7:56am

Mon October 8, 2012
Tiny Desk Concerts

Spirit Family Reunion: Tiny Desk Concert

Originally published on Tue October 9, 2012 10:20 am

Credit Ryan Smith / NPR
Spirit Family Reunion performs at Tiny Desk concert on Sept. 18.

Spirit Family Reunion was my favorite find at this year's Newport Folk Festival. The group makes music I'd call "new old-timey," but which its members call "open-door gospel" — gospel music that's not tied to any particular religious denomination.

You'll hear fiddle, banjo, guitar and washboard, all gathered around a single microphone in an old-style tradition. An unsigned band living in Brooklyn, Spirit Family Reunion makes music filled with joy, perfect for a Tiny Desk Concert. Its members told Weekend Edition Sunday's David Greene that they've been traveling the country in a beat-up Chevy conversion van, sleeping on floors and wherever else they can lay their heads. The band recently self-released a new album, No Separation, and its songs translate perfectly into foot-stomping singalongs in the NPR Music offices.

Set List

  • "Leave Your Troubles At The Gate"
  • "Green Rocky Road"
  • "I'll Find A Way"

Credits

Producer: Bob Boilen; Editor: Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Emily Bogle, Lauren Rock; photo by Ryan Smith/NPR

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.