January 15, 2020

Edna’s Kin to Perform Favorites, New Music

“WHISKEY & WINE”: That’s the title of a new album by the Americana band Edna’s Kin, appearing at the 1867 Sanctuary in Ewing on February 14 at 8 p.m.

The Americana band Edna’s Kin will appear at the 1867 Sanctuary in Ewing on February 14 at 8 p.m., performing old favorites and many new songs from their recently released CD of all original music, Whiskey & Wine.

A diverse blend of folk, country, bluegrass, and blues music, Whiskey & Wine is the band’s first studio effort since their 2009 debut Same Old Lines, and is available for digital download on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and CD Baby. The album has also received airplay worldwide.

Edna’s Kin is a family band featuring brothers Dan and Andrew Koontz and their father, Warren Koontz. Dan is the songwriter of the group, and can be heard singing and playing guitar, piano, banjo, and accordion. Andrew is mostly on fiddle, but can sometimes be heard on bass, while Warren is mostly on bass, but can sometimes be heard singing and playing guitar. While the family members are present on every track, on Whiskey & Wine they’ve been joined by a number of guest musicians to create a much fuller instrumentation than can be found on their earlier recordings.

“In writing these songs, I was looking for a sound that went beyond the traditional fiddle, guitar, and bass arrangements that we’ve done in the past,” said Dan Koontz. “I wanted to bring in piano, pedal steel, even accordion, but still retain the core Edna’s Kin sound.”

Edna’s Kin has also retained its sense of humor. The band created videos such as “Iron Man: The Bluegrass Version” and “The Country Bride of Frankenstein.” In the new album, the track “If You Got a Knife” offers an amusing take on the folk classic “Long Black Veil,” while “All This Lovin” tells the tale of a dedicated drinker who is getting more love than he can handle.

But the band shows its serious side as well, ranging from the title track “Whiskey & Wine” to “Make It Right,” a song that evokes the heartbreak of caring for a loved one with depression.

The 1867 Sanctuary is at 101 Scotch Road in Ewing. For information, call (609) 392-6409.