The Macrae Sisters
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The Macrae Sisters are fiddlers Sophie Vitells and Marian Macrae Herrmann, Gabrielle Macrae on banjo, Joanna Macrae on guitar, and Jamie Herrmann on bass fiddle. The band began in 2007 when sisters Marian and Gabrielle lived in Asheville, NC and began playing as a banjo-fiddle duo. They recorded their first album, Old Sledge, in Marian and Jamie’s living room, with the help of friend and fellow musician Allison Williams. The album focuses on the sisters’ extremely tight banjo and fiddle duets, with appearances by friends Barry Benjamin, Michelle Orozco, Jamie Herrmann, and their youngest sister Joanna.
In 2009, Gabrielle moved back to Portland, the sisters’ hometown, and Joanna joined the band on guitar and added her strong, sweet harmony singing to the mix. The next year, their sound evolved again with the addition of fiddler Sophie Vitells, formerly of The Cooked Jades and The Government Issue Orchestra.
With Marian and Sophie’s driving double fiddle sound, the band plays a blend of high energy dance tunes, heart-wrenching ballads, old time gospel songs and a few fresh original tunes and songs. Their music is at once deeply traditional and youthful in its energy and drive.
