Kindred Spirts presents Freelance Nun and Weird Uncle

Kindred Spirts Arts Programs will present two ensembles, Free Lance Nun and Weird Uncle, Saturday, July 20 at 5:30 p.m. under the open-air Pool Pavilion at the Grey Towers National Historic Site.

The two distinct groups will perform a mixture of medieval and newly composed English and American troubadour songs, influenced by Celtic and African music, and accompanied on some unusual instruments like a waterproof cello, an electric viola-da-gamba and a foot percussion. The program, titled “Across the Atlantic,” explores early American sacred and secular music traditions like jug band, mining songs and old-time fiddle tunes.

The musicians performing are: Nathan Bontrager on violin, New England viols, gimbri, and voice; Tracy Cowart with voice, medieval and lever harps; Loren Ludwig on New England viols and voice; Sian Ricketts with voice, recorders, and double reeds; and Spiff Wiegand on percussion, banjo, guitar, harmonica, jaw harp, ngoni, erhu, New England viols, jug, and hammered dulcimer.

Cowart and Ricketts comprise Freelance Nun, and the others comprise Weird Uncle. But the groups often intertwine, producing “Uncle Nun.”

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the Kindred Spirits Arts Programs website, kindredspiritsarts.org/#content, or in advance at Eventbrite, and at the door. Space is limited.