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Bio
Abiding by a love for adventure, Corner House finds purpose and solace in the beauty of earth and music. Clinging whole heartedly to studied traditions, the Boston based band tends to write and arrange music liberally comprised of Irish, Scottish, Appalachian Stringband, and Bluegrass influences. The singular roots music scene of Boston, MA has long been a destination for musicians seeking level footing to build upon. On winter eves most suited for tea and blankets, Ethan Hawkins (guitar), Louise Bichan (fiddle), Ethan Setiawan (mandolin), found a musical home in one another. In the autumn of 2017, Corner House debuted at FreshGrass Festival in North Adams, MA, before recording an EP and touring Scotland the following year. Returning from overseas, the three found the illustrious cellist, Casey Murray, living just down the street and invited the contra dance influenced player to join the fold.
Smart Folks (release date: September 13th, 2019) is the first EP from Corner House that includes Casey Murray on cello and clawhammer banjo, and the second overall from the group. With four originals from the group and two contemporary Irish numbers, the EP is a diverse mix of sounds and textures, songs and tunes. The first cut, a collection of Irish slip jigs (Farewell to Whalley Range and Soggy’s Slip Jig) combines swirling melody and counterpoint. Following that is one of two Hawkins-penned tunes on the recording. Happy Now is a musing on family and depression, brought to life by the band. The title track, Smart Folks, penned by Setiawan, works with odd phrase lengths and a singing melody to create a unique profile, characteristic to his writing. The album closes with a banjo tune by Murray. Through the Snow-Covered Pines evokes the Appalachian stringband side of the band, finishing the album on an uplifting note. The tunes and songs that make up Smart Folks came to be over a period of several months, before being committed to recordings in March, 2019. After the writing process, the whole band sits down with the music, and every voice is vital to the final product. This collection of tunes is a bright introduction to Corner House, with the promise of much more to come. Corner House has toured across the USA and in Scotland, and festival appearances include Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Red Wing Roots Music Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and FreshGrass Festival.
Most recently, the band is in the process of creating their first full length album in the wake of a successful year touring both the west and east coasts and securing notable festival performances. The record is set to be recorded in spring 2020, produced by Celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist and engineered by Adam Iredale-Gray of Aerialists and Fish and Bird.
Press:
“Corner House’s music is thoughtful and inspired...points straight in the direction of where roots music is headed, and it’s a great and bright destination.”
- Bruce Molsky
“These fine musicians and lovely people think about each note they make and it comes together in something bigger. Simply beautiful music.”
- Maeve Gilchrist
“Corner House have created a gem of a second EP…an intricately arranged, wonderfully listenable mix of songs, instrumentals and styles”
- Natalie Haas
“...expertly played instruments and beautifully arranged vocal harmonies. Lilting, high flying and leaving a flutter in your chest.”
- Red Line Roots
“It’s warm, beautiful, and earthly and feels like it comes straight from the soul.”
- Divide and Conquer
“low, minimalist, spooked-mandolin ballad”
- folking.com
Smart Folks (release date: September 13th, 2019) is the first EP from Corner House that includes Casey Murray on cello and clawhammer banjo, and the second overall from the group. With four originals from the group and two contemporary Irish numbers, the EP is a diverse mix of sounds and textures, songs and tunes. The first cut, a collection of Irish slip jigs (Farewell to Whalley Range and Soggy’s Slip Jig) combines swirling melody and counterpoint. Following that is one of two Hawkins-penned tunes on the recording. Happy Now is a musing on family and depression, brought to life by the band. The title track, Smart Folks, penned by Setiawan, works with odd phrase lengths and a singing melody to create a unique profile, characteristic to his writing. The album closes with a banjo tune by Murray. Through the Snow-Covered Pines evokes the Appalachian stringband side of the band, finishing the album on an uplifting note. The tunes and songs that make up Smart Folks came to be over a period of several months, before being committed to recordings in March, 2019. After the writing process, the whole band sits down with the music, and every voice is vital to the final product. This collection of tunes is a bright introduction to Corner House, with the promise of much more to come. Corner House has toured across the USA and in Scotland, and festival appearances include Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Red Wing Roots Music Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and FreshGrass Festival.
Most recently, the band is in the process of creating their first full length album in the wake of a successful year touring both the west and east coasts and securing notable festival performances. The record is set to be recorded in spring 2020, produced by Celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist and engineered by Adam Iredale-Gray of Aerialists and Fish and Bird.
Press:
“Corner House’s music is thoughtful and inspired...points straight in the direction of where roots music is headed, and it’s a great and bright destination.”
- Bruce Molsky
“These fine musicians and lovely people think about each note they make and it comes together in something bigger. Simply beautiful music.”
- Maeve Gilchrist
“Corner House have created a gem of a second EP…an intricately arranged, wonderfully listenable mix of songs, instrumentals and styles”
- Natalie Haas
“...expertly played instruments and beautifully arranged vocal harmonies. Lilting, high flying and leaving a flutter in your chest.”
- Red Line Roots
“It’s warm, beautiful, and earthly and feels like it comes straight from the soul.”
- Divide and Conquer
“low, minimalist, spooked-mandolin ballad”
- folking.com