Tim Eriksen – Multi-Instrumentalist, Sacred Harp Singing Master, and Punk-Folk Pioneer

Apart from being the coolest-looking man in folk song, Eriksen is an uncompromising performer, ethnomusicologist, Sacred Harp singing master, musical adventurer and punk-folk pioneer, who seems to play every instrument under the sun and has shared a stage with both Kurt Cobain and Doc Watson. – The Guardian, UK Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his startling interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel, and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia. He combines hair-raising vocals with inventive accompaniment on banjo, fiddle, guitar, and bajo sexto – a twelve-string Mexican acoustic bass – creating a distinctive hardcore Americana sound. There are very few artists in the same league as Eriksen and fewer who possess the credentials and praise. Known for his interpretations of American traditional music from New England to Southern Appalachia, Eriksen embodies the music he studies. An ethnomusicologist and teacher, he has researched music in New England, and the Sacred Harp tradition. He has also taught courses ranging from American Balladry to Bollywood at prestigious institutions like Dartmouth College, Amherst College, and Smith College just to name a few; however, Eriksen is better known for his work in films like Billy Bob Thornton’s Chrystal and his contributions to the 2004’s Cold Mountain. As a consultant and performer for the soundtrack of the award-winning soundtrack of film Cold Mountain Eriksen was enlisted to teach Sacred Harp singing to the cast by T-Bone Burnett, the producer of the Cold Mountain Soundtrack. Eriksen performed on the soundtrack, singing with Riley Baugus on traditional songs such as “I Wish My Baby Was Born” and “The Cuckoo”, and his solo track of “Am I Born to Die?”. He was then part of The Great High Mountain Tour, which celebrated the traditional music of Cold Mountain and O Brother, Where Art Thou? Combining his haunting vocals with instruments like the banjo, fiddle, guitar, and bajo sexto (a twelve-string Mexican acoustic bass), Eriksen creates distinct and inspired music while remaining familiar yet foreign. His ability to play and utilize these instruments and his incredible knowledge of world music produce the essence that is the melting pot of American music. Along with his seven solo albums, Eriksen, with the folk/punk-rock band, Cordelia’s Dad released another nine albums. Eriksen was one of the founding members of Cordelia’s Dad – a band from Northampton, Mass which was active until 1998, along with Peter Irvine, and Tom King. They played at festivals such as, The Newport Folk Festival and toured with Nirvana, Uncle Tupelo, and Weezer. PETE GUSTAVSON Pete Gustavson (née Scapegrace) is a multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter residing in southeast Pennsylvania. He writes songs about love, life and death, and the ache of regret, and enjoys reinterpreting well-known classics from the American songbook. From 1997 to 2008, he won regional acclaim north of the Mason-Dixon Line as a founding member of the countrifunked jazzabilly band The Unpronounceable, performing and recording under the name Jorgé Beefalo. As an acoustic soloist, he calls upon influences ranging from ’40s torch songs to ’90s Alternative Rock, and pulling at the strings that tie Old-time Country to ’60s Folk-Rock. The resulting Americana mash-up evokes the sweetness of Jim Croce, the plaintive croon of Chris Isaak, and the resonant energy of Richie Havens. In November 2010, his original song After Dark won the Lehigh Valley Music Award for Best Acoustic Song, and the following year, his song Hardships Past won the award for Best Acoustic Performance. In 2012, his lyrics “A Little You and Me” were featured in American Songwriter magazine.

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