Allison Williams & Rachel Eddy - Bridge, Canterbury

Event information

Allison Williams - Old Time music, Claw Hammer Banjo, vocals, &
Rachel Eddy, "a fantastic West Virginia fiddler/multi-instrumentalist".

Allison Williams plays old-time clawhammer banjo in a modern context. A native of the Arkansas Ozarks, Allison got her start in punk rock bands before rediscovering her musical roots. Years in the mountains of North Carolina educated her in Southern banjo styles, especially the fast, distinctive styles of Hobart Smith and Wade Ward.
She debuted on BBC television in 2009, live at London's Barbican, as part of the Folk America series. Allison Williams' solo CD, "Give Me the Roses," features driving arrangements of traditional songs, as well as eclectic originals, woven together by a talented backing band: alumni of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Old Crow Medicine Show, among others. In 2010, she joined folk legend Michelle Shocked on her East Coast tour.

Rachel Eddy learned to fiddle growing up in West Virginia's coal country. She played for many years in oldtime string bands, picking up guitar and banjo as well. In 2008, Rachel moved to Nashville, TN, to make her solo record, "Hand on the Plow," backed by Tim O'Brien, Mark Schatz, and more.
Recently, Rachel has found herself living in Stockholm, Sweden. She's spent the last year touring Europe heavily with the traveling World Music festival Klangwelten, and the American all-girl oldtime supergroup, Uncle Earl. She also has a duet with Kristian Herner from Stockholm's Rockridge Brothers.

Allison & Rachel have spent many sweet hours playing at fiddler's gatherings, festivals and dances, and are bringing their vocal harmonies and driving fiddle/banjo duets to the UK in June 2011.

Note: on the Saturday there will be Workshops, Jam Sessions and a Dance