Jerron Paxton plays black folk music from nearly all the idioms that entails. From the Jazz of stride piano and banjo from New Orleans to New York to the deepest of the blues played on guitar and harmonica of which he has been a noted figure since his teenage years, from the rural music that reaches the beginnings of black arrival in America played on fiddle, banjo, and bones to ragtime and other turn of the century music that gives the full breadth of black music before World War Two in a package that doesn’t lecture, but invites you to enjoy that music as it was given to him.
Mr. Paxton has been known to give his audiences a sense of being transported not to a time, but a state of mind and understanding that allows audiences to enjoy black folk music and have it become a part of them as has been the American experience from the beginning.
Mr Sun comprises some of the most original musicians to apply themselves to the American String Band.
Legendary fiddler Darol Anger is at home in a number of musical genres, some of which he helped to invent, and is a member of the original “nuclear” generation of pickers who extended Bluegrass, Jazz, and Classical music to find their common ground; Mr Sun is the latest iteration in that legacy. Joe K. Walsh is one of the foremost contemporary mandolinists, with 4 award-winning years in the Gibson Brothers, 3 solo recordings, and a Berklee professorship. Grant Gordy is a standout in the crowded field of Acoustic Guitar Wunderkinds. Grant’s work was quickly recognized for its kaleidoscopic excellence and startling emotion, fusing Jazz, R&B, and Bluegrass concepts to an unprecedented degree. The group recently added the masterful bassist Aidan O’Donnell, a Brooklyn, New York (by way of Scotland) jazz veteran.
The four musical personalities of Mr Sun are so strong that one might imagine the group could explode if not for the palpable love and humor that emanate from every note they play together.
Dust off your boots and gather around for some true and original modern honky tonk music. An all-star cast of master musicians backs these two soul singers of country music, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms. These two are known to roots music fans across the globe for their soulful harmonies, driving dance tunes, classic original songs, and commitment to the raw truth of rural American music. They live in the San Juan Islands of Washington, though until recently, home was Portland, OR. They are foundational to the exceptional old-time and country music scene in the Pacific NW with the Caleb Klauder Reeb Willms Country Band and their membership in the Foghorn Stringband, of which Caleb was a founding member. Charismatic performers, they bring their unique set of talents to the stage with an eye towards good times and an ear towards the deepest songs and tunes.
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms both originally hail from Washington State: Caleb from the coastal islands, and Reeb from the high desert plateau. The two have come together in music and are hailed as some of the most compelling musicians making country roots music in America today. When these two sing together, their honest incantations leave us spell-bound and smiling.
Their repertoire is made up of original songs and tunes as well as gems from American roots repertoires, and the music they make is Americana in the truest sense of the word. Music is clearly in their blood. Caleb and Reeb’s originals and interpretations of songs have been covered and recorded by many performers and their musical presence reaches into a diverse and loyal fanbase, giving credence to the impact that this duo has on their listeners. Pillars of the Northwest music scene, they carry the torch of their music around the world, and can be found touring as a duo, as well as with the Foghorn Stringband, and the Caleb Klauder Country Band. Their fans exude admiration for the timeless sound that these two produce, capturing the essence of American roots music.
Sometimes we get so unnecessarily swept up in who’s rising and falling in music these days that the sheer joy of music is overlooked. One of the great things about Caleb and Reeb is that they are a world apart from all of that nonsense and let you immerse yourself in the melody and story of classic sounding country music until all other cares of life fade away. Country music is the music of working people who use it to pass the time and forget about the ever-present hardships in their lives. After years of touring together, Reeb and Caleb work intuitively.
Caleb’s study and understanding of roots music is so dedicated and rich, that he can hauntingly immerse himself in the same perspective of those old primitive country composers and write as if he was right beside them. Their album Innocent Road includes a clutch of lovingly arranged Klauder originals, along with well-placed and rare covers. The pair bring the spirit of legendary country duos into their contemporary takes on country music. Trading vocals back and forth, they complement each other strikingly well in an attractive meld of honky-tonk that brushes shoulders with trad bluegrass. Caleb has penned over 50 songs many of which are standards across America in honky tonk and bluegrass jams and festivals, both on and off stage. There is a long list of bands and singers who have recorded Caleb’s songs over the years.
