Rooted in tradition but with a fierce commitment to innovation, Jake Leg forges a unique path through the expansive world of acoustic music. Consisting of award-winning musicians Eric Wiggs on guitar and vocals, Dylan McCarthy on mandolin and vocals, Justin Hoffenberg on fiddle, and Aaron Hoffenberg on bass, Jake Leg breathes new life into modern progressive bluegrass, crafting a captivating landscape of high-level instrumental ability and thoughtful songwriting. Drawing something new from the well of tradition, the band takes the listener on a journey through rich narratives and evocative melodies, proving that within every note lies both a connection to the past and the promise of a bold musical future.
Since forming in 2021, the band has quickly garnered national attention and was recently named one of “10 of The Top Colorado Bluegrass Bands” by Denver Westword. With steadily growing momentum and their all-original debut album Fire on the Prairie released May 11, 2024, Jake Leg is poised to make their mark in the bluegrass world with their unique voice.
Originally from the mountains of Colorado, Clare spent the early part of her music career in South Carolina studying classical voice and performing solo and with her former band, The Two Determined. Clare’s earlier musical style took shape around the classical, bluegrass, and folk traditions of the Southern United States and Colorado. It was during this time that she learned how to replicate other artists’ work in a more structured performance environment.
These days, she’s excited about moving the familiar sounds of the bluegrass and folk genres into her own, more improvised space. Her current project, The Clare Elich Band, focuses on strong vocals at the front of an acoustic trio setting.
Since joining the Denver music scene in 2020, Clare has been working on the songs for her debut solo EP: Louder Than This Room. The five-song collection, released in February 2023 incorporates notes from eight journals into four originals and one cover, whittling down a six year process of moving through an imitative phase and learning what it means to realize her own voice.
The tracks feature Elich’s warm, expressive vocals and clawhammer banjo, Summers Baker’s (Meadow Mountain) image-evoking guitar and co-songwriting, and Joe D’Esposito’s (The Railsplitters, Freewheel Trio) dynamic fiddle and cello playing. Baker and D’Esposito’s supporting vocal harmonies round out the trio into a full, yet nuanced acoustic setting that leaves the listener intrigued as much as it lays the point right out on the table.
As a nonprofit, Swallow Hill is increasing music accessibility through our concerts and classes, plus early childhood music education, music therapy, and more free programming. But we can only do it with your help, and now is the perfect time to give.
All donations made from now through Colorado Gives Day on December 10 receive extra boosts.
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