Uncle Earl
The SPPS is a beautiful thing. What could be better than a group of great folks with a common love of music and a shared interest in keeping alive some great old music that would otherwise continue to collect dust or worse yet, disappear altogether. As a musician who draws from the music of this country’s rich musical heritage, my mouth waters at the thought of this untapped well of material these folks are working on preserving. Long live the SPPS!
- KC Groves, 2/2005
It takes only casual observation to understand that Uncle Earl is rooted in a deep appreciation for the Appalachian tradition. The band that was conceived and born as a labor of love—an attempt to capture the distinct female voices in American Roots music—has evolved into an exciting live experience unlike any other.
Uncle Earl consists of the contributions of five dynamic and accomplished women, each of whom has successful solo and side projects. Yet Uncle Earl is more than just the sum of its parts; when these women play and sing together, they exude a passion that engulfs the room. The g’Earls energy, delight and camaraderie radiates from each of them as they twist and twirl around the single microphone on stage.
The g’Earls have an easy familiarity with their fans, and their lively shows bring a little something for everyone. The band is equally comfortable playing to a room full of college students as to a field full of festival-goers. They clearly love and respect the music and want to share that with everyone they meet.
The depth of talent in Uncle Earl is truly amazing. Each member writes songs, sings harmony and contributes lead vocals; instrument swapping is commonplace. Fiddler Rayna Gellert, a second generation musician and scholar, can relate the oldest known source of a pre-Civil War tune, while Kristin Andreassen puts aside her guitar to tap out the rhythm on her clogging board. Founding member, K.C. Groves swaps her mandolin for guitar or bass as effortlessly as she swaps jokes with the audience.
On clawhammer banjo, Abigail Washburn’s captivating voice cascades out to every corner of the room, holding the audience in her spell as she sings a gospel hymn or an original Chinese bluegrass ballad. Newest inductee into Uncle Earl’s charmed circle, Sharon Gilchrist has been playing professionally since she was a teenager. Her cool demeanor on bass belies the strength and intensity she displays when she steps up to sing lead. There are no weak links in this band; each g’Earl brings unique talents and interests that fascinate and charm their fans.
Uncle Earl’s exceptional mix of traditional fiddle tunes, mountain harmonies, original songs, and authentic Appalachian clogging is transformed into what can only be described as “the Uncle Earl experience.” Every performance is a joyful celebration for both audience and band alike. Uncle Earl is definitely a phenomenon not to be missed.
