No Name String Band, The Stop & Listen
Doors 6:30PM / Show 7:30PM
Seated show
$10ADV / $15DOS
The No Name String Band distills the heart of old time fiddle music into a uniquely new time sound. They combine a broad catalog of traditional Appalachian music with a slew of modern, original acoustic compositions. The music ranges from fiddle-led, foot-stomping barn dances to slower, more introspective instrumental pieces. In 2023, the band's most recent album, Anytime, was recognized by the Madison Area Music Awards, including a 1st place win for Folk/Americana song of the year.
As a collective, No Name String Band shows the flexibility to play true to tradition, especially in smaller configurations, or to get funky as more pieces are added to the puzzle. A wider picture emerges when the full complement of fiddle, banjo, and guitar combines with upright bass and latin- American-influenced percussion. At times, the flow between bandmates is closer to a chamber ensemble than a bluegrass band.
You might have seen them anywhere from a festival or opera house stage, coffee shop or barroom corner, brewery or distillery floor, at a barn wedding or anniversary party, or in a friend's backyard. Wherever you find them, their motto is simple:
New Time – Old Time - Any Time - All the Time
The Stop and Listen bring old-time music to the modern era with grit, an infectious drive, and radiant harmonies. They play tunes from the 1920s and 30s dragged through a century of blues, jazz, and bluegrass to create a sound that feels both current and classic. Their sound is carried by unique instrumentation -- fiddle, harmonica, and cello, firmly planted in clawhammer banjo, tenor banjo, and an upright bass with a chip on its shoulder. Daniel Plane and Calvin Woodring trade off vocals, extraordinary improvisation, and harmonies added by bassist and guitarist Adam Helt-Baldwin. Mike Tiboris adds banjo texture and drive. The band plays hot old-time fiddle tunes, jug band blues songs, and the occasional early country or bluegrass standard. Stop, Listen, and let 'er rip.