Growing up within a few square miles of Pennsylvania farmland, Maya de Vitry and Oliver Craven first shared a song a snowy winter in January 2010. This first collaboration between the two creative flames inspired their collection of seven songs found on their debut EP, Borderland. Two years further down the road and Charles Muench, who originally contributed upright bass to the Borderland EP, climbed on board as the third voice.
The trio recorded a full-length album, packed a party of seven instruments into a station wagon, and set out along the highways of America, taking in NPR’s Mountain Stage, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. From bustling street corners to silent halls, their performances speak to an uncompromising reverence for songs. The acclaim that has followed their simple take on the richness of American folk music traditions, spun with a stirring subtlety and grace, has been something to note.
The latest Echo Sessions CD pays homage to some of the songwriters that have inspired them, on the one had Guy Clarks wife Susanna Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Nanci Griffith and the other, Ira and Charlie Louvin, Jimmie Rodgers.As the band say, “These songs came int our life as echoes. Whether through other artist’s recording or someone rendition in a kitchen, they made the long jorney fro their writer’s hearts to ours. May our voices be another echo in the lives of these beloved songs.” Noble ambitions and expertly realised too.
A sold out show at Celtic Connections is a sign that the news has crossed the Atlantic. Here’s a session they recorded whilst they were there:
With a string of dates already to start across the UK and Ireland, you have the chance to find out more for yourselves. With the possibility of a return visit in summer and also talk of another album this year, it looks like this will be a busy year for the band.
Tour Dates
January
30 Jumpin Hot Club, Newcastle
31 Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
February
01 Playhouse Theatre, Oldham
02 Victoria Hotel, Anglesey
04 Green Note, London
05 Grateful Fred’s, The Atkinson, Southport
06 Arts Centre, Norwich
07 Ropery Hall, Barton-upon-Humber
08 Anvil Arts, Basingstoke
09 The Live Room, Saltaire
11 The Red Room, Cookstown NI
12 The Blackbox, Belfast NI
13 Raheen House, Clonmel IRE
14 The Lodge, Mallow IRE
15 The Cutural Centre, Letterkenny IRE
16 Whelan’s, Dublin IRE