| Old-time music | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | British folk, African music, minstrel, Tin Pan Alley, gospel, Appalachian music |
| Cultural origins | English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, African, French, German, Spanish |
| Typical instruments | Old time fiddle, guitar, banjo |
| Derivative forms | Bluegrass, country, Cajun fiddle |
| Other topics | |
| American folk music revival | |
Foghorn Stringband is an old-time string band from Portland, Oregon, Oregon, United States. They are considered one of the finest old-time string bands on the West Coast.[1] According to their booking agent, they are noted for "intense dedication to the sources" of the old time tradition.[2] Their music is billed as "a blend of high-spirited Appalachian dance music tying in sounds of traditional mountain fiddle tunes."[3] Their interpretation of old time is played with the energy and edginess of punk rock,[4][5] while at the same time showing a tremendous degree of technical finesse.[6]
The group has performed at festivals all over the world, including at the Shetland Folk Festival in Shetland, UK,[7] the Orkney Folk Festival in Orkney, UK,[8] and in Ireland, Denmark, Finland[9] and Malaysia.[10] U.S. appearances include the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention,[11] the Alaska Folk Festival,[5] and the Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival.[12]
Members of the group also perform as the Foghorn Duo (mandolin and fiddle)[13] and the Foghorn Trio (mandolin, fiddle, and Nadine Landry on guitar).[14] Foghorn Stringband also performs with Dirk Powell as the Dirk Powell Band.
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The founding members of the band met at The National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest in Weiser, Idaho in 2000. The band was originally named Foghorn Leghorn and the lineup consisted of Stephen "Sammy" Lind on fiddle and harmony vocals, the Reverend P. T. Grover, Jr., on banjo, Caleb Klauder on mandolin and harmony vocals, and Brian Bagdonas on bass. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Kevin Sandri joined later, replacing the original fifth member of the group. Nadine Landy later replaced Bagdonas on bass, Peter Leone replaced Grover on banjo, and Patrick Lind replaced Sandri on guitar.
In September 2002, the group changed its name to Foghorn Stringband and recorded an album Rattlesnake Tidal Wave, which they self-released on their own Foghorn Music label in June 2003. Another self-released album, Reap What You Sow, came out in August 2004. Like many other modern string bands, Foghorn moved to a major label,[15] releasing its third album, Weiser Sunrise, on pop label Nettwerk America in August 2005. Boombox Squaredance is a collection of outtakes from the Reap What You Sow sessions released in spring 2007. Sud de la Louisiane by the Foghorn Trio was released in October 2010.
Caleb Klauder also performs country music with his Caleb Klauder Country Band, and has released two albums: Dangerous Me and Poisonous Yous (2007) and Western Country (2010). Klauder is also a member of Jesse Lége, Joel Savoy & The Cajun Country Revival.