Black Prairie
Black Prairie in 2013
Black Prairie in 2013
Background information
OriginPortland, Oregon, United States
GenresAmericana[1]
Years active2007–present
LabelsSugar Hill
MembersChris Funk
Nate Query
Jenny Conlee
John Moen
Annalisa Tornfelt
Jon Neufeld

Black Prairie is a six-piece string band from Portland, Oregon.[2] The band formed in early 2007. Their first album, Feast of the Hunter's Moon, was released on April 6, 2010, on the Sugar Hill label.[3][4]

History

The band began when The Decemberists' Chris Funk (dobro) and Nate Query (bass) had some time off from touring and decided to put together a side project. Other members of the band include The Decemberists' accordion player Jenny Conlee and drummer John Moen, singer and violinist Annalisa Tornfelt of Bearfoot and The Woolwines, and guitarist Jon Neufeld of Dolorean and Jackstraw.[2]

The band performed at the South by Southwest festival in March 2010,[5] Oregon's Pickathon Festival in August 2010, and toured in October 2010.[6]

Influences

Their musical influences include bluegrass, klezmer, jazz, tango, and Romanian music resulting in a unique sound.[2] Chris Funk says Black Prairie's sound "bridges the music of Clarence White and Ennio Morricone".[3]


Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak positions
US Bluegrass
[7]
Feast of the Hunter's Moon 4
The Storm in the Barn
  • Release date: April 24, 2012
  • Label: self-released
 —
A Tear in the Eye Is a Wound in the Heart
  • Release date: September 18, 2012
  • Label: Sugar Hill Records
 4
Wild Ones
  • Release date: May 14, 2013
  • Label: Captain Bluegrass
 —
Fortune
  • Release date: April 22, 2014
  • Label: Sugar Hill Records
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
2012 "Nowhere, Massachusetts"[8] Jason Roark
2014 "Let It Out"[9]

References

  1. ^ Leggett, Steve. "Black Prairie Biography". AllMusic. The resulting band blended together an impressive array of styles and textures, from tilted bluegrass, klezmer, and runaway Gypsy music to folk, blues, and a bit of jazz, resulting in a unique and fresh take on a kind of free-spirited alternative Americana.
  2. ^ a b c Keating, Celine. "Black Prairie". Acoustic Guitar. Acguitar.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b See, Elena (28 March 2010). "First Listen: Black Prairie". NPR Music. NPR. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  4. ^ Lee, Christina (18 December 2009). "Decemberists Side Project Black Prairie Preps Debut Album For Sugar Hill". Paste. pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  5. ^ Gallo, Phil (20 March 2010). "SXSW: Black Prairie". Soundspike.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  6. ^ Gallo, Phil (3 August 2010). "Decemberists spinoff Black Prairie preps for club trek // Tour dates at SoundSpike". Soundspike.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Black Prairie Album & Song Chart History - Bluegrass Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  8. ^ "CMT : Videos : Black Prairie : Nowhere, Massachusetts". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "CMT : Videos : Black Prairie : Let It Out". Country Music Television. Retrieved May 31, 2014.

External links

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