Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Instrumentalists”
“Jake Blount is a brilliant banjoist, fiddle player and singer… his fingering thrilling and pacy, his voice charismatic and limber.” – Jude Rogers, The Guardian
Jake Blount and His Band are playing a huge festival in Champaign, IL on Friday night. They will make a stop here on Thursday and share his authentic Old Time sound. In the same vein as Rhiannon Giddens and Amythyst Kiah, make sure to catch this rising star in an intimate venue.
Peter ´Madcat´ Ruth will introduce his new band, C.A.R.Ma, we’ll have birthday cake, and set up a separate room full of recently donated used CDs for Fiddle Scouts fund-raising sale. Come see your friends, have some cake, check out the recordings, and enjoy the sounds of Madcat and CARMa.
“The Old Blind Dogs play with a compelling energy and intoxicating rhythm,” says The Scotsman, “…as players and audience seem to share a wild ecstasy of emotion.”
Madcat’s Midnight Blues Journey (Nov. 6, 2015) and Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Esprit Creole (March 6, 2009; March 22, 2013) performances.
Feb. 18, 2011 performance.
Feb. 22, 2013 performance. “Brilliant…She does more than run through her fingertwisting reels and sustained slow airs. Carroll – and her listeners – continually rediscover each melody.” The New York Times
JigJam is a multi-award winning quartet from the heart of the midlands in Ireland. Blending the best of traditional Irish music with bluegrass and Americana in a new genre which has been branded as ‘iGrass’, their onstage energy along with their virtuos musical ability has captivated audiences throughout the world. “Here’s an Irish band that’s going to impact the world as hard as Clancy Brothers or U2 if they get only half a chance.”
Molsky’s Mountain Drifters – a laser-tight trio with an ear for lovely, lilting traditional melodies. The grace and wisdom of Grammy nominated fiddler Bruce Molsky, Berklee College of Music’s Visiting Scholar melds with the electricity of guitarist Stash Wyslouch and banjoist Allison de Groot’s to bring new ideas to traditional music.
Playing the tunes and ditties of the 1920’s and more.
“Amythyst Kiah is one of roots music’s most exciting emerging talents, blending a deep knowledge of old time music with sensibilities spanning classic country to contemporary R&B.”— ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
Seamus Egan (Solas, Shanachie Records) teams up with composer and guitarist Kyle Sanna, and multi-instrumentalist Owen Marshall (The Press Gang, Haas, Walsh and Marshall) to present an incredible evening of world-class music, steeped in the Celtic tradition.
Come enjoy a night of music from folks who sell instruments by day, and then play them after hours. “Strangers in the Night,” is just one of the evening’s five bands which features employees and friends of Lansing’s world-renowned music store, Elderly Instruments.
“People ask us how to make a living in an instrumental folk band,” says second fiddle and viola player, Karrnnel Sawitsky. “My answer is simply put: ‘creatively.’” Sawitsky continues, “When our four voices meet at the center of agreement is when our music echoes most effectively. It’s not the sum of our parts. It’s the individual sum of the band.”
2017 Juno Award Winners: Instrumental Album of the Year
Hear one of the world’s best on mandolin, backed by familiar, stellar Michigan musicians, in the intimate Robin Theater for this very special Thursday night show with Don Julin on mandolin, Joe Wilson on dobro, Kevin Gills on bass and David Collini on cajon.
“(LAURA LOVE) will shake the world. The clincher is her live show…She’s that rare artist who can slip from sensitive folk to hip-hop without skipping a beat. -Utne Reader
Laura Love is an award winning “folk-funk” singer/songwriter/bassist who has been touring the world since the early 1990s.
Renowned primarily for his extraordinary prowess on Uilleann pipes and whistles, Henderson is fast emerging as an equally gifted vocalist. (Similar to last season’s Le Vent Du Nord show) this very special Sunday concert is one of those extraordinary events you will not want to miss!
