Humbird (Siri Undlin) is a Minneapolis based singer-songwriter, poet, and storyteller inspired by the crystalline chill of her home state’s northern winters. Undlin twines experimental folk, environmental Americana, and orchestral compositions to forge an explorative embodiment of the narrative folk song and balladry tradition. Released in September 2019, her debut full length album, Pharmakon, engineered by Brian Joseph (Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens) and produced by Shane Leonard (Field Report), has been received with remarkable critical acclaim and has amassed nearly 20 million streams since its release. Folk Alley listed “Pharmakon” as one of their favorite songs of 2019 and at the end of week one, the album ranked #19 on the top NACC music charts and by week two was at #1 on the Folk charts – one of only two self-released albums to chart. Most recently she won the 2021 Kerrville Folk Festival’s song-writing competition was able to perform a set at the 49th annual festival this fall. Fall 2021 will be peppered with regional Midwest dates and a release of Humbird’s third studio album, Still Life.
A Humbird live performance is intimate and earthy, literal and metaphorical. The band nimbly prances around the lilt of Undlin’s unfaltering fervent and haunting voice – the focal point. Although the songs and stories hold their own, the embellishments the band supply add the perfect splash of timbre and color to deliver a dynamic and engaging performance.
Humbird performs solo and as a trio (drums/percussion and double bass/electric bass).
The Dewdroppers are a jazz combo from Idaho Falls, ID with vocalist Katie Engstrom, guitartist Freddy Gildersleeve, and bassist Alex Holloway. The group’s mellow tones create the perfect ambiance for restaurants, wine tastings, bars, breweries, weddings, private events and more!
Compton & NewberryA Return to the Roots of Bluegrass!
Mike Compton and Joe Newberry play traditional and new American music that honors the past and forges a path toward the new tradition of the future. While two musicians do not a bluegrass band make, their music rings true to fans of bluegrass, early country, blues, gospel, and string band music. Together, Compton & Newberry are shining a much-deserved contemporary light on the roots, as they tend to the branches. too.
Compton & Newberry are masters of their craft whose combined pedigree speaks for itself. In addition to multiple IMBA and Grammy nominations and wins, their talents are featured on “A Prairie Home Companion,” the Transatlantic Sessions, the soundtracks to “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “Cold Mountain”, as well as numerous other popular collaborations with a diverse range of artists and styles. With a renewed look at American traditional music thanks to the recent Ken Burns series on Country Music, the duo can be counted on to showcase the sounds that laid the foundation for ragtime, country, folk, rural blues and Americana, as well as other sounds that dominate radio and music charts today.
A Compton & Newberry program features a familiar combination of tunes and songs from the great American songbag mixed with their own newly composed numbers which are already taking their rightful place in the new tradition. They are just the artists to bring fans together for a multi-generational celebration of music we all can love.
What Others Are Saying About Compton & Newberry
“In mid-July, I attended this year’s Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival… Of all the acts I saw and heard—the most essential music came from the duet of Mike Compton and Joe Newberry… These two pros brought to the music a depth of knowledge that transformed what could have been an hour of potboilers into a too-short set of emotional transcendence.” – Art Dudley, Stereophile Magazine
“Real music performed by artists with a deep appreciation for the folk traditions that came before them… They pull off what’s almost impossible these days: honest, genuine music that will get your soul dancing.” – Bluegrass Today
“Two musicians, two instruments and two voices capture the essence of how great music can be.” – Mandolin Café
“Compton & Newberry don’t slavishly recreate brother duets, but evoke that era within their decidedly contemporary approach. They have been part of great bands, but their duo has all the electricity and entertainment of a larger group. They’re wonderful players and singers, but never let their dazzling technique obscure the power and heart of the song.” – Peter Thompson, Artistic Director, Redwood Bluegrass Associates
The Timber Rattlers are an energetic bluegrass quartet from Missoula, MT. They pull inspiration from their traditional roots, but continue to push their boundaries in the realm of acoustic music.
EXPERIENCE
Each member has spent extensive time touring and in the studio. From the west coast to parts of Europe.
MEMBERS
Jesse Brown –
A violinist who has genre hopped many bands and instruments. He is most known for his years spent with “The Lil’ Smokies” both touring and writing music. You can also catch him playing with legendary Montana band “Mission Mountain Wood Band”.
