FULL BIOGRAPHY
Folk duo Adrian and Meredith have always been ones to march to their own beat, and have never been apologetic for the art they create. The project brings together two performers who grew up on opposite ends of the musical spectrum. Adrian was raised on rock, punk, and motown with a unique croon to his voice and a "clawhammer banjo" approach to playing the acoustic guitar. Meredith cut her teeth in the old-time music scene, where she played traditional fiddle and learned flatfoot clogging while studying classical violin and classical tap dancing. Those two approaches come together in a way that honors the traditions of Folk and Americana music while pushing beyond those genres' boundaries. Both Adrian and Meredith are connected to their immigrant roots within their families and that cultural connection deeply informs the music.
Since the duo joined forces in 2015, they have been pounding the pavement, putting their own spin on Americana. Their music embodies the spirit of the human story with a nod to punk, the heart of folk, flavor of Polka, and bounce of swing. Passionate about building global empathy through sharing the stories and origins of their american roots music, Adrian and Meredith have spent nearly 150 shows a year since their inception touring the USA, Canada, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium Denmark, Netherlands, The United Kingdom, and Ireland.
After a false start back into international touring post Covid in 2022 landed Meredith in emergency surgery in Scotland, the duo have become even more driven to share their music globally. After an outpouring of support from all corners of their music community in the midst of crisis, their mission in music became clear - to grow an authentic global community rooted in compassion, empathy, good food, good music, good art, and good people.
Their music takes audiences and listeners on a journey, embodying the spirit of the human story through the music and dance traditions of the United States and creates connection to their origins, informing audiences as to the history of American culture and how migration patterns created uniquely American music. From jazz, rock, polka, irish, old time, rock, punk, country, new orleans jazz, quebecois, mariachi, and cajun - each song celebrates the unique tapestry of what it means to be an American, “turn[ing] out a style that might be what alt-country would be like today if it had been born in Green Bay instead of St. Louis....sassy horns and Meredith’s fiddle in gypsy-mode to comment on how truth and integrity have become quaint ideas in America (Twangville Music).”
Meredith grew up as a tap dancer, and also does flatfoot clogging. Her percussive dance weaves in and out of their music, while she sings and plays fiddle, educating audiences of the history of dance and its connection to the music. Lyrically the music portrays the complexity of what being an American means especially in representing American culture around the world.
Adrian and Meredith will be releasing their 3rd album "Klezmer American Acoustic Dynamite" (2024), a Dial Back Recording from Water Valley MS, with the help from friends of Squirrel Nut Zippers, Drive-By-Truckers, Punch Brothers/Mighty Poplar, and Jimbo Mathus.
Drawing upon a diverse collection of influences, "Klezmer American" represents a departure from their norm, blending their consistent Klezmer melodies with the raw, gritty energy of John Kveen (bass), Hank West (horns), Bronson Tew (drums) of the incorrigible Squirrel Nut Zippers / Jimbo Mathus. The project draws on the duos musical variety using everything from clogging-boards to marching band bass drums, New Orleans horn solos, to the subtle and intricate guitar tones of Chris Eldridge (Mighty Poplar / Punch Brothers) and Paul Niehaus (Calexico, Iron & Wine). The songs are a response to both the collective trauma of Covid as well as their medical trauma from the 2022 hospitalization. Songs like “Stop The Spiral” and “Chaos” grapple with the moments in life one can’t control, “NFT” reflects on the importance that art and creativity hold in our society, and “Klezmer American” and “Glasses Wallet Keys and Phone” remind us all to live each day to the fullest and encourage us to prioritize deep to human connection and humility.
Their releases Bad For Business (August, 2021) and More Than A Little (2016) highlighted the elements that make Adrian and Meredith’s music truly theirs—and is a true representation of their live show. Adrian Krygowski’s gritty vocals and driving guitar, Meredith’s Krygowski’s fiery fiddling, and floating harmonies, and the band’s distinctive, foot-stomping bounce and sense of eclecticism—all of it has ferocious intentionality. Clearly, their recorded music goes big, highlighting Adrian and Meredith’s confidence in their vision, as well as the influence of their musical mentors, particularly The Legendary Shackshakers’ JD Wilkes and Mark Robertson, the latter of whom produced and mixed both albums.
Since resuming live shows post covid, Adrian and Meredith take their fearless, blistering, and Balkan-tinged Americana to new heights with a live show that resembles a raucous, rebellious and home-spun variety show. 2023 has brought their full band sound back to the stage with festivals, tours, and teaching workshops throughout the USA and Europe. Two europe tours, festivals like Blissfest (MI), Portland’s Folk Fest (OR) Mile of Music (WI), Jazz paa Fejoe (DK), Ahlen Fest (DE) and Wheatland Music Festival (MI), and support tours w/ Legendary Shackshakers, Jimbo Mathus, Shawn James and, Steve N' Seagulls all fill the calendar. They've showcased at Folk Alliance International (2021, 2022, 2023), and were selected by Daniel Lanois for his Uprise.FM streaming platform.
