Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton are a dynamic duo performing music rooted in the Americana tradition. Over the past four years they have collaborated in various projects and formed the duo after hours of jamming in Stearns’ kitchen, experimenting with traditional and original songs.
Legendary banjo player Richie Stearns is one of the most influential old-time players of the last 25 years, stretching the genre in many innovative ways. He is steeped in the traditions of American old-time music, Appalachian folk, blues, African, rock, and country music. His band “The Horseflies” re-defined old-time music in the 1980′s and 90′s and introduced the unique Ithaca, NY sound to a whole generation of traditional musicians and fans. A founding member of “Donna the Buffalo” and “The Renegades”, Richie has collaborated, opened for, or played in bands with Natalie Merchant, Beausoleil, Farm Report (with Tony Trischka), 10,000 Maniacs, Kevin Burke, Johnny Clegg and Savuka, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale and many others.
Rosie Newton has played fiddle for as long as she can remember. She grew up immersed in the folk music scene in Woodstock, New York attending concerts and parties with her mother, Celtic cellist Abby Newton. Rosie recently graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in viola performance, and has become an integral part of the Ithaca old-time music community.
Newton currently performs in a duo with Richie Stearns, in the Evil City String Band, the Pearly Snaps, and in an internationally touring Celtic band called Ferintosh. She is represented on countless recordings, including her own projects – The Pearly Snaps, and her most recent CD, Tractor Beam with Stearns.
Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton take the fiddle, banjo combination to new levels as they continue to expand the boundaries of this tradition.
Saturday, November 2nd, 10:45pm-12:00am
Independent Media Center
Wristband or cover