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Acoustic quartet Red Hen delves into the deeper roots of American traditional music, playing songs and tunes from Appalachian Old-Time and Celtic sources. Their authenticity is enhanced when mixed with award-winning music and songs written by band members. Red Hen is Jane Rothfield (fiddle, banjo and vocals), Linda Schrade (guitar, vocals), with Scottish native Allan Carr (guitar, acoustic bass, vocals) and Dave Kiphuth (banjo, banjo-dobro, vocals). Boasting distinctive lead voices with great harmonies and hot tunes, Red Hen is acoustic Americana at its best – true roots music!

The band

When Red Hen members met in the mid ’80s, they knew that someday they would have a band together. Finally, after playing non-stop for 9 days at the 2006 Clifftop Appalachian Mountain Festival (and winning the prize for Best Non-Traditional Tune), they realized their unique sound, their rich vocals and red-hot tunes were just too much fun. Red Hen was born.

Jane Rothfield

Fiddle, banjo, vocals – Jane’s award-winning fiddling adds fire and whimsy to the Red Hen sound. She moves easily from driving old time to country tunes and romantic Celtic melodies and doubles on groove banjo. Her clear, true voice adds a plaintive note to Red Hen. Jane also performs and teaches at Old Songs and Philadelphia Folk Festivals with Groovemama and teaches every summer at Old Songs Fiddle & Strings Camp.

Linda Schrade

Vocals, guitar – Linda’s pure voice and expressive singing goes right to the heart, with a powerful quality that stops people in their tracks. Whether singing lead or harmony, her voice rises to the top. With Parents’ Council awards for two Gentle Wind children’s albums, Linda has recorded with John and Trish Miller, vocalists Sarah Pirtle, Lui Collins, Cosy Sheridan and more. Linda’s rhythm guitar with Red Hen defines their solid groove.

Allan Carr

Vocals, guitar, bass – Born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland, Allan brings his amazing Celtic guitar, bass playing and powerful voice to the Americana music of Red Hen. With wife Jane Rothfield, Allan has performed for 30 years, beginning as a duo and in Scottish band Rothfield, Hadden and Carr (with Silly Wizard bassist Martin Hadden) and in NY-based band Atlantic Bridge. His originals songs and arrangements are essential to Red Hen’s band sound.

David Kiphuth

Bluegrass and old time banjo, dobjo (dobro-banjo cross), vocals – “Lonesome” Dave, a banjo devotee since 1962, is an outstanding bluegrass, old time banjo player and singer. His tasty playing is unrivaled for backing up a singer and on blazing tunes. David has played with Phil Rosenthal and for years played the bluegrass circuit. David’s high, lonesome voice lends a true mountain flavor to Red Hen.

The music

Listen to, read about and purchase their debut album Crossing right here.

Book ‘em!

Jane Rothfield | 518-522-7445 janerothfield@gmail.com | redhen.info

Red Hen Records, 2009 | The first release from “new old-time” band Red Hen, featuring Jane, husband-bassist-guitarist Allan Carr, guitarist Linda Schrade and banjo man David Kiphuth. Purchase tune or CD downloads or hard copies from Jane’s store.

“Crossing,” the band’s debut album, fuses together old-timey country music, folk and bluegrass with a bit of blues and Celtic music, too. Recorded over the course of a single weekend in Greenfield Center back in March, the album features a bakers’ dozen of captivating tunes. It’s a bit more mellow and folk-oriented than Rothfield’s 2008 album, “iFiddle, theyBanjo,” collection of old-timey duets. But that’s not a bad thing at all, especially considering the magnificent vocal harmonies that this foursome manages to conjure up on such nuggets as the opening “Both Sides of the Road,” the poignant ballad “Tell Me True” and the twinkling “November Wind.” Elsewhere on the album, the quartet offers Bill Monroe’s wistful “Sittin’ Alone in the Moonlight” (featuring Kiphuth’s sole lead vocal), “Annabelle Lee” (Carr interpreting the classic Edgar Allen Poe poem) and a trio of ace instrumentals. Striking the delicate balance between the traditional and traditionally minded original tunes, “Crossing” is a perfect introduction to Red Hen, who make honest, sparkling acoustic music. This is pretty stuff, and fun, too. Greg Haymes, Nippertown

Ordering

Purchase tune or CD downloads or hard copies from Jane’s store.