“However, the group actually started out as a trio … and for a new album and current concerts, original member Libby Glover has rejoined David Tamulevich and Michael Hough. Her presence brings a whole new dimension to the Mustard’s Retreat sound, yet the transition sounds just like it feels … perfectly natural.” – Bob Needham, Pulp, Ann Arbor
“…music to cure what ails you.” – Michigan Times
Joshua Davis was raised in the folk tradition: the music, the social movements, the land. For the 17th Annual MWSFF, he will present an evening of songs, joined by special guests Jen Sygit and Laura Bates.
Michigan songbirds, Rachael Davis, Lindsay Lou and May Erlewine have each carved out successful careers on the American Roots Music circuit and have grown to respect each other’s work. When they finally gelled into a potent musical force, it was natural – three singing sirens and multi-instrumentalists whose repertoire swings from gospel and bluegrass to soul and even joyful interpretations of pop. Their three-part vocal harmonies are sublime, and they trade instruments including mountain fiddle and banjo, uke, guitar and double bass.
Join Bruce Molsky, Allison de Groot, and Stash Wyslouch for an Old Time Music Jam, from 5:30 – 6:30 pm, prior to the Friday night concert at the 16th Annual Mid-Winter Singing Festival.
“Ten Pound Fiddle is where I’ll be spending my 65th birthday, playing for the community of listeners and celebrating a half century of guitar playing and live performing.”
Each player in The Alt is a leading light of today’s folk scene and though this could be easily called a supergroup. At its heart, The Alt is really a celebration of friendship and song.
SPECIAL WEDNESDAY SHOW! “If you’ve seen them before, you already know. And if you’ve never seen them, words won’t do them justice. Le Vent du Nord is one of the best bands touring today, no matter your musical taste” – SYRACUSE NEWS TIME
In tune with the St. Pat’s Day season, the Fiddle features a young, spirited, energetic quintet from Wales.
Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his startling interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia.
What happens when four friends get together to plan a couple of sets of favorites? We’ll find out! We do know that ukuleles, harmonicas, trumpets, pedal steel guitars, guitars, vocals, harmonies, along with a myriad of surprises, will be involved.
“Brilliant…She does more than run through her fingertwisting reels and sustained slow airs. Carroll – and her listeners – continually rediscover each melody.” The New York Times
Rachael Kilgour and Sara Pajunen bridge their distinct yet complimentary musical histories within traditional music.
Join your friends at the Ten Pound Fiddle Concert Series when “The Fiddle” welcomes three of Michigan’s favorite Old Time fiddlers for a night of tunes, songs and the stories behind the music.
Tom Paxton headlines the 16th Annual Mid-Winter Singing and Folk Festival on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. Joining him will be Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. Bruce Molsky and his Mountain Drifters will begin the show.
“Their sound is panoramic, mischievous, fiercely unpretentious – and musically splendid” – Boston Globe
“Few groups have come as far in such a short period of time as The Steel Wheels” – NPR’s Mountain Stage
“The Fitzgeralds are standout musicians in our Canadian music industry…The caliber of musicianship is very high- I think together they are beautiful blend of gorgeous fiddle music, and top rate, absolutely exhilarating dance routines.” -Natalie MacMaster, Cape Breton Fiddling Sensation
“At every festival I hope to find the gift of one artist whose songwriting and performance stand out. Joe Crookston was that gift for me this year at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Stunning performance, great songs, and not a word wasted! I LOVE That!” David Francey – Songwriter Ontario
Focusing on songs collected by folklorist and field recording pioneer Alan Lomax, this collaboratory brings together some of North America’s most distinctive and creative roots musicians to revive, recycle, and reimagine traditional music. Join the Fiddle for this very, very special mid-week concert, to be held at Urban Beat, a new, intimate performance space on the first block of Turner Street, in Lansing’s Old Town.
If you are a fan, or a participant in the most recent Ukulele wave, you need to experience James Hill! FREE pre-show strum for ticket holders!
“A seamless, polished, barrel-drum-tight, rhythmically innovative and wildly entertaining traditional music powerhouse.” -The Guardian
You have enjoyed hearing him play with The Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band on Prairie Home Companion. Now, hear the exquisite musicianship of Pat Donohue.
