Jane Rothfield & Nathan Bontrager will teach a number of old time tunes from West Virginia and the Round Peak area of North Carolina. In addition to working on rhythm and bowing,  they will also teach how to expand tunes harmonically and improvisationally.  The workshop is primarily aimed at fiddle and clawhammer banjo players, but interested musicians playing other appropriate stringed instruments (mandolin, guitar, cello) are welcome!

Hen’s Teeth (USA)
Jane Rothfield & Nathan Bontrager
Traditional and original American roots music

Hen’s Teeth is a new duo featuring Jane Rothfield and Nathan Bontrager, two powerhouse and inventive American roots musicians who specialise in old time Appalachian music. They first met at the legendary Clifftop festival in West Virginia, where they spent hours exploring cello, fiddle, banjo and guitar combinations as the musical sparks flew! Hen’s Teeth make music that’s firmly rooted in tradition, combined with their own inventive and unique styles.  Janie and Nathan both sing, and they each play fiddle, banjo and guitar too (not at the same time!). With the addition of Nathan’s cello, the instrumental and musical combinations are practically limitless!  This is American roots music at its most dynamic, full of power, soul, and whimsy. After a successful European mini-tour in March 2016, Hen’s Teeth return for a full UK tour this October/November.

About Jane Rothfield

Fiddle and clawhammer banjo phenomenon Jane (Pennsylvania, USA) has been playing old time music since her early teens. Over her 30 year career, she has played at concerts, festivals, workshops and music camps throughout the UK, the USA, Canada, and Australia. In addition to performing with Hen’s Teeth, she performs with numerous other musical projects and bands, including contra dance supergroup Coracree, The Old Time Shifters, Great Big Taters with Hilarie Burhans and Little Missy with her daughter Shona Carr. Whilst in the UK this year Jane also formed an instant musical bond with harmonica ace Brendan Power and the two made some recordings together, planning more collaborations in the near future. A talented and experienced music teacher, Jane is also the creator and director of the unique and popular fiddle teaching workshops, Janie’s Jumpstart Music Camps. Janie has made many recordings of her award winning brand of old time music over the years and her latest CD, Out of Thin Air, features 13 of her own original tunes and songs. Find out more about Jane at www.janerothfield.com

About Nathan Bontrager

Nathan is a unique and versatile musician with his musical chops rooted firmly in the traditional old time and folk genres. As well as being a world-class cellist, he has performed throughout Europe and the US as an old time fiddler, clawhammer banjo and guitar player. Nathan has collaborated with musicians like Brian Slattery, Aaron Jonah Lewis and Harry Bolick, and regularly plays with the Ol’ Timey Messengers in Paris and the UK/US traditional band, Root & Branch.  Nathan hails from the North-Eastern USA but currently lives in Germany, where he’s studying for a Masters in Baroque Cello at the University of Essen. He plays and sings Old Time Appalachian music with great creativity, but with both feet firmly planted in the historical tradition.