Uncle Earl

Uncle Earl, an American string band, came together in Ann Arbor, Michigan during 2000. Singer/songwriters K.C. Groves and Jo Serrapere established the group, whose earliest roster upheld an all-female membership that featured Amanda Kowalski, Casey Henry, Sally Truitt, and Tahmineh Gueramy. That configuration produced the independently released 2002 album She Went Upstairs. A blend of traditional folk, bluegrass, and old-timey string band music, the band’s sound earned acceptance on the folk and roots circuit, although Groves’ later move to Colorado caused the original ensemble to disband. Toward the close of 2003, however, Groves assembled the lineup that would become the group’s best-known and most prosperous. With Groves contributing mandolin, guitar, and vocals, the new members included Kristin Andreassen on guitar, fiddle, ukulele, harmonica, vocals, and clogging, Rayna Gellert on fiddle, guitar, and vocals, and Abigail Washburn on banjo and vocals. A pair of self-released EPs and steady touring allowed the quartet to reach a national audience. They signed with the respected folk label Rounder Records, and in 2005 they recorded their debut for the imprint, She Waits for the Night, alongside old-timey artist/producer Dirk Powell. While on the road supporting that album, the band crossed paths with roots-music enthusiast and former Led Zeppelin bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, who stepped in to produce their acclaimed 2007 release Waterloo, Tennessee. Extensive touring across North America and overseas marked the band’s most successful stretch. Within a few years each member had turned toward separate pursuits. Throughout the early 2010s Groves and Andreassen occasionally reassembled Uncle Earl with fresh supporting players, and in 2014 the core quartet reunited for their first concert in six years.