The blend of true harmonies, the sharply-written country songs, and the un-showy authenticity strike a rich vein that makes them seem like they are born and raised in Music City. They quietly pursue a musical vision without much of a care for what’s expected or in vogue at the time. There’s a lot to admire in this singular perseverance and honesty.
Olympia, Washington-based Briarfinch combine bluegrass, jazz, rock, classical, and Irish music into a tightly woven newgrass machine. Songwriters Cory Briar (mandolin) and Erin Finch (guitar) join forces, providing a variety of carefully constructed original tunes traversing love, identity, doubt, and wonder. Finch’s distinctive rhythmic guitar, a blend of intricate fingerpicking and Irish Bodhran-inspired triplets, breathes a wild sort of life into each tune. Briar’s intuitive sense for musical motifs and proclivity to off-the-beaten-path solos neatly compliments both his and Finch’s songwriting. The virtuosic Josh Grice (5-string violin) adds a technical edge to the band, approaching melody and improvisation with a classical precision. Finally, Tom Roalkvam’s (electric bass) incessant rhythm and groove create a driving feel to every song. Together, the four pack rooms of friends and fans, providing enlivening music full of talented composition, free spirited improvisation, and many surprising musical turns.
With a career spanning over two decades, Hanneke Cassel has helped redefine what it means to be a modern fiddler. A driving force in the ever-changing landscape of acoustic music, Hanneke blends originality and innovation with the spirit of Scottish traditional fiddle. Fusing musical roots from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton Island with Americana stylings, Hanneke’s playing has been described by the Boston Globe as “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness.” Beyond the strings of her fiddle, it is Hanneke’s hugely generous presence and passion that round out her magnetism as a performer on the world stage of fiddle music.
A native of Port Orford, Oregon, Hanneke found her start in Texas-Fiddling competitions. A two time Junior Scottish Fiddling Champion between 1992 and 1994, Hanneke went on to win the 1997 U.S National Scottish Fiddle Championship. Continuing her journey into the traditions of Scottish fiddle music, Hanneke was embraced by the Scottish Fiddling community, centered around the camps of Alasdair Fraser. An original alumna of Fraser’s Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School, Hanneke instructs regularly at Alasdair’s music camps as well as at the Mike Block String Camp (run by her husband, acclaimed cellist Mike Block), Harald Haugaard’s International Fiddle School, West Denmark Fiddle School, and Live Oak Fiddle Camp. Hanneke received her Bachelor’s of Music in Violin Performance from Berklee College of Music, where she has since returned to serve as a guest instructor in the American Roots department. Gracing stages across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India and East Asia, Hanneke has established herself as a prolific composer and versatile musician. Hanneke’s original material draws gracefully upon her personal experiences with love and loss, weaving together the joys and sorrows of life in times of celebration and hardship. Hanneke’s discography includes six unique solo albums that harness her magnificent presence. Melding more traditional fiddle music with her own compositions, Hanneke’s arrangements evoke the heart and showcase her talent as both a curator of tradition and an eloquent creator in her own right.
Cassel’s latest album Infinite Brightness lyrically and poignantly captures a brightness that shines with sorrow-tinted joy. Written on the heels of a global pandemic and in memory of friends who’ve died in recent years, the nine compositions on this album exude Cassel’s trademark energetic playing while carrying the gravitas of loss, grief, and a sense of hope that endures. Co-produced with bandmate Keith Murphy, who plays guitar and harmonium on the album, Infinite Brightness also features Jenna Moynihan, who contributes five-string fiddle, Tristan Clarridge on cello, and guitarist Yann Falquet (heard on “Dmitri’s Dream” and “Last Alleluia”).
Hanneke has been a featured performer at Celtic Connections (Scotland), KVMR Celtic Fest, Milwaukee Irish Fest, Celtic Colours (Cape Breton, Canada), WGBH Christmas Celtic Sojourn, and the National Celtic Festival (Port Arlington, Australia). She has been featured on PBS with the fiddle band Childsplay and has performed with Baroque/Celtic group Ensemble Galilei at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (with former NPR ‘Talk of the Nation’ host Neal Conan) and the National Geographic in Washington, D.C. (with actor Bill Pullman). Guest appearances include stints with Cherish the Ladies, Matt Glaser & the Wayfaring Strangers, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, and Joey McIntyre (from New Kids on the Block.)
