Uncle Earl

Uncle Earl
Uncle Earl in 2007; from left to right: Rayna Gellert, Abigail Washburn, KC Groves and Kristin Andreassen
Background information
Origin	United States
Genres	Americana, Old-time music
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Rounder
Associated acts	Sparrow Quartet, Sometymes Why, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
Website	uncleearl.net
Members	KC Groves, Kristin Andreassen, Stephanie Coleman, Paula Bradley, Rachel Eddy
Past members	Jo Serrapere,Tahmineh Gueramy, Amanda Kowalski, Sharon Gilchrist, Casey Henry, Sally Truitt, Rayna Gellert, Abigail Washburn, Bryn Davies

External video

Music Video for "Streak o' Lean, Streak o' Fat by Uncle Earl (Nov 20, 2009)

Uncle Earl is an American old-time music group, formed in 2000 by KC Groves and Jo Serrapere. Currently the lineup consists of four women, all of whom share vocal duties: KC Groves, Kristin Andreassen, Abigail Washburn, Rayna Gellert. They have released three albums and two EPs, and their fifth album Waterloo, Tennessee was produced by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.

KC Groves and Jo Serrapere, both American songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, started the band in 2000. The Uncle Earl biography, however, states 1999 as founding year. According to the founders, they had no original interest in starting a band. Instead, they wanted to promote a CD with traditional material they had recorded, and put together a small temporary lineup to play a few shows. After the initial performances went well, the group decided to stay together. Until the end of 2003 the line-up of the band had changed several times. Amongst the members in this period where Tahmineh Gueramy (fiddle, vocals), Amanda Kowalski (bass, vocals), Casey Henry (banjo, vocals) and Sally Truitt (bass, vocals).

KC Groves mentioned in an interview how the band got its name, "We just thought it would be a funny name for an all-women's group," she says. "But we are fans of Earl Scruggs, Steve Earle, and Uncle Tupelo. It did come up in our discussion that there's some important Earls in this business. And Uncles." They refer to themselves as "the g'Earls," while their fans have been nicknamed "g'Earlfriends."

In 2002 the band released their album She Went Upstairs.

Founding member Jo Serrapere left in 2003, and as of 2008 played with the Willie Dunns. By the end of 2003 a long-lasting lineup was in place, with all the band members serving as co-vocalists. The 2003 lineup consisted of KC Groves on mandolin and guitar, Abigail Washburn on banjo, Rayna Gellert on fiddle and Kristin Andreassen, guitarist, fiddler, and clogging. There was no permanent bass player.