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The Squirrel Hillbillies with Martin Grosswendt and Susanne Salem-Schatz

From deep within the urban forest of Pittsburghs East End, the Squirrel Hillbillies often emerge to share their eclectic mix of folk, country and blues.

Rabidly social and clawingly curious, they relish opportunities to interact with diverse audiences. They perform regularly, including appearances at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh and the Leigh Folk Festival in England.

Through a collaborative, nonlinear songwriting process, duo partners Jenny Wolsk and Gary Crouth draw from personal experiences, third-hand stories, and vivid imaginations to craft songs that are unpredictable and quirky yet widely accessible. Their CDs have gotten radio play on stations across the US and around the world.

Start with two compelling voices, an uncanny sense of harmony and a deep grounding in traditional American music. Add in stunning guitar work and a warm, intimate performance style, and what do you get? Martin Grosswendt and Susanne Salem-Schatz. As one reviewer says, Martin and Susanne make beautiful music together.

Martin is internationally known as an interpreter of pre-war blues and other roots music. He started his career recording with and accompanying legendary folk musicians such as U Utah Phillips, Rosalie Sorrels, and Jim Ringer and Mary McCaslin. Susanne is a veteran of the Boston roots music scene. A life-long singer, she slips seamlessly into any genre, making it her own; soulful blues singer one minute, sassy honky-tonk gal the next. Together they embrace a deep love and respect for the roots of classic blues, old time, early country, and honky-tonk. At the same time, they make the music their own, presenting it with style, grace and wit.

Martin and Susanne played and sang together for three years in Honky Tonk Masquerade, a rockin honky tonk/western swing band, before striking out as an acoustic duo two years ago. Their performances have delighted audiences from Maine to Georgia. Their first CD together, Old Songs, New Hats, was released late in 2015.