Harvey Branch String Band

Artist Information

Biography

Harvey Branch String Band takes its name from the creek that runs through their hometown of Oldenburg, Indiana. The band started playing a few years ago when Renana received a banjo to keep her busy during a prolonged illness. Not wanting to be left out of the music-making, Steve grabbed up a ukulele to strum out some chords. Since that time, Renana has also picked up the uke and Steve has taken on the mandolin to help make old-timey music. Steve also likes to sing and play kazoo, and Renana does a little percussion. As a husband and wife team, Steve and Renana enjoy making beautiful music together. They love to play old-time Appalachian tunes in the tradition of the old string bands. They also enjoy covering old pop tunes from the last century, inspired by bands like the Wiyos and the Hoosier Hot Shots. A typical set may also include some roots rock tunes from the 50s and 60s. Steve has written a few Americana-type songs of his own that they have added to their repertoire.
When he's in town, their son Michael will join the band, much to their delight!

Instrumentation

Steve Kristoff - vocals, ukulele, banjo ukulele, mandolin, kazoo
Renana Gross- banjo, ukulele, percussion

Discography

The Harvey Branch String Band CD, with six original tunes and six old-timey songs, is available on iTunes and also on CDBaby at
www.cdbaby.com/cd/harveybranch
as well as at our performances.

Songs by Harvey Branch String Band have been selected for play on internet streaming radio including UndergroundColumbus.com, WJFN Showcase, mvyradio.com, musictogousa.com, and VeTunes Radio. They have been on the playlist at Earl Clifton Radio Podcast (No. 9 Indie Country).

Harvey Branch String Band is also on Facebook.

Official Website

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/harveybranch

Links

• Facebook
• An original tune on You Tube from summer 2009

Audio

• 48 Kazoos
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• Boil 'em Cabbage
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• My Girl Plays the Banjo
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• Not Sixteen
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• SAD Blues
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Lyrics

• My Girl Plays The Banjo
• Not Sixteen
• S.A.D. Blues

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Interview, July 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  OK, so it's an interview rather than a review. Check it out: http://www.juniorscave.com/Steve-Kris...OK, so it's an interview rather than a review. Check it out:
  http://www.juniorscave.com/Steve-Kristoff.html

• Music Mondays - Americana [+ Show ]
  

  The first group I want to highlight is Harvey Branch String Band. Maybe I just have a thing for Amer...The first group I want to highlight is Harvey Branch String Band. Maybe I just have a thing for Americana bands named after rivers and featuring female banjo players. I also like it that the instrumentation lists a kazoo as one of the instruments. The Harvey Branch String Band is just plain fun. I also like it that they played at the Special Olympics Winter Fest in Indiana on Sunday.
  
  

Setlist

During a set, Harvey Branch String Band can cover several old-time classics such as Angelina Baker, Old Joe Clark, Cluck Old Hen, etc.
They like to play some old pop tunes such as I Like Bananas (Because They Have No Bones), Trail Of The Lonesome Pine, and Wa-hoo.
Steve and Renana also like to cover some roots rock tunes from folks like Rick Nelson, Buck Owens, and the Grateful Dead.
In addition, their set can also include Steve's original songs including S.A.D. Blues, My Girl Plays The Banjo, God Is A Verb, 48 Kazoos, Idaho Red, and others.
Steve and Renana can put together a set for anywhere from 5 minutes up to 3 or 4 hours.

Basic Requirements

Calendar