Beehive Field Recordings: Pewter Sessions

The HOOT is a down-to-earth celebration of music, food, nature, and community, featuring rock, roots, and folk performers, along with family activities, local food and beer. It is held twice a year (Summer & Winter) at the Ashokan Center near Woodstock, NY. It was started in 2013 by Ruthy Ungar and Mike Merenda (The Mammals).

The Pewter Sessions are performances captured live in front of a small audience at both the Winter and Summer Hoot. The sessions are held in a 100-year-old pewter shop that now serves as a cozy side-venue during the festival. The intimate nature of the space creates a special atmosphere for audience members and performers alike. Beehive Productions has been capturing these live performances since the 2015 Winter Hoot. Below are some memorable sets.

Little Nora Brown – “Morphine” (Winter 2018)

Twelve years old (at the time of this recording), Little Nora Brown is already as well versed in the banjo and old-time music as those who have spent a lifetime learning. In this video, Brown’s rendition of Morphine will leave you in awe. Her style on the fretless banjo paired with her strong voice is like listening to archived recordings. When you listen to Little Norah Brown, you experience not only an astonishing performance, but a prodigy in the making. Nora won 1st place in youth banjo in 2017 and 2018 at the Clifftop Appalachian String Band Music Festival in West Virginia. Now 13 years old, Nora plays and sings solo shows and plays with many of her old time mentors including fiddler Stephanie Coleman, under the band name Little Leatherwood and harmonica master Trip Henderson under the band name Tin + Bone.

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Instagram: @little.nb

Dom Flemons – “Polly Put the Kettle On” (Summer, 2016)
With Brian Farrow – fiddle

Dom Flemons, known as The American Songster, is a musician and multi-instrumentalist who is devoted to bringing a true performance to his listeners. His songs are carefully written and picked to tell a story. Flemons is a musical historian, and co-founder of the Grammy Award Winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. In this recording of “Polly Put the Kettle On”, with Flemons on guitar and Brian Farrow on the fiddle, the two deliver a saloon style song of an engaging troubadour. His latest record, “Dom Flemons Presents Black Cowboys” is out now on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

TheAmericanSongster.com

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Instagram: @domflemons

Twitter: @domflemons

The Brother Brothers – “Cairo, Illinois” (Summer, 2016)

Adam Moss – Fiddle & vocals
David Moss – Guitar & vocals

The Brother Brothers are Adam and David Moss, identical twins carrying on the folk tradition for a new generation. Using minimal instrumentation, heartfelt lyricism, and harmonies so natural they seem to blend into one beautiful voice, the siblings draw on the energy and creativity of Brooklyn, New York for their full-length debut album, Some People I Know.

BrotherBrothersMusic.com

Facebook: TheBrotherBrothers

Instagram: @thebrotherbrothers

Twitter: @thebrobros

Upstate – “Sweet, Hot, Pie” (Summer 2017)

Melanie Glenn, Mary Kenney, Allison Olender: Vocals
Harry D’Agostino: Bass
Ryan Chappell: Mandolin
Dean Mahoney: Cajon
Christian Joao – Saxophone

This high-energy seven-piece band is one to grab your attention and get you up on your feet. With percussion, horns, mandolin, and a bass backing up the strong trio of front-women, Upstate (formerly Upstate Rubdown) is a powerful force of sound that can best be described as an adventurous blend of folk, R&B, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll. Their complex arrangements paired with choreography show just how deep the group dives into their performances. Upstate will surely have you stomping your feet and out of breath. Upstate is currently touring in support of their upcoming release, “Healing” produced by The Wood Brother’s percussionist, Jano Rix.

UpstateLovesYou.com

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