The Wissahickon Chicken Shack is a conglomeration of close friends hailing from a wide variety of musical, geographical and cultural backgrounds. They thoroughly enjoy each others company on and offstage and the sense of joy and abandon is unmistakable to anyone watching. They have just released their debut album, "Long Way from Sunset," recorded at Kawari Studios (Wyncote, PA).
On any given evening, you might see the band travel through the high lonesome sound of Appalachia, southwest through the funk of New Orleans, west on I-10 through the honky-tonk of Texas, then up the west coast to the bay area for a hat tip to the Haight.with detours through various unmapped territories along the way.
Based in the Philadelphia area, the group keeps a busy schedule. In the last two years they have performed to accolades at such venues as the World Cafe Live, The Tin Angel, The Blinkin' Lincoln, Puck, Steel City Coffee, the Mermaid Inn, Burlap and Bean, Chaplins, the Sellersville Theater, The Fire, Dr. Watsons, Fergie’s Pub, the Grape Street Pub and the Khyber. The band has also performed at festivals such as The Hop Bottom Music and Arts Festival, The Northeast Pennsylvania Bluegrass Festival, The Clark Park Festival, and The Kimberton Hootenany.
The Shack have taken pleasure, pride and inspiration in sharing the stage with such excellent company as Hezekiah Jones, Mason Porter, The Spinning Leaves, Joshua Park, Chris Kasper, Adrien Reju, Marc Silver, Cowmuddy, Carsie Blanton, Scott Sillipigni, The New Time, the Tin Bird Choir, The Estelles, Jeremy Hollis, Lisa Watson, Bevin Caulfield, Irene Molloy, Matties Ramble, Emily Easterly, Sarah Olson, Ross Bellenoit, The Fractals, Boris Garcia, Delaware Rag, among other friends.
The local press has this to say:
"In case you didn’t know, our city is home to quite a few solid bluegrass ensembles, and with the release of Long Way From Sunset, Wissahickon Chicken Shack may snag some attention outside the usual humble bar gigs. The seven-piece’s self-proclaimed fondness for folk, funk and honky-tonk livens up their tunes, as do mean licks of dobro and lap steel amid the requisite fiddle, banjo and mandolin. With tearjerking lead vocals from Bethany Brooks, “Abide With Me” explores the introspective flipside of party-starters like “Hot Rob Bob” and “Slow Train.” Witness the troupe’s strong collaborative spirit as they kick off the first of three shows this month at Roxborough’s brand new music venue, the Blinkin' Lincoln." (Doug Wallen)
Philadelphia Weekly, December 2008
"Wissahickon Chicken Shack flawlessly blends many instruments into a unique country sound. Influenced by traditional country music, this band creates emotional harmonies that will leave you feeling good. You don't want to miss it!"
Comcast Local On Demand, January, 2008
"Wissahickon Chicken Shack simply ooze good vibrations through their infectious harmonies and musical interplay."
PLAY Magazine, June 2007
"Last Sunday, Wissahickon Chicken Shack regaled the Dawson St. Pub's back-porch patrons with three unplugged daylight sets of their inimitable bluegrass."
Philadelphia Weekly, July 2007
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