Red Hen
“Supergroup. It’s an overused term, but sometimes it fits just right. Such is the case with Red Hen, which brings together four of the region’s top musicians (in the form of two couples) to create a genuine acoustic roots music powerhouse. David Kiphuth, Linda Schrade, Jane Rothfield and Allan Carr all boast singular resumes on their own, but together the picking, the groove, the harmonies and the bold mix of classic old-time songs and new originals-in-the-tradition is just too much to ask for!”
SING OUT REVIEW
RED HEN: Crossing
The four members of Red Hen met over 20 years ago; somehow they knew their paths would cross again. The band formed officially after playing for nine days at Clifftop in 2006 and features master fiddler Jane Rothfield and her husband, guitarist/ bassist Allan Carr. They are joined by guitar- ist Linda Shrade and banjoist David Kiphuth. All four members contribute vocals. Cross- ing is their first CD as an ensemble. The CD opens with the a cappella vo- cals of Jane and Linda along with Allan for “Both Sides of the Road,” a new tune writ- ten by Jane and Allan. Eventually the in- struments chime in and establish a light and airy tempo. “Greasy Coat,” from the play- ing of Edden Hammons, follows. Jane and Linda sing the lyrics, and the alteration from the male to female point of view is quite surprising! Jane’s tune “Red Hen” is the source of the band’s name. It’s a sweet melody fea- turing Jane’s clawhammer in combination with David’s fingerpicked banjo. Jane dem- onstrates her bluegrass fiddle prowess on Bill Monroe’s “Sitting Alone in the Moon- light,” with David’s lead vocals joined by Jane and Linda on the trio parts. I can’t help but hear a bit of Cajun style in Red Hen’s rendition of this classic bluegrass waltz. The band won the best non-traditional tune contest at Clifftop the year they formed with “Too Late for the Bacon.” It’s a great mid-tempo old-time tune seemingly related to “John Brown’s March.” Just when you get used to the tune, the band sings a cou- plet or two. Red Hen describes their music as “new old time,” and that is exactly what they play. The band sounds like four great friends who
Birds of a Feather
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” features 14 selections of the band’s signature mix of “new” old time music from Appalachian, Bluegrass and Celtic Sources ranging from a Red Hen original tune Off the Griddle, the 1588 English song Martin Said to His Man, and traditional song Cluck Old Hen.
Red Hen Stringband features Jane Rothfield (fiddle, banjo and vocals), Linda Schrade (guitar, vocals), Scottish native Allan Carr (guitar, acoustic bass, vocals) and Dave Kiphuth (banjo, banjo-dobro, vocals). Boasting distinctive lead vocals, tight harmonies and superb instrumentals, Red Hen Stringband is acoustic Americana at its best.
