Biography
The Orphan Trains met on the wild savannahs between the countries of poetry and song. Amanda Birdsall had spent the previous decade performing on stages from Florida to Canada, recording three acclaimed albums along the way, playing with such powerful voices as Sloan Wainwright and Edie Carey. Wolff Bowden had published two full-length books of poetry, including nearly thirty poems which had appeared in literary magazines. He had won several major poetry awards, booked a reading with former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and had been named ARTEXPO ARTIST OF THE MILLENNIUM in Miami for his mixed-media paintings.
Inspired by American history, the duo adopted a new name, The Orphan Trains, and has been roaring along ever since, playing festivals, art galleries, conferences, libraries, listening rooms and botanical gardens. With songs forged in the haunting fires of life, and music which moves with its own secret pulse, The Orphan Trains take listeners on strange, uplifting journeys through the grit and glory of time.
Jon Connelly, PHD, who booked The Orphan Trains as headliners at his 2007 conference, said their songs were, “Like Leonard Cohen on a roller coaster.” Delivering their well-crafted lyrics with both male and female vocals, two guitars, a ferocious violin, harmonicas, harmonies, piano and tambourine, The Orphan Trains have warmed the ears of thousands of discerning listeners.
While touring with their new album: On The Night You Were Born, The Orphan Trains have dropped in for live performances on radio shows and performed with great singer/songwriters, including folk legend Danny Schmidt. And they’ve been garnering beautiful reviews from Portland to Port St. Lucie, where NPR’s Willi Miller said their music, “Took me way back to the old kind of folk music (Woody Guthrie & Bob Dylan). The music is great! People are going to enjoy this.”
THE ORPHAN TRAINS take their name from the 1800’s trains that ferried orphans from New York City to farms of the west.
AMANDA BIRDSALL WON 3RD PRIZE IN THE SUSQUEHANNA MUSIC FESTIVAL'S SONGWRITING COMPETITION
THE ORPHAN TRAINS' ALBUM On The Night You Were Born WAS A PERFORMING SONGWRITER MAGAZINE DIY FINALIST
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VIDEOS AND SHOW DATES, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
WWW.THEORPHANTRAINS.COM
Instrumentation
Amanda Birdsall- Vocals, Guitar, Violin, Harmonica & Piano.
Wolff Bowden- Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica & Windchimes.
Discography
On The Night You Were Born (2008)
PERFORMING SONGWRITER MAGAZINE DIY FINALIST
On The Night You Were Born has been described as “Really Stunning Stuff” (The Patriot-News) and features 12 Songs and a Lullaby. This album takes you on a journey with: orphans on an 1850’s train, laughing trees, a lion-loving foster child, a shotgun-wielding father, a runaway bride in New Orleans and a man who imagines he is a record spinning beneath the needle of time.
For More Music please visit:
sonicbids.com/AMANDABIRDSALL
sonicbids.com/THEMASKEDFANTASTIC
Links