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Fans of good old-fashioned fiddle playing and authentic American old-time music are in for a treat this month when The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee play at the Whangateau Folk Club.
Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, this young five-piece string band play a mix of traditional tunes and original songs on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass, combined with powerful harmony singing.
As well as winning a number of blue ribbons at top old-time and bluegrass band contests in Virginia and North Carolina, the group has earned praise from renowned bassist and Bluegrass Hall of Famer Marshall Wilborn, formerly of The Johnson Mountain Boys.
“They’ve got it – that primal, but elegant approach to their instruments, and their remarkable vocal blend that only comes out of a deep and undeniable love for old time country music,” Wilborn said.
The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee will be in Whangateau on Tuesday, January 30 as part of a six-week tour of small venues and folk festivals throughout Australia and New Zealand, including the 51st Auckland Folk Festival, which takes place at Kumeu Showgrounds from January 26 to 29.
Whangateau Folk Club stalwart Jenine Arbabanel says locals are in for a real treat from the US band.
“Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee are a hard-driving, old-time string band and they are gonna bring the hoedown to Whangateau Hall. We might have to push the chairs back and open up a dance floor for this one,” she says.
The band comprises Andrew Small on vocals, mandolin and fiddle; Ashlee Watkins on vocals, guitar and banjo; Trevor Holder on vocals and banjo; Conner Vlietstra on vocals, fiddle and guitar; and Austin Janey on bass.
Doors open for the Whangateau show at 6.30pm, with floor singers taking to the stage at 7pm, followed by an interval and refreshments, before The Alum Ridge Boys perform.
Tickets: $20 per person; booking essential – email whangateaufolk@gmail.com
