Henhouse Prowlers spreading the bluegrass love

By Sonia Amodeo

Boulder and bluegrass go together like jam and improv.

The entire spanning county has constantly boasted an extensive bluegrass community, so it’s fitting that an internationally accomplished crew, the Henhouse Prowlers, are dropping by the Lazy Dog, 1346 Pearl St., on Thursday, July 23.

The Chicago-based quintet has not only toted its strings across the nation, but it also boasts performances in Africa, Europe and Russia. Plus, videos of live performances have gone viral worldwide.

Boulder has played host to the Henhouse Prowlers in the past — including just in November when the Windy City band stopped by the Boulder Daily Camera newsroom’s music studio, Second Story Garage, where they recorded a live set.

“There’s groups of people all over the country and outside the U.S. that like bluegrass,” said founding member and banjo player Ben Wright, “but Colorado has a particular passion for the genre. That’s a powerful thing.”

The band, which has been together for more than a decade, also consists of Dan Andree (violin), Jon Goldfine (bass) and Starr Moss (guitar). And at Thursday night’s Lazy Dog show, the band’s friend and Lyons resident Todd Livingston will join the band on the Dobro.

The internationally traveled crew has been lucky to have some travels facilitated by the U.S. State Department-funded cultural exchange program, American Music Abroad and Arts Envoy. Since 2013, the Henhouse Prowlers have performed and educated various cultures around the world as part of the program that aims to foster collaborations between American and international musicians.

Some of Wright’s quirky and priceless memories through the program include playing Soviet-era theaters in Russia and rocking the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria with its cover of the country’s hit hip-hop tune, “Chop My Money” (by P-Square, featuring vocals from U.S. hip-hop artist Akon).

Aside garnering attention in the African music scene, this cover went on to snag big international headlines.

Wright said the band’s overseas experiences have helped shape the Henhouse Prowlers’ brand of bluegrass — as many songs the band learned abroad are now integrated into tour set lists, creating a sound that fuses genres and cultures.

Since bluegrass was born from American roots music, it’s fair to say there are various cultures that have never heard this particular class of music, Wright said.

“We’d be on stage blowing some people’s minds because they’d never heard bluegrass before,” Wright said, “but they’d be blowing our minds too.”

And the international experience doesn’t come without the sentimental takeaway.

“We’ve made tons of friends and musical connections,” Wright said. “We have a fresh perspective on what we have here, and what we don’t have.”

Spoiler alert: Boulder’s in luck. The band will play “Chop My Money” at the Lazy Dog.