Renegade traditionalists Jacob Sharp (mandolin), Joseph Terrell (guitar), Libby Rodenbough (fiddle), and Wood Robinson (double bass) deliver powerfully rhythmic, lyrically sharp, and beautiful four-part harmonies as Mipso. The North Carolina-based indie folk band, influenced by the progressive vibes of Chapel Hill and its surrounding rural landscapes, mixes the complexities of traditional bluegrass with modern instrumentation and smart pop melodies. The result is the intoxicating blend of Americana filling their sophomore album Old Time Reverie. The 2015 album was named among the “Best Records of the Year” by The Guardian, for the band’s “aptitude for stunning harmonies” and “lush and moving songs that feel as fresh as a warm spring rain.” Old Time Reverie sees the quartet expanding its sonic resources while doubling down on experimentation with string band tradition in a gripping, mature reflection of musical and personal growth.
Kristin Andreassen is a songwriter and a percussive dancer who brings both of those talents to a live performance that has been called “inventive” (The New Yorker) and “haunting” (Folk Alley). This winter, she’s excited to be playing with Eau Claire-based drummer and multi-instrumentalist Shane Leonard (Kalispell Band, Field Report).
Kristin’s first musical obsession was American old time music – she played guitar and fiddle with the groundbreaking stringband Uncle Earl (w/ Abigail Washburn, Rayna Gellert & KC Groves) and danced with the Appalachian clogging ensemble Footworks. She turned her attention to songwriting with the "folk noir" vocal trio Sometymes Why (w/ Aoife O'Donovan & Ruth Ungar) where her bandmates lovingly dubbed her "the mistress of metaphor". 2015 saw the release of Kristin’s second album Gondolier, with tours supporting Black Prairie, Dawn Landes, Aoife O’Donovan, Mipso and Noam Pikelny. Her debut record Kiss Me Hello included the award-winning “Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes” which went to #1 on kids' radio and has been covered by dozens of artists ranging from Tyne Daly to high school marching bands.
Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Kristin has become a respected voice in songwriter circles, with music recently heard on Showtime’s The Affair and ABC’s Nashville. Her carefully crafted lyrics continue to explore both the brightest rooms and darkest corners of the human experience with a gently deceptive simplicity that rewards close listening.
Tickets $20
www.mipsomusic.com
www.kristinandreassen.com