Kristin Andreassen

A native of Portland, Oregon, Kristin Andreassen’s own roots as a performer stretch back to her early years touring as a featured dancer in the Maryland-based Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. In 2003 she joined Uncle Earl, a pioneering all-g’Earl stringband that blended traditional and modern influences. Andreassen’s debut solo record, ‘Kiss Me Hello,’ was released in 2007. She also recorded two albums with Sometymes Why, the irreverent and evocative trio she formed with Ruth Merenda and Aoife O’Donovan. Constantly on the road, Andreassen only put down roots in Brooklyn a few years ago, where she quickly integrated herself into the vibrant avant-roots scene. Depending on the night, she can be found driving fiddle tunes on acoustic guitar, adding bells, ukulele, or harmonica to an indie-folk outfit, or performing her own songs on her own.

Kristin spoke with Folk Alley while on the road supporting her solo album, ‘Gondolier.’ Andreassen describes her musical journey – which moved from her early career as a percussive clogger to trad stringband Uncle Earl, the trio Sometymes Why and on to creating her own songs. Now a part of the active Brooklyn music scene, ‘Gondolier’ was written in part at a retreat at New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee.

Hear the interview and see the video performances featuring Jefferson Hamer and Alec Spiegelman captured by BeeHive Productions in Saranac Lake, New York.