Album Notes

Since its inception in 1991, the Barn Owl Band's mainstay gig has been playing for a monthly barn dance for the Central Iowa Barn Dance Association in Ames, Iowa. The Owls have also been sighted at the Iowa governor's inauguration dinner, coffee houses, concert stages, farmer's markets, weddings, celebrations, Irish ceili dances, TV shows, sound tracks, RAGBRAI (the [Des Moines] Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa), and NPR's "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor. The barn owl (Tyto alba) is known for sticking to its home territory, though, and like its namesake, the Barn Owl Band tends to remain home in central Iowa for the majority of its performances.

In 2000, the Owls released their first CD, "Dance Owl Night." This album captured some of the best medleys that the Owls had arranged for dances, a couple of vocal songs, and included several tunes that were composed by members of the band. The 2003 recording, "Barn Owls Live", gives the listener a true taste of the spirit and energy of the Owls. On this new recording you will find a wonderful mix of traditional and original tunes performed before an enthusiastic live audience. Whether you sit and listen quietly, tap your toes, stomp your feet, or dance around the room, you will enjoy this music as much as the Barn Owls enjoy playing it.

The Barn Owl Band features:
* Roger Alexander - piano, accordion, penny whistle
* Michael Bell - mandolin, 4-string banjo
* Jon Duvick - guitar, vocals
* Merle Hall - 5-string banjo
* Jason Huntley - fiddle
* Brad Johnson - mandolin, bouzouki
* Marty Miller - bass, percussion
* Ehler Orngard - fiddle, bodhran