Foghorn Stringband

"Foghorn Stringband makes the music their own with instrumental virtuosity and intense dedication to the sources."
Old Time Herald
Foghorn Stringband plays old time string band music deeply rooted in the American folk tradition. It's a pre-copyright, post-bluegrass style, but the Foghorns put their own stamp on it. Stephen "Sammy" Lind's fiddle and Caleb Klauder's mandolin play tight unison lead lines anchored by the bedrock rhythms of Reeb Wilms' rhythm guitar and the bass of Nadine Landry. It's a sound that could be coming to you from a big console radio in a 1930's living room, or an Appalachian front porch; instead it's being delivered by a group of players from the thriving old time music scene of Portland, Oregon. Proof positive that folk music will remain vital as long as there are folks who want to play it.
Today the Foghorn Stringband is as alive as ever and can be found on tour from Ireland to Alaska to Denmark to Louisiana. Nadine adds a new element of singing and switches from guitar to bass bringing Cajun and country music to the mix.
Dedication to the music and the band's sense of camaraderie marks every note the band plays, live or in the studio. The Foghorns play in unison, gathered around a single mic, no flashy picking or solos, carried along by their driving rhythms and fierce determination to keep traditional music alive and exciting for this and future generations. The band's genuine enthusiasm for the music is making them a major name on the folk and old time music circuit, and they show their appreciation when they're home by playing free Sunday night gigs at Portland's Moon and Sixpence Pub, as well as a monthly square dance with caller Bill Martin.
They are highly regarded by traditional music lovers, and frequently perform with Dirk Powell, one of the country's most renowned musicians of the genre, as the Dirk Powell Band. While they are committed to playing authentic old-time music, the members of Foghorn Stringband are not strict recreationists in costume; yet neither are they experimentalists of the digital age. Whether it's on stage in a rock venue, a bluegrass festival, or at a dance in the Grange Hall, they further this great tradition through a profound belief that old-time music, played in a traditional way, is still relevent and very much alive in the 21st century. Initially gaining a reputation in the Pacific Northwest in the role of a square dance band, they have thrilled dancers and concert audiences at festivals throughout the world. This foundation in providing music for square dances - where the insistent sound of the dancers' shoes slapping the hardwood floor provides a beat of it's own - still permeates all of Foghorn's music, as evidenced by the people dancing in the aisles during the band's performances. No matter what the venue, this is what old time music is all about.