Chicken Liquor

Rollicking twin fiddles and bright country harmonies define Chicken Liquor, a band of veteran musicians who have been playing together as friends for over 10 years. Hailing from California, Chicken Liquor was formed once upon a time when Triple Chicken Foot (Los Angeles) and Skillet Licorice (San Francisco) met for dinner one summer night in 2013. Award winners at string band contests throughout California, all four members bring their love of traditional old-time music to their performances at a concert hall, tavern or a raging square dance.  Chicken Liquor is a one-stop, hands down, settin’ the woods on fire band.

Member Bios:
Ben Guzman
(fiddle/mandolin/vocals) began playing Old-Time 2005 ago with the band Old Jitters.  When Jitters’ fiddler Barb Hansen left L.A. for the NW, Ben was left with only one choice:  LEARN THE FIDDLE.  Since 2007 he has been addicted to the fiddle month after month, day to day, hour to hour.  Working under Tom Sauber as an apprentice from 2008 – 2010, Ben has learned the magic of the bow and sucking up tunes Tom has learned from his years of playing with Earl Collins and countless others.  Ben has won awards for his singing with fiddle as well as a capella.

Kelly Marie Martin (guitar/banjo/vocals) started playing old time music on the upright bass.  She’d been playing
punk/indie/folk rock since the riot grrrl/grunge days of Olympia and San Francisco co-horting with David Jones in a long line of bands that evolved into a collaborative visual and sound art and performance known as Kelly and David. A self-taught guitar player, it was only natural that she put down the goldtop les paul and pick up the acoustic for six string duties and now, the banjo.

Elise Engelberg (fiddle/banjo) is a bonafide Kentucky wildcat, yet somehow got her start in music as a classical
violinist. After moving to California, she rediscovered her bluegrass roots and began learning to play the fiddle. Since then, she has became a sought after fiddler in the Bay Area old time scene. Elise has recorded with the Crooked Jades, The Mercury Dimes and has toured with the Stairwell Sisters. Her love for teaching young children has afforded her a thriving music studio in San Francisco.

Matt Knoth (banjo and guitar) hails from San Jose, CA where he grew up playing bluegrass with his father, world-famous radio personality Cuzin’ Al Knoth.  Following in his father’s footsteps,Matt is an original member of the SF Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival committee and founding member of the rollicking old-time groups, Mercury Dimes and Black Crown Stringband.   A bonafide jack of all trades, Matt is also an avid cyclist and “professional” nature photographer.