Propulsive guitars, driving bass, sharp fiddles and lush harmonies are planning to transform Athens into an old-time music jamboree, and just in time for Dad’s Weekend.
Propulsive guitars, driving bass, sharp fiddles and lush harmonies are planning to transform Athens into an old-time music jamboree, and just in time for Dad’s Weekend.
On Friday, two Ohio native folk bands, The Wayfarers and Buffalo Wabs & The Prince Hill Hustle, will perform at Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St.
The Wayfarers are rooted in traditional Appalachian music and place a strong emphasis on the fiddle, which inspires its high-energy mountain music.
“We typically have a good, rowdy time, get people dancing and off their feet,” said Nathan Zangmeister, the Wayfarer’s upright washtub bass player.
Buffalo Wabs & The Prince Hill Hustle exhibit a similar style, specializing in Pioneer music with a contemporary feel, and are notorious for getting audiences “hustled,” or charmed by the band’s wild, good-time energy.
“I feel that this type of music speaks to people's souls,” said Ian Mathieu, the upright bass player for Buffalo Wabs & The Prince Hill Hustle. “The Wayfarers and Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle bring a captivating energy to the performances. You just can't help but clap, shout, or stomp along. It's an infectious vibe.”
Mathieu’s band is in the midst of an extensive Midwest tour, performing at various locations in Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Kentucky. They are also preparing to head to Virginia and North Carolina in March. It will be the band’s first time in Athens.
Both groups plan to play selections from their standard sets, including a few new pieces, and are planning to join forces on a few others, Mathieu said.
Although the style of music is “old,” Zangmeister is confident that audiences of all ages will easily enjoy it.
“It’s an older style of music … we bring some youth to it, some energy, for people who might not have ever been exposed to that style,” Zangmeister said.
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