Tracklist

Listen to samples right here in the page by clicking on the icon or the tab on the lefthand border of the page. Yeah, over there on the left!

1. Copper Run
2. Both Sides Of The Road
3. Old Greasy Coat
4. Red Hen
5. Tell Me True
6. The Moon Is Over The Mountain
7. November Wind
8. Annabelle Lee
9. Too Late For The Bacon
10. Sittin’ Alone In The Moonlight
11. Jail Break
12. Love Is Teasing
13. The Two Ravens

Details

To come.

In Groovemama, Jane Rothfield works with fiddler Donna Hébert to teach and perform at Old Songs and Philadelphia Folk Festivals every summer. The Great Groove Band of young musicians is coached by Jane, Donna, Groovemama and their cohort of volunteer music educators to a main-stage performance on Sunday afternoon at each festival. 

“Groovemama stirs up a wild storm of music!” Philadelphia Folk Festival

Clockwise from top left: Jane Rothfield, Max Cohen, George Wilson, Stuart Kenney, Donna Hébert (ctr)

iFiddle, theyBanjo is Jane’s newest recording on her own iFiddle Label, featuring Jane’s fabulous playing with five fabulous banjo players including Hilarie Burhans, Cathy Fink, Reed Martin, Jimmy McCown and Dan Rublee. Great tunes and great playing!

Ordering

Buy downloads or CDs right here in Jane’s online store.

Tracklist

Click on the little arrow to stop/start and listen to music right here in the page.

1. Cumberland Gap
2. Walnut Gap
3. Jaybird
4. Tater Patch
5. Pikes Peak
6. Smithland Farm
7. Cluck Old Hen
8. Ducks On The Millpond
9. Quince Dillon’s High D
10. Joshua Fought The Battle of Jerico
11. Regarding A Friend
12. War And Pizza
13. Sleeping Ada
14. Valley Forge
15. Hamilton Ironworks
16. Little Billy Wilson’s
17. Julianne Johnson
18. Rockin’ Reel
19. Temperance Reel
20. Boys Them Buzzards Are Flying
21. Carry Me Back
22. Rock Andy
23. The Parting Glass
24. Bury Me Beneath The Willow (shh! secret track!)

© Jane Rothfield, 2009

In The Moment is Jane’s 2005 release on 5-String Productions featuring many of her own tunes mixed with some choice traditional gems. Here’s what she has to say about making music: “Whenever I play, I try to be mindful of the power in the moment, going for the feel of the music, looking for the essence of a tune, that blend of groove and harmony that makes the hair go up on the back of my neck.”

Ordering

Buy downloads or CDs right here in Jane’s online store.

Tracklist

Click on the little arrow to stop/start and listen to music right here in the page.

1. Breezy Point
2. Cold Mountain
3. Park Moon Waltz
4. Rock that Cradle Joe
5. Uncle Bob’s Boogie
6. Béa’s Waltz
7. In the Moment
8. Indians Et a Woodchuck
9. Violet’s Waltz
10. Coconut Stumble
11. Free Little Bird
12. Nail that Catfish to a Tree
13. McFerrin’s
14. Holloway
15. Indians are Over the Hill
16. Needlecase
17. Snowcones in December

Details

CD © 2006 Jane Rothfield. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Tim Brown, 5-String Productions, West Chester PA. Produced by Matt Brown, Jane Rothfield and Tim Brown. Tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 17 © Jane Rothfield. Track 3 © Allan Carr, Track 5 © Donna Hébert, Track 10 © John Rothfield, Track 12 © Steve Rosen, Track 14 © Hilary Durlam. All other tracks P.D. Photos © 2005 Georgia Sheron. Album design, Delpino Design.

Musicians Jane Rothfield fiddle, banjo, vocals / Matt Brown fiddle, guitar, banjo / Tim Brown banjo, guitar / Allan Carr guitars / Pete Peterson banjo, vocals / Mike Resnick mandolin, guitar / Paul Sidlick banjo, mandolin / Sara Slaughter feet / Susan Sterngold banjo / Bob Taylor bass.

Ordering

Buy downloads or CDs right here in Jane’s online store.

Tracklist

To come.

Details

To come.