Music
Press
"You were delightful! 'Pigs came up again and again as being a hilight!"
--Shannon Shakotko, Forget (Saskatchewan) Summer Arts Festival
"I would like to thank you for a delightful evening with the Whistlepigs! The baby was dancing! I was dancing! My husband was dancing! We could not sit still! The original songs were my favorite!"
--Gigi and Roland Macasaet
"Fenceline" is a warm, inviting and totally enjoyable recording. The Whistlepigs put creative, entertaining and locally-grown lyrics on top of an excellent old/timey and bluegrass foundation for a uniquely traditional sound. Put on this CD and you'd swear they were sittin' in the living room enjoying the music right along with you. From the swingin' groove of the "Hometown Blues" to the quick pickin' gospel of "Get in Line Brother", Fenceline is a great mix of arrangements that will keep you listening to this recording over and over.
To top it all off, these pigs wear some fine hats!"
--Tim Reese of "Pig's Eye Landing"
"Tasty licks, down-home backporch feeling, an honest mix of old and new"
--Erik Brandt of The Urban Hillbillies about "Fenceline"
...Lyrics, Music, Harmony...The Pigs have it all!..Off their new CD, the self titled song, "Fenceline", will no doubt be a classic..."Stone Broke" will bring anybody back...and the Lyrics from "You can get there from here" will certainly ring familiar with all Minnesotan's. "That Water" is wonderful, and the Lester Flatt Gospel tune, "Get in Line Brother" finishes off a great CD, and some of the best and original Bluegrass music this area has to offer...See you guys around...
--Bob from Maplewood
Saw the boys last night [January 19, 2008 at Dulono's] & they were great, everything from Hank Williams, Old Time', Swing, Bluegrass' - a very tight band with four guys who all sing well. The most enjoyable for me though was Fred playing that Brentrup,he has that Monroe/Compton style down. Go check them out if you get a chance or get a CD & *no* I'm not their agent. :)
Oh my, how could I forget Catie, a young lady (14) who can flat out play that fiddle...yes sir.
--Keith Madison, Mandolin Café
Being from Minnesota, as Fred is, I take great pride in our native boy. I feel the Whistlepigs String Band is one of the best bluegrass bands I have ever heard. Now Fred can't say this about himself (he is modest)...but I can. I'm an old gal and I have heard a lot of music in my life, they are good!
--Buffy, Murphy's Landing - From our fans, festival owners, and fellow musicians
There are a great number of fine regional bluegrass bands out there playing at the clubs and festivals nationwide. The Whistlepigs String Band is one of the best.
TD, Summer 2008, Vol. 52, #2 - Sing Out! magazine
According to the “Fenceline” liner notes, the members of Whistlepigs String Band drank "a fair amount of beer" and "just the right amount of whiskey" before recording their sophomore release. Between the requisite bathroom breaks, the...quartet managed to cut 18 loose and lively tracks in a series of single takes...These are friendly folks simply having a good time playing good music.
Tim Walsh, Sept 2008 - Bluegrass Now
This is old-time music recorded the old-time way--every part at once with no second takes, overdubs or fixing mistakes….I give them credit for the ability and courage to try to do it and do it well. They have included nine original pieces on a project that is fun loving as well as enjoyable to listen to...Overall, well-presented and likeable. I will be uploading it to my MP3 player.
Hal Cottrell, Sept/Oct 2008 - Bluegrass Music Profiles
"Fenceline" honored as “Traditional Country Album of the Year” by the Rural Roots Music Commission of Le Mars, Iowa - Rural Roots Music Commission
Dang, I like this CD. It’s got spirit, creativity, variety, all-around instrumental expertise, supercharged singing by four lead vocalists, excellent original songs (and tunes) of several types, a good selection of “cover jobs” of well-known and lesser-known songs, and a whopping 17 tracks --plus a partial “bonus track.”
Jerry Barney, “Inside Bluegrass” April, 2008, MN Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Assn. - Inside Bluegrass Newsletter
Great tunes....great heart and soul from your band. I like the liveliness that came from your first live take process instead of overdubbing. Very sweet and true.
Diane Rae, “Prairie Grass,” KGPR, Great Falls, MT, 2/15/08 - KGPR Radio
I look forward to sharing more of your music. You guys
are really excellent musicians.
Lilli, Folk Festival Radio Show, WDCB, Glen Ellyn, IL
- WDCB Radio
It’s hard to describe the ‘Pigs. You must see them in person. Much more than just good music, it’s string band ballet...I have never seen so many smiling faces leaving a concert. To say that everyone highly enjoyed the evening would be a gross understatement.
Dean Sauers, Green Apple Folk Society Newsletter, Summer 2008 - Green Apple Folk Society
Discography
"Unjugged" a home-grown effort
"Fenceline" our 2nd CD, released 2/2/08
Selections can be heard at www.whistlepigs.com
Photos
Bio
"Sing Out!" magazine recently said of us that "there are a great number of fine regional bluegrass bands out there playing at the clubs and festivals nationwide. The Whistlepigs String Band is one of the best" (Summer, 2008)
The Whistlepigs pride ourselves on tight 3- and 4-part harmony vocals and hot instrumentals. We uphold bluegrass tradition and break with convention, playing everything from Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, and Flatt and Scruggs to The Beatles, old Appalachian songs, classic country, and even a swing tune or two. Over our nearly six years together, we've done more and more song writing as well. Our most requested pieces are our originals like "That Water," "Fenceline," and "Faith of My Father."
Our stage show sizzles with variety and the traditional dance around the old style single-microphone set up. We've had the privilege of playing festivals, orchards, coffee houses, churches, clubs, and barn dances all over the Upper Midwest: MN, WI, SD, IA, MI, and Saskatchewan.
"Unjugged," our debut CD, was released in June, 2004, and took off to the four corners of the country. One track was selected for national distribution on InRadio’s audio magazine--10,000 copies went out in January, 2005!
"Fenceline" is our second effort, released Feb. 2008. It's been played coast to coast and WorldWideBluegrass.com plays it on the internet. Not only did Bob Everhart's group the "Rural Roots Music Commission" (Le Mars, IA) award it the "Best Traditional Country Album" of 2008, but both "Bluegrass Now" and "Bluegrass Music Profiles" have had flattering things to say about it.
We've had the distinct honor of opening for grammy-award-winning artist Mike Compton and his musical partner David Long. You'll know Mike from his mandolin work on "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou," the Down From the Mountain tour, and his work with the Nashville Bluegrass Band. We've also opened for Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain as well as Special Consensus (March, 2009).
The 2009 calendar is filling up rapidly. Our new fiddler adds a dimension we've just begun to explore and we look forward to meeting you at a show.
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