About this Event
What happens when you mix bluegrass, Celtic fiddle tunes, jazz saxophone, old-time music, folk, and a healthy disregard for musical boundaries? You get The Faux Paws. And there's really nobody else quite like them.
The Faux Paws are a band that defies description, and they seem perfectly happy about it. Brothers Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand and multi-instrumentalist Dean Miller have spent more than a decade creating a sound that's entirely their own. It's wildly inventive, rhythmically irresistible, sometimes beautifully tender, sometimes downright explosive, and always full of surprises.
The VanNorstrand brothers grew up playing traditional dance music in their family's band, Great Bear, developing an almost telepathic musical connection along the way. When they met Miller at Ashokan music camp in New York, something clicked. His background in jazz, bluegrass and Cajun music, along with his extraordinary versatility on saxophone, clarinet, banjo, dobro and more, opened up a whole new world of musical possibilities.
And what possibilities! Noah's fiery fiddling and remarkable Québécois-style foot percussion can make him sound like an entire rhythm section. Andrew's intricate guitar work provides the foundation, while Dean's saxophone takes unexpected turns that might make you wonder how on earth it fits into a folk band. Somehow, it all works brilliantly.
But beneath the dazzling musicianship and playful experimentation are terrific original songs, heartfelt lyrics, tight three-part harmonies and the unmistakable chemistry of musicians who genuinely love making music together.
Their self-titled debut album was named one of Folk Alley's 10 Best Traditional Albums of 2021, and their 2023 Backburner EP reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Bluegrass Albums Chart. Their second full-length album, No Bad Ideas, released in 2024, further established their reputation as one of acoustic music's most imaginative and exciting bands. They've also expanded their touring sound with upright bass, frequently featuring Chris Felix Sartori of Twisted Pine and Peter Rowan's band.
A Faux Paws concert can take you from a foot-stomping fiddle tune to a soaring saxophone solo, from a beautifully intimate song to an exhilarating burst of improvisation, sometimes all within the same piece of music.
At Caffè Lena, where musical traditions are treasured and adventurous artists are always welcome, The Faux Paws are a perfect fit. Come ready for anything. You may not know exactly what to call the music, but you'll know you had a great time hearing it.
SAMPLE SONG
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Note: Caffe Lena does not permit ticket reselling above face value. Tickets purchased for the purpose of resale may be canceled without notice, and refunds for such purchases will not be granted.
Tags
Folk
Event venue & nearby stays
Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, United States
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