Along with her loyal commitment to Many Hopes, Hanneke is an avid supporter of Up With Music, a community strings program based in Lawrence, MA. Up With Music provides musical training for under-privileged and at risk youth, providing a positive outlet into the music community while building valuable leadership skills. Hanneke enjoys investing her time in opportunities close to home, joining music circles that helped to shape her passion and influential career. She lives with her husband, cellist Mike Block, and their daughter in Somerville, MA.
Yann Falquet is a dynamic Québécois guitarist in the world of traditional music. He is a versatile artist who has already explored several styles and, although well-established, continues to deepen his knowledge of both creation and interpretation.
In 2000, Yann co-founded Genticorum, a Québec-based traditional music trio with Pascal Gemme and Nicholas Williams. Since then, he has traveled the world sharing the group’s songs. Over the years, he has collaborated with Seamus Egan Project, Hanneke Cassel, The McDades, Olov Johanson (Väsen), Liz Carroll, Bruce Molsky, Cillian Vallely & Kevin Crawford (Lunasa) and Montréal composer Jean-François Bélanger’s ensemble.
Without abandoning these enriching collaborative projects, Yann decided to invest some of his energies in a solo project. Inspired by folk music from near and far, he expresses his love of traditional music with a new sound.
Raised in a tipi in the northern California mountains, Tristan Clarridge grew up immersed in the music of J.S. Bach and Texas old-time fiddling, first picking up the fiddle before the age of 2. A 5-time Grand National Fiddle Champion, 2-time Grand Masters Champion and cellist with The Bee Eaters and Crooked Still, he has also toured and recorded with many of his friends and musical heroes including Darol Anger, Brittany Haas, Keith Little, Jody Stecher, Jeremy Kittel, Hanneke Cassel, Laurie Lewis, Bruce Molsky, Natalie MacMaster, Abigail Washburn, and Sean Watkins (of Nickel Creek), and is co-founder (with sister Tashina) of the Shasta Music Summit.
At the dawn of 2017, Devin Champlin brought a couple of his original songs to Dean Johnson with the invitation to sing in harmony together. That proved to be joyful, and they tapped Sam Gelband to join in with his sturdy baritone to be the middleman. Quickly this bore fruit, so they invited Charlie Meyer along for the ride with his lovely bass playing skills. At that, The Sons of Rainier were born.
Devin Champlin has been writing songs since he first picked up a hand-me-down guitar at the age of twelve. Through his teen years and early twenties he found his cultural home in DIY punk music and skateboarding. At some point in there he picked up his dad’s banjo more often than not and spent over a decade learning, playing and performing different styles of traditional American folk music, mostly Acoustic Blues and Southern Fiddle Tunes. He toured the country numerous times with acts like The Gallus Brothers, and The Crow Quill Night Owls, collaborating occasionally with elders of the scene and even being inducted into the Jug Band Hall Of Fame (yes that exists). His personal songwriting was always percolating inn the background, making sporadic appearances at house shows and the like. With The Sons Of Rainier, Champlin found a loving home for many of these songs where they could be nurtured by the hands and voices of his compadres. The arrangements rest on the foundation of Devin’s songwriting, and is brought forth with warm tube amps, Dean’s unpredictable, weeping guitar lines, a loosely tuned snare, upright bass, and close three-part harmonies. It is 45 rpm folk music that is sweet and haunting. It’s a polaroid of a stolen slow dance.
In 2018 the band released Down In Pancake Valley. Recorded live over two summer days in Bellingham, the album is filled with nostalgic lyrics brimming with longing, and understanding that float over a relaxed, lo-fi couch of sound. This album and their recent follow up Take Me Anywhere (2023) have earned the Sons a place in the permanent library of hobos, widows, fry-cooks, and fancy pants alike
Jourdan Thibodeaux is the guy you picture when someone says the word “authentic.” Straight from the blackjack boggy woods of Cypress Island, Louisiana, Jourdan is one of only a small number of young people speaking Cajun French today, and his soulful singing and fiddling are the perfect medium for his ever-growing repertoire of original Louisiana French songs. His musical ability and his crafty songwriting which is at once classic and progressive has afforded him a band comprised of some of the finest artists in Acadiana today: Blake Miller (accordion, fiddle and vocals), Lyle Begnaud (guitar), Drake LeBlanc (trumpet and scrub board), Alan Lafleur (bass), and Adam Cormier (drums). From foot-stomping two-steps to heart-breaking ballads, Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs deliver la verité with a sound that will leave you wetter than running hoop nets in July!
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