Abigail Washburn

Folk, old time, bluegrass, Americana

Fans of Abigail Washburn's work may appreciate that of her various peers and collaborators. Uncle Earl and Sparrow Quartet are well worth checking out, as is the solo work of fellow banjoist Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen, and Ben Sollee.

Song of the Traveling Daughter (Nettwerk, 2005)

Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet (Nettwerk 2008)

Uncle Earle - Waterloo, Tennessee (Rounder, 2007)

"Rockabye Dixie"
"Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet"
"Chinese Recess"

Abigail Washburn was born in Evanston, Ill., in November 1979. She grew up near Washington, D.C., and majored in East Asian Studies at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo. After college, she moved to China for a time before returning to the States and eventually moving to Nashville, Tenn.

While in Nashville, she met KC Groves, with whom she helped to form Uncle Earl - an all-female old timey folk string band. After winning second place in a songwriting contest at MerleFest, Washburn went to work on her debut solo album for Nettwerk Records. That album was produced by banjo master Bela Fleck, and included appearances by cellist Ben Sollee. Together these three artists and Casey Driessen would form the Sparrow Quartet.

Along with the Sparrow Quartet, Washburn toured China before returning to the States and recording their first self-titled album. This album was well-received and landed the Quartet on the roster of several major festivals in the States, including JazzFest and Bonnaroo.