Black Prairie

Black Prairie
Origin Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres Bluegrass
Years active 2007–present
Labels Sugar Hill
Members
Chris Funk
Nate Query
Jenny Conlee
Annalisa Tornfelt
Jon Neufeld

Black Prairie is a five-piece bluegrass-influenced band from Portland, Oregon.[1] The band formed in early 2007. Their first album, Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, was released on April 6, 2010 on the Sugar Hill label.[2][3]

History

The band began when The Decemberists' Chris Funk (dobro) and Nate Query (bass) had some time off from touring and decided to put together a side project. Other members of the band include The Decemberists’ accordion player Jenny Conlee, singer and violinist Annalisa Tornfelt of Bearfoot and The Woolwines, and guitarist Jon Neufeld of Dolorean and Jackstraw.[1]

The band performed at the South by Southwest festival in March 2010,[4] Oregon's Pickathon Festival in August 2010, and toured in October 2010.[5]

Influences

Their musical influences include bluegrass, klezmer, jazz, tango, and Romanian music resulting in a very unique sound.[1] Chris Funk says Black Prairie's sound "bridges the music of Clarence White and Ennio Morricone".[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Keating, Celine. "Black Prairie". Acoustic Guitar. Acguitar.com. http://www.acguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=25639. Retrieved 3 March 2011. 
  2. ^ a b See, Elena (28 March 2010). "First Listen: Black Prairie". NPR Music. NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125232365. Retrieved 16 March 2011. 
  3. ^ Lee, Christina (18 December 2009). "Decemberists Side Project Black Prairie Preps Debut Album For Sugar Hill". Paste. pastemagazine.com. http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/12/sugar-hill-records-signs-black-prairie-featuring-d.html. Retrieved 16 March 2011. 
  4. ^ Gallo, Phil (20 March 2010). "SXSW: Black Prairie". Soundspike.com. http://www.soundspike.com/news/2/21712-black_prairie_news_sxsw_black_prairie.html. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 
  5. ^ Gallo, Phil (3 August 2010). "Decemberists spinoff Black Prairie preps for club trek // Tour dates at SoundSpike". Soundspike.com. http://www.soundspike.com/news/tour/400-black_prairie_tour_decemberists_spinoff_black_prairie.html. Retrieved 3 March 2011. 

External links