The Stray Birds are a young folk-roots trio from Pennsylvania farm country who play as if they’ve been making music together forever. Their harmonies are gorgeous and gritty, and their deft instrumentals always serve the song. “Clearly these are players with chops, songwriters with a fierce command of their craft. But they also seem to have a grip on when to lend a hand, and when to let the songs fly on their own. This record was certainly one of the finest debuts of the year,” says about.com of their self-titled debut album, named to NPR’s Top Ten Folk/Americana releases of 2012.
 
The trio features Maya de Vitry on fiddle, banjo, and guitar, Oliver Craven on archtop guitar and fiddle, and Charles Muench on upright bass. All three sing—beautifully! Fly Magazine calls them a “super-talented acoustic trio whose virtuosity doesn’t get in the way of their soul” and praises their “rich vocal harmonies, tight acoustic arrangements, and heart-wrenching songs.” They recently released an EP of artful covers, including the great Louvin Brothers song “When I Stop Dreaming,” and they’re about to release a new full-length album featuring more originals.
 
Christian Sedelmeyer plays fiddle, Dave Goldenberg plays mandolin, and together this duo based in Nashville plays American string music steeped in traditional bluegrass but drawing from multiple styles.

Visit The Stray Birds' website

Visit Christian Sedelmeyer's website

Listen to a track from the Stray Birds:

Photo by Monica de Vitry