“Free-range folk” will be coming to Marys River Grange in Philomath this summer with an appearance by “The Musers,” a group out of Sonoma County, California, known for its high-energy performances.
What is free-range folk? The four-member group defines the term on its website as “Irish, Appalachian, roots, funk, swing, gospel and Americana — each musical dish is served with dancing feet, verve and heart.”
The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at Marys River Grange Hall. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Nick’s: Soul Food will be on site with its food truck. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The group includes Anita Bear Sandwina (banjolin, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harmonica), Megan McLaughlin (guitar and mandolin), Tom Kuhn (bass) and Leslie Jackson (cajón).
“Their subject matter is grounded in reverence for the earth and life,” reads a biography on the group’s website. “When the Musers aren’t playing you will find them harvesting vegetables from their garden, adventuring on bikes, swimming in wild water, or volunteering with a local tutoring service.”
The Musers are playing at several venues around the Pacific Northwest with a tour that carries the same name as the group’s fourth full-length album — “Beautiful Mysteries” — which was released in April 2022.
Following the appearance at the grange, The Musers will head to Jacksonville July 13 and take the stage as the lead-in performance for Lyle Lovett. Then it’s on to Bend (July 14) and Creswell (July 16) before returning to northern California.