A brand-new take on old-time country from the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers

The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, based in rural southwestern Wisconsin, are delighted to bring their brand-new take on old-time country to St. Cloud’s historic Pioneer Place theater.

The Sapsuckers are Nikki Grossman (fiddle, guitar, vocals) and Joe Hart (guitar and vocals). The duo performs original songs and fiddle tunes inspired by the classic hillbilly, western-swing, and old-time fiddling traditions—and they also mine this same repertoire for forgotten gems that deserve to be heard again.

A hard-booking band, they perform frequently at music festivals, in bars and listening rooms, and as a dance band for square and contra dances. Their live performances are popular for their lively, humorous stage show and skilled musicianship.

Their second album, “Ocooch Mountain Home,” (2015), has received high praise from the likes of fROOTS, which called out the duo’s “Enchanting harmonies” and “note-perfect old-time fiddle playing,” and Bluegrass Today, which lauded their “impressive… enjoyable take on old-time music.” Ear to the Ground Music named the Sapsuckers one of “5 Americana bands you have to Hear to Believe,” and chose the song “Kiss Away” for their list of top-twenty best singles of 2015.