Great Bear was a North American

contra dance Contra dance (also contradance, contra-dance and other variant spellings) is a form of folk dancing made up of long lines of couples. It has mixed origins from English country dance, Scottish country dance, and French dance styles in the 17th ...

band composed of brothers Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand, their mother Kim Yerton, Chris Miller, Rebecca Bosworth-Clemens, and Dana Billings. It was known as the Great Bear Trio when touring with the first three members, and as the Andrew and Noah Band when touring with only the VanNorstrand brothers. It was the most popular contra dance band in the world, as measured by annual festival bookings. Great Bear made its last appearance at a contra dance in December 2018 in Columbus, Ohio.

History

The Great Bear Trio became well-established within the contra dance scene in the United States and Canada in the 2000s, and has been frequently booked at major contra dance events in the United States and Canada from that time onward. In 2004, the VanNorstrand brothers were featured on ''

A Prairie Home Companion ''A Prairie Home Companion'' is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed '' Live from ...

''. Since 2015, the VanNorstrand brothers have also been touring with Audrey Knuth and Amy Englesberg as "Wake Up Robin".

Musical style

Great Bear draws from a mix of genres, including those traditionally used for contra dance music, such as jigs and reels. In the 2010s, its style became increasingly modern, mixing traditional fiddle tunes infused with pop-rock dance grooves and original compositions in the same vein. The band's website states that it is known for its "epic dynamics, genre-transcending arrangements and deep dance grooves". ''

Bluegrass Unlimited ''Bluegrass Unlimited'' is a monthly music magazine "dedicated to the furtherance of bluegrass and old-time musicians, devotees and associates."

'' described the VanNorstrand brothers' music as "a blend of oldtime country and bluegrass, swing and jazz, Celtic and contra, and alternative folk-rock". Another reviewer said it "strongly implies the sound of traditional music in places, and also creates an interesting stylistic mix, from old-time Appalachian to rock to country".

Band members

* Andrew VanNorstrand – guitars and fiddle * Noah VanNorstrand – fiddle, mandolin, and feet * Kim Yerton – piano * Chris Miller – saxophones and banjo * Rebecca Bosworth-Clemens – clarinet * Dana Billings – drums

Discography

* ''Dancing Again'' (2006) * ''Rawr!'' (2011) * ''Magic Fantasy Dream Dance'' (2016)

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Contra dance bands American folk musical groups Musical groups established in 2000 Musical groups from New York (state) American musical trios