Wolf Creek Session
From Ireland to Appalachia…
From the Mountains of West Virginia
Exciting Appalachian Celtic Roots Music!
Bio:
Bridging the common roots and branches of Appalachian and Celtic, Wolf Creek Session is a four-person group that takes traditional Celtic musical styles, blends it with traditional Appalachian sounds then sprinkles it all with an occasional contemporary folk gem as well as their own original songs, From the northern mountains of West Virginia, they explore the heavy influences of Celtic roots music on their area’s rich Appalachian heritage. Wolf Creek Session creates a wonderful infusion of instruments and vocals with Mike Broderick on fiddle, Alice Fleischman on a variety of Irish flutes, and whistles, Keith Pitzer on guitar, harmonica, mandolin and vocals and Joan Pitzer on fretless bass, vocals and an occasional whistle. Their unique melodic sound features rich male and female vocals over intricate instrumental arrangements supported by a solid rhythmic bass. Their tunes range anywhere from driving jigs and reels to dance tunes. Their lineup includes: Irish flutes and whistles, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica and electric bass.
Wolf Creek Session’s repertoire includes both original and traditional songs ranging in feel from driving danceable jigs and reels to beautifully haunting ballads and airs. In a magical style that brings together the Celtic and Appalachian worlds, their lyrics tell stories. They speak of love and longing, mountains and rivers and a love for the natural world
Their debut recording, Between Two Shores (FM-1041, 2004), released on the Falling Mountain Music label, delivers a refreshing blend of traditional Appalachian songs and music deeply rooted in Celtic influences. Cuts like “Shady Grove”/”Julia Delaney” and Bonny Ship the Diamond/”Fermoy Lasses” are fine examples of their crafty arrangements, rich vocal harmonies and the melding together of the music from these cultures. The synergy of the group shines through beautifully as they take you through slow airs and lively reels as well as the occasional contemporary folk gem. From high-energy jigs and reels to their more modern musical descendants, they skillfully and tastefully honor the cultures and heritage that lie Between Two Shores.
Besides the coffeehouses and fairs and festivals their music is quickly landing them on prestigious American stages like the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage in Washington D.C., a scheduled appearance at the Charleston Cultural Center, and internationally with a spring tour of France.
Bookings/Publicity: Recordings/Sales:
laurelmountainmusic@yahoo.com Falling Mountain Music
www.wolfcreeksession.com www.fallingmountain.com
304-288-7024 540-877-2505
MEMBERS:
Mike Broderick (fiddle) has a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and several classes in Ethnomusicology with a special interest in World Music. In discovering the many musical links between cultures he became a frequent student of the Celtic fiddle. Taking classes at Augusta Celtic week in Elkins, WV and at the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, NC. he discovered the fiddle to be the most challenging and most rewarding of instruments with Celtic fiddle having just the right amount of “grit and grace.”
Alice Fleischman (flutes and whistles) spent years mastering the symphonic C flute before switching to the traditional wooden, keyless Irish flute. She became entranced with the possibilities of the Irish flute and pennywhistle during her many summers spent at Irish week at Augusta and Swannanoa and has been heavily influenced by such notables as Laurence Nugent, Joannie Madden, John Skelton and Mike Rafferty.
Keith & Joan Pitzer (Keith -guitar, mandolin, harmonica, vocals; Joan- bass, whistle, vocals) have shared a long-time relationship in both music and marriage performing together since 1975 in a variety of group formations but most predominantly as a singer/songwriter duo in the folk style. Their influences range anywhere from such 60’s folk notables Dylan or Ian & Sylvia Tyson to the late Stan Rogers and Kate Wolf of the 80’s to the traditional Appalachian tunes of Tim O’Brien. They have recorded two CD’s on the Falling Mountain label of Keith’s original songs and some traditional Appalachian and Celtic tunes. Performances have included The John F. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage as well as various fairs and festivals, coffeehouses and listening rooms across the eastern part of the U.S.