When Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan ditched their solo careers to form minimalist duo The Milk Carton Kids, they had a plan: to give their music away in order to find their audience. It worked remarkably well.  Their third album, the critically acclaimed The Ash & Clay was released this year and they’re playing to packed houses and festival crowds across the U.S. and Europe.

What they have is wonderful songwriting, performed with just two voices and two acoustic guitars.  No Depression says “The Ash & Clay is deceptively complex and haunting.”  This year saw them on A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, and at Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Newport Folk Festival doing what they do best: giving a respectful nod to their folk music predecessors and create music that feels new.  And while their albums have garnered rave reviews, it’s during their concerts that the duo really take flight, punctuating their mesmerizing songs with bits of wry humor.  For two great nights of music the San Francisco Chronicle calls, “bittersweet and beautiful,” don’t miss The Milk Carton Kids at the Freight.

The Milk Carton Kids’ first two albums are available for free download on their website.

Visit the Milk Carton Kids' website

Listen to tracks from the Milk Carton Kids: