Buffalo Gals

Bio:

The Buffalo Gals The Buffalo Gals are fast becoming the country's favourite old-time country string band.  Firmly rooted in traditional American music, with an authentic sound driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show packed with all the excitement, passion and fun of Appalachian, Bluegrass, Blues and Cajun tunes and songs. Buffalo Gals performs Old-time country music from the Southern Appalachian region of the United States, and specialises in using music, song and dance to convey the spirit, excitement and passion of American roots music.  The group was born out of the Old-Time Country Roots Revue project which performed for Frome ECOS festival and the Gables Theatre American Music Festival.  They are a group of professional performers with a wide range of talents and interests, all of whom share a passion for the traditional music of the USA, and bring to their performance their many years of experience and enthusiasm for the genre.  They presently perform at a variety of Folk and Bluegrass festivals, arts centres, acoustic music and folk clubs, and dances.  Recent performances have included: A1 Festival of Music and Dance Bath Fringe Festival Cis Hinkle Contra Dance, Bristol The Cornish Bluegrass Festival Cornwall Folk Festival Didmarton Bluegrass Festival Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival Feet First Festival, Matlock Friends of American Old-Time Music Festival Frome Arts Festival Merlin Theatre, Frome Arts Centre The PROM, Bristol Wexford Hooves and Grooves Festival. Old-Time Country music with Buffalo Gals The roots of American music are alive and thriving, as you will have a chance to discover at a Buffalo Gals performance...where you can have a taste of the fiddle and banjo of the Southern Appalachians, as well as its ballads, gospel, blues, and firey flatfoot stepdancing.   You’ll hear the influence of American music everywhere; It has been hugely influential in  many aspects of the music most of us listen to today.  The roots music of America has given inspiration to almost every type of popular music we have heard in the last century.  Elvis Presley’s first recording was of a song called Blue Moon of Kentucky, written by the father of Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe.  The Everly Brothers, who based their music on the traditional sound of brother duets, were the major musical influence on the early harmonies of the Beatles.  Early Blues provided a similar inspiration for later forms of popular music, and created a powerful thread of influence on the development of Rock’n’Roll.  With Buffalo Gals, you will have the opportunity to relive the early forms of country music, and hear some of how American traditional music sounded when the recording industry was in its infancy.     Old-Time Country music blends influences from all over the world, most obviously from those immigrants who carried music from the British Isles, people transported from Africa and living as slaves, and Native Americans.  The main instruments used in this music are fiddle, banjo, guitar, and lap dulcimer, though many other instruments are involved, such as harmonica, jaws harp, bass, and autoharp.  It is characterised by lively tunes, unusual rhythms and timing,  sad ballads and gospel songs.  Much of the music contributed by the British Isles was in the form of dance music and ballads.  The African people contributed a highly developed sense of rhythm and syncopation, a vocal spiritual music that included  church-style harmonies, and the sound of the banjo.  The music of Native Americans also contributed to vocal and rhythmic styles of Old-Time Music.  Geographical and cultural isolation during the early part of the expansion of the USA contributed to a deep feeling of the music belonging to the people who were making it, and to the evolution of a musical identity that was much greater than the sum of its parts.   Above all, it is fun, social music with a great drive and passion, and we aim to involve all of our audiences in its excitement! .. ..

Member Since:

March 18, 2006

Members:

Kate Lissauer ~ Kate Lissauer is a leading light in the American traditional music scene in Britain, as a performer and teacher.  Hailing from Western Maryland, USA, she is an award-winning Appalachian fiddle and banjo player, as well as a fine singer in the old-time country style, and a square dance caller. Most of her music is inspired by the traditions of West Virginia and Kentucky.  She has been involved in several recording projects, including her own, “Ain’t No Grave”, and “Walk Chalk Chicken”, and fiddling and singing for both Sara Grey and Kieron Mains on the Tradition Bearers series of CDs.   Kate plays fiddle and sings lead and harmony with the band. Sue Clare ~ Sue Clare is a talented songwriter and singer who has been involved in the world of traditional music for many years, as a performer and writer.  She is a seasoned performer with a voice that ranges from angelic to raunchy.   While her musical background is diverse - she has sung with rock, jazz, blues and folk bands, and, most recently, an a capella trio - she has a particular interest in American Country Music which ranges from Blegrass through contemporary Nashville styles.   Sue plays mandolin and guitar with the band, andprovides lead and harmony vocals. Sibylle Riesen ~ Sibylle Reisen describes herself as a “foot musician” specialising in Appalachian “flatfooting” dance - a high-energy percussive dance form using leather shoes on wood to provide the “drum” to American old-time music.   Sibylle, who has studied with some of the US’s top exponents of traditional dance styles, performs as a soloist step dancer, and with the City Clickers, step dancers of English Clog, French Canadian and Cape Breton Styles. She also sings harmony with the band. John Whelan ~ John Whelan has been playing country and mountain music on the five-string banjo for many years, his initial enthusiasm for American music ignited by the music of Derroll Adams and Jack Elliot, whose early forays into the British folk scene were highly influential in sparking interest in the instrument.   John has learned from and been inspired by some of America’s finest pickers, and has developed a creative and versatile style, including his own brand of two and three-finger picking.   John sings backup vocals with the band. Peter Dunn ~ Peter Dunn  is a versatile guitarist and singer who has a varied background, including rock and roll and ceilidh bands, but a firm commitment to and love of old-time music.   He has the perfect touch on back-up guitar, and performs compelling lead and harmony vocals. He has performed old-time country music for years, with the Cotswold Mountain boys and backing up Applejack Appalachian Cloggers, and he also works as a professional dance musician with the Pack Horse Ceilidh Band.   Pete also sings lead and harmony vocals with Buffalo Gals.

Record Label:

Unknown Indie