Hawks and Owls string band Folk Band from Walker, MI

Hawks and Owls string band has played for dances, festivals, corporate functions, private parties, weddings, fund-raisers, baptisms, and concerts, and has put together a great show of old time songs and fiddle music, folk, country blues, bluegrass, Irish music, original compositions, and the songs of Stephen Foster, The Carter Family, Jimmy Rodgers, and the like. Hawks and Owls string band is the band of choice for many Corporate clients in West Michigan, providing relaxing acoustic background music for corporate events, meet and greet occasions in the political realm, and creating the musical ambiance for many Dinner Parties. Award winning musician Bruce Ling plays fiddle, flat-picks guitar, and picks mandolin in their sets of music. Becca Ling, a world class old time rhythm guitar player, provides accompaniment and joins on the vocals. At their call are other members of Hawks and Owls string band, if the event requires a larger band. Bruce educates his audiences on where this old music came from, the origin of a song, or an amusing bit of history about the performers and events of the past. His understanding of the evolution of traditional music is expressed in his performances, where the audience is treated to colorful facts about the homegrown music of the 19th and 20th centuries in America, and the immigration of music from the British Isles in those periods. He has taught and lectured at many Universities and Schools as well. Hawks and Owls string band is also an excellent Contra Dance band, having been the House Band for the Grand River Folk Art Society for over a dozen years. They have played for a regular, once-a-week Irish Ceili dance in Grand Rapids at the 6th Street Hall for over 14 years, in addition to the GRFAS 4th Friday of the month Contra Dance, other bookings for private Contra Dances, and dances at major music festivals. They are able to provide a professional Caller for your dance, if need be. Bruce has taught workshops on Flatpicked Guitar, Mandolin, and old time Fiddle at a number of music festivals across the state, including Blissfest, The Wheatland Music Festival (Spring and Fall festivals), Farmfest, Grinfest, Shady Grove Fiddle Fest, and smaller one day affairs where he has been booked to perform. He provides handouts of tablature for the tunes taught in his classes. Becca has taught rhythm guitar accompaniment for old time fiddle tunes. There's a great beauty in the passing of Oral Tradition to others. Bruce has been blessed with great mentors, wonderful musicians and teachers. He now finds himself in his fifties with a number of students for guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, teaching the accumulated knowledge he has gained from those older mentors, many who have now crossed over. Professional PA System will be provided if needed.