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Elizabeth LaPrelle and Matt Brown

Elizabeth LaPrelle has been performing Appalachian ballads and old-time songs, and winning prizes for her singing at fiddlers' conventions, since she was eleven. Her magnificent voice, her respect for the songs, and her authentic mountain sound and style brought her to the attention of first Ginny Hawker and then Sheila Kay Adams. Raised in Rural Retreat, Virginia, Elizabeth learned from singing with her family, who taught her various singing styles and encouraged her to sing their own favorite American folk music. Fiddler's conventions gave her a chance to perform for mountain audiences who encouraged her interest in the traditional music of her region. She graduated from The College of William and Mary in May 2009, with a self-designed major in Southern Appalachian Traditional Performance. When she is not traveling to make music, she spends her time on her parents' farm in Cedar Springs, VA, or in her mother's childhood home just outside Philadelphia.

Matt Brown performs American roots music with a deft touch and a smile. He is an engaging performer who educates as he entertains. He draws from several American traditions, including Old-Time, Blues, Cajun, and Bluegrass, and he loves singing ballads that hearken back to the British Isles. He is an innovative fiddler, an intricate banjo player, a propulsive guitar player, and a powerful singer. With mentors ranging from Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz to Dirk Powell and Bruce Molsky, Matt is one of the clear leaders of the next generation of roots musicians. His repertoire includes music from the earliest commercial recordings, field recordings, and from the many musicians he has befriended.