Chicago’s Henhouse Prowlers are on their way to Africa for a month of shows, after a couple of days early this week in Washington, DC for orientation. They were chosen for this tour by the American Voices program on behalf of the US Department of State. They will visit multiple cities and towns in Congo, Liberia, Niger and Mauritania before they return to the US on December 13.
Each year American Voices selects several distinctively American musical artists to perform in parts of the world where such cultural interaction is uncommon. In recent years, a number of bluegrass bands have made these trips, including Della Mae and Donna Ulisse.
Shows will range from gala events at US embassies, and concerts and workshops at universities and schools, to jam sessions and performances with local musicians.
The Prowlers are Ben Wright on banjo, Dan Andree on fiddle, Jon Goldfine on bass and Starr Moss on guitar. Ben promises that they will send us reports and photos from their travels as internet access allows. We’ll publish them as we receive them.
Though these guys are no strangers to international touring, this one should be a trip to remember.
