed a supergroup, but nobody actually heard of any of its members?”

That conceptual pivot worked. What was meant to be a temporary musical hang turned into a sustained career. The band has appeared on “CBS This Morning,” landed a spot in the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King,” and even earned a plug from John Mayer on his SiriusXM radio show. Their latest album, “Cat Out Of Hell,” dropped last spring via Missing Piece Records — a label that jokingly awaits “a lawsuit from the Meat Loaf estate.”

The performance at AvonLIVE! promises to reflect that chaotic, fun energy. Expect the members to switch instruments mid-song, showing that everyone in the band has been following a musical path for a long time. DiLego notes that he and Montali have been in bands since high school, while D’Amato and Dunne have been traveling solo since college. They crossed paths in New York City at shows and on shared bills, and the low-pressure vibe allowed them to gel quickly.

“The way they got together and the band’s name may be wacky, but it works,” the reporting suggests. And it does. The witty lyrics and musicality reveal a breadth of talent that goes beyond the novelty of the name. You need to listen to the words, to see the clever ways they put a song together.

Nottingham Park is the setting. The sun is going down over the Eagle River Valley. Locals are gathering on the grass, blankets spread out, drinks in hand. The band is setting up, checking mics, and preparing to deliver a lively display of antics. It’s free. It’s in your backyard. And if the waitress was right, it’s going to be fantastic.