Chicken Wire Empire @ Boothbay Opera House

About the bluegrass band Chicken Wire Empire, a reviewer said, “These musicians must enjoy what they do because their joy translates through their instruments.” Hailing from Wisconsin, the band has partnered with dozens of artists from all corners of the bluegrass genre, from Sam Bush and Peter Rowan to Vince Herman and Keller Williams. Their forthcoming album features guest appearances from Grammy-winning artists Jerry Douglas and Kyle Tuttle. Chicken Wire Empire will bring their bluegrass magic to the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor on Friday, September 25, at 7:30 PM. Chicken Wire Empire is on the cutting edge of a vibrant and thriving Milwaukee Americana and roots music scene. Together since 2014, mandolin player Carter Shilts says of their history, “Being a bluegrass picker from Wisconsin, you quickly learn who the other pickers are and what sort of styles they’re into playing. We came to play together by nature of finding each other in the music scene and being inspired by each others’ musical interests and talents. We all had similar bluegrass influences and, for that reason, had a bit of a shared musical vocabulary that we could discuss from the moment we met, so there was fertile ground for the band to grow from.” The camaraderie of the group is on display when they take the stage. “When the band is operating at its best we’re like a well-oiled machine with different moving parts,” Shilts says. “Ernie has a great mind for melodies, Jon has a great mind for harmonies, Jordan has a great mind for arranging, and Starr has a great mind for writing chord progressions, just to name a few strengths within the band. Whenever there’s a question of what a song needs, the different strengths within the group ensure that nothing is out of reach musically.” Asked about influences on the band, he says, “We draw on a lot of influences to shape the different facets of our sound. We’re inspired by several of our bluegrass forefathers; John Hartford, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, and more, but we also draw inspiration from some of the groups who’ve taken acoustic music to new heights in recent decades, such as Punch Brothers and Yonder Mountain String Band.” The band is also informed by the places they play and the people they meet. “Being able to play music in different parts of the world is really eye-opening and gives us a lot of passion for what we do. Crossing so many state lines gives you a real sense of the in-between cultural fabric that holds the world together. Seeing it all firsthand is a special kind of life that we’ll never take for granted,” Shilts says. “We hope that people take our music with them and it becomes a part of their lives. At the end of the day there’s nothing more flattering than learning that people are humming our melodies on their way to work, or thinking about our music while they go about their day. Hearing that your music has become personal for someone is one of the highest compliments a musician can receive. We want people who see our show to enjoy it so much they never forget it.” Chicken Wire Empire includes Jordan Kroeger on upright bass, Ernest Brusubardis IV on violin/fiddle, Jon Peik on banjo, Carter Shilts on mandolin, and Starr Moss on guitar. To learn more about them, go to https://www.chickenwireempire.com/.