RED HEN STRINGBAND
Birds Of A Feather
Wepecket Island 016

www.wepecket.com
www.redhenstringband.com
 

Red Hen Stringband is a very special aggregation of master musicians. At first they appear as an old-time stringband with fiddle, banjo and all, but one listen will indicate that we’re dealing with something quite wonderful and distinctive!

The band members each bring their individual musical abilities and background to the band. Jane Rothfield is a world class traditional fiddler. Bassist Allen Carr, Jane’s husband, brings his Scottish heritage to the mix. Linda Scrade is a fine guitarist and singer and her husband David Kiphuth, a solid banjoist.

Birds Of A Feather is a variegated collection of songs and tunes opening with “Martin Said to His Man,” an ancient piece and one of the oldest traceable songs in the English-speaking tradition. The arrangement reminds the listener of the old recordings of Fiddling John Carson in that ancient backwoods vernacular. They fall into the full Round Peak style with “Cluck Old Hen” and one of the many surprises on this fine CD is the inclusion of the 60’s classic “Colours” by Donovan in a gentle style befitting the sweet lyrics.

These are but a few of the wonders you’ll encounter on Birds Of A Feather from the Red Hen Stringband.

— Tom Druckenmiller