Jamie Drysdale –
A class act guitarist with on-point bluegrass runs. Naturally entertaining the crowd with his quick, witty humor. He is always writing unique and ear-catching originals. Also known for his touring/songwriting with the Jackson Hole band “The Random Canyon Growlers”
Dillon Johns –
A recent graduate of the music program at The University of Montana. He now teaches elementary school music, passing on his extensive knowledge of music to the next generation. You can also catch him playing his groovy bass lines in the band “The Letter B”.
Caleb Dostal –
A prodigy in the field of contemporary banjo. Caleb has been playing since he was 11. He first heard the banjo on some old CD’s around the house and fell in love with the sound, and from then on has had an almost inhuman drive to improve his ability and discover more of the possibilities that the banjo holds.
I am pleased to announce that my friends from Bozeman and Livingston will be bringing their crew to Longstaff House for a show Novwnvwe 4th at 7:00 PM. I have known Larry Barnwell for over 40 years starting with his band, Poor Monroe. Add Joe Rock on banjo and killer tenor singing and you have the guts of a solid traditional bluegrass band. Add twin-fiddle champs Isaac Callender and Louise Steinway plus Mike Parsons on mandolin and Kenny Williams on bass and you have a couple centuries of experience.
Please come only if vaccinated and mask if you prefer,
Songwriter, guitarist, painter, fiddler, slide player, eco-village member and believer in all things possible. Named 2016 Folk Alliance International Artist-in- Residence and signed to I Book Shows along with David Francey and Irish Mythen. His songs are being made into films.
He’ll surprise you and awaken the cynics. He’s plumbing for lyrical gold like a social archeologist. His songs are universal, his rhythm infectious and in concert, he is funny as hell one moment and transcendent the next.
This event is an outdoor concert with Longstaff House favorites, plus our host John Parker will be celebrating his 70th! Bring along a donation for the music, some food and drink, masks and a lawn chair if you wish.
John Reischman is one of the premier mandolinists of his generation. He’s a master instrumentalist capable of swinging between re-inventions of traditional old-time tunes, deconstructions from the bluegrass repertoire, and compelling original tunes, many of which have become standards. He’s also a powerful bandleader, touring his band the Jaybirds all over Canada and the United States. A member of the groundbreaking Tony Rice Unit, Reischman’s mastery of bluegrass, old-time, swing, and multiple Latin American musical styles, coupled with an Old Master’s sense of tone, taste, and musicality, has brought him a global reputation as one of the finest mandolinists of his era. But most of all, he’s an understated visionary, the kind of master craftsman whose music is virtuosic without ever being flashy and who is renowned for his impeccable taste and tone as an artist. John Reischman embodies the true spirit of acoustic music in the 21st century.
Eli West is a Seattle-based multi-instrumental musician and interactive graphic designer. With an interest in angular phrasing and non-traditional improvisation within the historic precedents of bluegrass and old-time music, his playing both grounds and pushes the ensembles he is involved with. Well-known for his work with Norwegian fiddler Olav Mjelva, Cahalen Morrison, Jayme Stone and more, the Seattle-based singer and multi-instrumentalist oozes understated talent. He has released three records as half of the new/old-time duo Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, which tours regularly throughout the US and Europe. Eli is an active ingredient playing guitar, banjo, and bouzouki with both Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project and John Reischman and the Pine Siskins.
Caleb and Reeb bring their full country band to the Longstaff House featuring Mike Bub, the best bass player in the business. The show will start at 7:30.
Lochwood has just finished a new CD called Big Park and we are having a CD release party prior to the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival. For a donation of $20 you will get a New CD.
Billy Parker will be in town for the festival and John and Billy will do a short opening set.
“Birds of Play is an acoustic Americana Roots quartet born from a mutual love of desert canyons, raging rivers, and rocky mountaintops. These multi-instrumentalists and dearest of friends effortlessly weave together a unique tapestry of blues, bluegrass, folk, and funk into a glorious blend of humor, honesty, and harmony. With a dynamic mix of sentimentality and playfulness, Birds of Play’s original music will take you on a joyous journey filled with tales of love lost and found, ballads of wild places, and the radical idea that being happy for no reason at all is reason enough.
