QUOTES:
"Crystalline harmonies and mournful tunes..." - The Boston Globe
"Sarah Hawker is a strong song writer. Debra Clifford is a rock solid guitarist. Both are accomplished vocalists. June Drucker is a bass players' bass player. Riley is, well Riley-a monster musician. Riley adds a nice old time feel and mountain edge to the later part of the CD. His reading of "I Met with Wild Bill Jones" has a classic old-time feeling. His duet with Sarah on "O Sing to Me of Heav'n" is edgy old style mountain singing. This is a strong recording of a mixture of traditional and original material. The song writing is powerful, the performances are heartfelt, and the production is first rate". -Bob Buckingham, Old Time Herald, Nov 2004
"My listeners and I love the Lonesome Sisters music. Warm, authentic and beautifully crafted, the albums are a joy". -Bob Harris Country, BBC RADIO 2
"At Ram Radio our motto is "Listen to the Circle...Unbroken!" The Lonesome Sisters embody that spirit and we are proud to play their music". -Pam McCluskey, Ram Radio
"Sister, brother and family singing groups have long been part of the country/bluegrass scene with the Delmore, Monroe, and Stanley duos and the Carter Family being the most popular. Similar language backgrounds as well as similar genetic voice qualities have made traditional sibling harmonies a powerful blend. Sarah Hawker and Debra Clifford are the Lonesome Sisters and their voices blend seamlessly in the old style..." - Brenda Hough, Read complete review at the California Bluegrass Association, Dec 2004.
"There are plenty of shivers in the Sisters' forlorn repertoire, but their minimal instrumentation is made a little warmer on Going Home Shoes by bassist June Drucker and banjo player/fiddler Riley Baugus of Cold Mountain soundtrack fame. So, if you're feeling a bit hopeless in these last few chilly days, or you're just dejected in general, this old-time-feel duo is sure to pluck a few heartstrings. Come share in those moods we all know so well: painful one night stands, night's starry wings, and bridges leading home." Sharon Nichols, Chronogram Magazine, March 2005.
THE BAND:
The Lonesome Sisters, Sarah Hawker and Debra Clifford, are known for their hard hitting high harmonies and their love of singing about tragedy and heartache in all its forms. They have performed at venues such as the Newport Folk Festival and the Kaufman Center, Merkin Hall in NYC, and played with Jesse Winchester, The Levon Helm Band, Hazel Dickens, Alice Gerrard, Laurie Lewis, Dudley Connell, Marshall Wilborn, Tony Trischka, and Barry Mitterhoff. They were also selected to perform in Fall 2005 for juried showcases at the Western Arts Alliance in Albuquerque NM, and at the Performing Arts Exchange in Memphis, Tennessee. At Merlefest 2004 they performed and won best country song in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest for Sarah's song, "Forgiveness." There were 894 entries. Sarah's original song "Going Home Shoes" was included in the Fall 2004 Sing Out! magazine and compilation CD, with her music & lyrics printed inside. They have recorded two CD's on their own record label, Tin Halo Music.
THE CD:
Going Home Shoes features special guest and dear friend, Riley Baugus, oldtime fiddle, banjo,and guitar player with the Red Hots and singing performer on the film soundtrack Cold Mountain and Great High Mountain Tour. This latest recording stays true to the sparse, soulful intent of The Lonesome Sisters' earlier work, blending their original songs with more traditional pieces. June Drucker plays acoustic bass on this recording, adding her beautiful, sensitive trademark bass sound.
BIOS:
Sarah Hawker learned about traditional Appalachian singing from her aunt Ginny Hawker, her uncle Tracy Schwarz, and her grandfather, Ben Hawker, beloved Primitive Baptist singer, teacher, and teller of tall tales. She has successfully entwined the roots of her family heritage with her own original work, winning the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest(Merlfest 2004) for her song "Forgiveness," and having her song "Going Home Shoes" featured in Sing Out! magazine (Fall 2004). Along with singing and songwriting, Sarah plays guitar and clawhammer banjo. She lives in the Ithaca NY area.
Debra Clifford has played in bluegrass, country & swing bands for many years, and is active in the Upstate New York contra dance & Old Time scene. She has performed with Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz and recorded with old time string band jimmyjohnnnyjoe. Debra is a songwriter, as well as a singer. She plays guitar, mandolin, clawhammer fretless banjo, and lives in Woodstock, NY.
Their first CD, The Lonesome Sisters, features traditional mountain, Appalachian ballads, classic country, gospel, and early bluegrass. With nothing more than a strong rhythm guitar, and a few beautiful fiddle touches by Chad Crumm of The Hix, this album is full of the traditional lonesome sounds and the spares instrumentation as these songs were once played. Ths CD is also available on CD baby, as well as Debra's flat out old time fiddle music string band, jimmyjohnnyjoe with Joe Thrift, fiddler.
Read more...