is enough to wake the dead
You've never heard that traditional gospel number, "The Old Churchyard," done with such subtle and stirring beauty as in this performance by the Petersens.
The song goes back centuries, early settlers having brought it from Britain to America, where it became entrenched in Appalachian culture. The Scots Irish settlers evidently picked it up. You'll note Katie Petersen's amazing mimicry of bagpipes with her unique five-string fiddle.
Young Julianne, as lead singer, shines once again. Cleverly, she begins in a rather muted tone and builds to the enthralling climax verse:
This video brings us "Petersens Lite." Only the three young sirens appear here, with trustworthy Ellen backing Julz with melodious vocal skill. Neither she nor Julz has her instrument. The decision to go with "bagpipes" only brought excellent results. Sometimes all those string band strings can overwhelm a poetic performance. Even so, this bunch has no problem getting down and whipping out great old-timey Bluegrass, tho they prefer to grass up contemporary material. In this case, tho, we can't even say they're "grassing it up." More like "bagpiping it up."
In the full band, Julianne handles the mandolin, Mother ("Get It Mama") Karen the bass fiddle, Matt the guitar, Petersens' "adoptee" Emmett Franz the dobro, Ellen the banjo and wily Katie the fiddle.
The song gained prominence during the American folk revival of the 1960s and '70s, and interestingly Julz likes to sample from that Folk era. Among noteworthy folkies who have interpreted "Old Churchyard" are Joan Baez; Almeda "Granny" Riddle from Arkansas; Sarah Gunning from Eastern Kentucky; Waterson:Carthy, a noted British Folk group; and Offa Rex, a collaboration between the Decemberists and Olivia Chaney.
In August, the band leaves their entertainment mecca hometown of Branson, Mo., in the heart of the fabled Ozarks, for Europe.
Tickets are available via the Petersens site.
https://petersenband.com/the-petersens-return-to-europe/ Here is the tour schedule:
The song goes back centuries, early settlers having brought it from Britain to America, where it became entrenched in Appalachian culture. The Scots Irish settlers evidently picked it up. You'll note Katie Petersen's amazing mimicry of bagpipes with her unique five-string fiddle.
Young Julianne, as lead singer, shines once again. Cleverly, she begins in a rather muted tone and builds to the enthralling climax verse:
I rest in the hope that one bright dayJulianne has always had a major, if understated, influence on this band, which has a large global following on YouTube. But upon completing her schooling, she has shown herself an even more remarkable creative presence, gliding easily among the Beatles, Bob Dylan, traditional gospel and her own acutely poetic songs. Her loving siblings are happy to play along.
Sunshine will burst through these prisons of clay
And Old Gabriel's trumpet and the voice of the Lord
They will wake up the dead in the old churchyard
This video brings us "Petersens Lite." Only the three young sirens appear here, with trustworthy Ellen backing Julz with melodious vocal skill. Neither she nor Julz has her instrument. The decision to go with "bagpipes" only brought excellent results. Sometimes all those string band strings can overwhelm a poetic performance. Even so, this bunch has no problem getting down and whipping out great old-timey Bluegrass, tho they prefer to grass up contemporary material. In this case, tho, we can't even say they're "grassing it up." More like "bagpiping it up."
In the full band, Julianne handles the mandolin, Mother ("Get It Mama") Karen the bass fiddle, Matt the guitar, Petersens' "adoptee" Emmett Franz the dobro, Ellen the banjo and wily Katie the fiddle.
The song gained prominence during the American folk revival of the 1960s and '70s, and interestingly Julz likes to sample from that Folk era. Among noteworthy folkies who have interpreted "Old Churchyard" are Joan Baez; Almeda "Granny" Riddle from Arkansas; Sarah Gunning from Eastern Kentucky; Waterson:Carthy, a noted British Folk group; and Offa Rex, a collaboration between the Decemberists and Olivia Chaney.
In August, the band leaves their entertainment mecca hometown of Branson, Mo., in the heart of the fabled Ozarks, for Europe.
Tickets are available via the Petersens site.
https://petersenband.com/the-petersens-return-to-europe/ Here is the tour schedule:
London (Union Chapel, Islington). Tue. Aug. 13. https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-petersens/union-chapel/3000403
Gistel, Belgium (Moeder van Vrede). Thur. Aug. 15. Free festival at a family religious center; registration is required. https://www.moedervanvrede.be/Maria/inschrijven-wel-gezin-de-dagen/
Cologne. (Stadthalle). Sat. Aug. 17. https://agenturahrens.ticket.io/9urw6qs0/?cryptedId=9urw6qs0
Paris. Mon. Aug. 19. (Le Cabaret Sauvage). https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-petersens/le-cabaret-sauvage-/3039818
Cork, Ireland. (St. Luke's). Thur. Aug. 22. https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-petersens/live-at-st-luke-s/3007389
