Meet Green Hill Country
Shirefest 2014 Veterans
What's the story behind your band's founding?
Our band, Green Hill Country, is an offshoot of Breakfast Club. Many months ago, Daffin mentioned the idea of making a separate band because we were getting so large. I don't think anyone really wanted to do that because we enjoy our time together so much, so the idea just didn't go anywhere.
However, I kept it in the back of my mind and after hearing a couple of country solos by visitors to Bread and Jam one night, it seemed that there might be a niche for a country/bluegrass band. I assigned Gwencara to take charge of it so that Larksong could retain her identity as a Breakfast Club member. The idea was to make it distinct from Breakfast Club: just Hobbits, a limit of 5 members, more closely-coordinated outfits, and a focus on a definite type of music. I'd like to see us do performances with featured solos and duets in addition to the usual full group. I hope it will be a group that engages the audience in chat and has a wonderful sense of playfulness.
How did your band get its name?
Green Hill Country seemed just right: it's the name of a beautiful area in the Shire, it references the type of music, and it also reflects our lovely green outfits.
How did your members meet one another?
We are, with one exception, alts of Breakfast Club members, so we've known each other in that context for up to three years. However, we're also role-players at heart, so Gwen and Thaelo and Qiardo, etc., are ostensibly just getting to know each other. Gwen has been a hostess at Sunday morning Elevenses for quite a while now. She doesn't bump her head on the ceiling like Lark does.
How would you describe your band's music?
It's a mix of country/bluegrass/Cajun, all original transcriptions by our members. We're putting a tunebook together from scratch. The band is limited to 5 members, so that, in turn, presents its own challenges as we work on songs.
How do you decide which songs to play?
We'll have a set list made by Gwen for Shirefest, but I think we'll just play as we go if we attend less formal events.
Do you have a signature song?
Larksong is working on one--I sure hope we will have it by Shirefest!
What's the highlight of your band's time together?
I'll be happy to update after we actually get to spend some time together. We're THAT new! Our alter egos, of course, love Bread and Jam Sessions and Elevenses and the Big One: Weatherstock.
Do you have any embarrassing stories about a time when things didn't go so well?
Not yet, but I can guarantee there will be plenty. I could mention the fact that Larksong did a few too many songs the first week, and corrected all the typos and transcription errors and made sure the nicely cleaned-up files were posted on our music forum for the others to download--but forgot to put the corrected versions in her own Songbook so that she came to our one and only practice so far with a bunch of files that were not quite right--but I won't go there.
Does your band play a regular concert? If so, when and where?
Not yet. But there's a Gwen-in-waiting to hop on Landroval just in case we become famous. Or even just tolerated.
Does your band have a website, Twitter feed or links to any performances?
Nope. But some day!
What's the one thing we should know about your band above all else?
We're Hobbits. No matter what we do, it's cute. Don't judge us too harshly.
Is there anything else you'd like to mention?
I am really excited that Shirefest is allowing us to welcome lots of visitors to Crickhollow! I hope that many will learn what a warm and welcoming place it is, and, well--y'all come back now, hear?