The Last Dance Kickstarter

HOORAY! Folk Americana Family Band, The Hollands! are back in the studio, recording, The Last Dance, slated for release Sept 2018.

As a family and as a band, we have been following our calling to be conduits of creativity and kindness for nearly a decade and it is our greatest honor and privilege to share “The Last Dance,” our 4th full-length album.

The name is no coincidence, with the younger Hollands! beginning to launch out on their own, the name not only ties all of the lyrical themes together on the album but resonates with this season in our lives.

The Last Dance is our most diverse and comprehensive album thus far. The album comprises of twelve songs, written over the last five years featuring stories of true love, life and death, family, a sense of home or safety, and more love. The final track is the infamous Celtic song we play at the end of most of our performances, “The Blessing”, which was written by our mate, Sammy Horner.

Recorded over 7 days in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia with recording engineer, Chris Gillespie at his off-grid, solar powered, Blue Sky Recording Studios.

The musicality of The Last Dance holds to the essence of The Hollands! Folk Americana sound with beautifully woven harmonies and core instrumentation of Guitar, Cajon, Mandolin, Banjo, Piano, and Ukulele. However, in true Holland fashion, we’ve invited an all-star cast to join us on this album!

Let us introduce our kinfolk,

The Players:

Our dear friend and famed blues guitarist, Cameron Henderson added a few licks on the Gretsch hollow body, giving a few tracks that extra dose of effervescence

 

Our recording engineer, Indie Singer/Songwriter, Chris Gillespie set the tone on the Bass and added a bit of sunshine on the Dobro

 

Colleen Davick has showcased on three of The Hollands! albums and this time is no exception. Colleen adds her fine Penny Whistle expertise on The Blessing

 

Jeffrey Niemeier has toured with us on and off over the last three years. This is his 700th recording and we are very excited to have his fireball fiddling on The Last Dance. Photo by Adrianne Adelle

 

Composer and long time friend, Jeff Kurtenacker laid down an epic Hammond Organ track on one of the songs.

 

One of our favorite drummers of all time, Jason Torrens (of Cisco Caesar) added his drumming magic to The River and John Brown

Our visual artist:

Dalia Milan has had the fortune of being mentored by parents, John and Elli Milan, of Milan Art Institute. At 14, she has found her own unique voice among those in the world of fine art. We’re excited to partner with this young prodigy on The Last Dance

And YOU!

As you can see, we’ve assembled an amazing team of collaborators to make this project a success and our desire is to be able to compensate those artists for helping us fulfill our vision for The Last Dance.

This is where you are invited to join the fun! Your Pre-order and contributions not only help The Hollands! create a legacy through music but also supports a village of artists. You can do this by clicking HERE.

Our goal is to raise $6,700 USD. This will cover all of our basic recording/production/printing costs and allow us to care for those who have contributed.

Bringing something new and creative into the world is a deeply vulnerable thing to do, let alone to ask people to notice it, evaluate it, or pay for it. So, thank you for taking the time to consider partnering with us on the most important record of our career to date. We could not do this without you!

Love,

The Hollands!

 

Advertisement

The Hollands! To Perform at The Illawarra Folk Festival, Australia

1st Artist Announcement for 29th Illawarra Folk Festival!

The annual Illawarra Folk Festival is four exciting summer days of folk, world, roots, bluegrass, gypsy and Celtic music, as well as poetry, comedy and dance. We have the largest lineup of international artists ever with our first bands from Japan, Brazil and Denmark. Click on the name for a webpage with their information and a chance to listen to them! Afenginn Denmark • Andy Irvine Ireland • The Beez Germany • Dom Flemons USA •Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys Canada • Harry Manx Band Canada • The Hollands! USA • Jaaleekaay Gambia • John John Festival Japan • Klezmorim Brazil •London Klezmer Quartet UK • Underskore Orchestra USA • Whitetop Mountaineers USA There will be another 140 national and local acts including these folk: Belle Jar • Bernard Carney • Bruce Mathis ke • Dave de Hugard • Enda Kenny Band • Frank Povah • Glenn Skuthorpe • Greg Champion • I Viaggiatori • Kavisha Mazzella • The Miss Chiefs • Rapskallion • Rough Red • Shellie Morris • Spyglass Gypsies • Tai ko no Wa • The Timbers • The Wollemi Band and many more to come! CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS Limited camping at the Bulli Showground will be available with Season Pass only so book early! Motel, hotel accommodation enquiries with Destination Wollongong, tel: 1800 240 737 or online, MORE DETAILS.

The Hollands! on WPR’s Simply Folk Radio

The Hollands! on WPR’s Simply Folk Radio July 7, 7PM.

The Hollands! went into the studio at WPR in Madison Wisconsin to perform/interview with Radio Host, Stephanie Elkins on her program Simply Folk Radio. The program is broadcast on two networks, 32 radio stations and online every Sunday evening from 5 pm until 8 pm.

The Hollands! will showcase songs off of the new album, “Over Land and Leas“, including Old Man’s Town, Lanie Done Did, Over Land and Leas, Amaryllis, and The Great Lake Plains. Tune in to hear the stories behind the songs as well as The Hollands! family banter.

The Program airs on Public Radio, July 7, 2013. 7PM.

On The Air

WPR

WPR

Simply Folk Studio

Stephanie Elkins and the Younger Hollands!

Sound guy; Tom and Craig Holland

Simply Folk Studio

Stephanie Elkins and The Hollands!

Over Land And Leas

http://thehollands.bandcamp.com/album/over-land-and-leas

We are excited to announce that “Over Land and Leas” is available for purchase.

Get your download or hard copy today!

This album gives narrative shape to the pilgrimage through the storms, blue skies, daily work, and dreams of our common lives.

Featuring songs like Washerman’s Field, a riotous song with a strong word of warning to those consumed with power and war. Written in the spirit of Woody Guthrie, Traveling Man is a rowdy composition empathizing with those who have no place to call home. Lanie Done Did, is a murder balled, which chronicles the journey of a young prostitute. The Amaryllis is a precious tale that laments a mothers death and rejoice the birth of a daughter.  Lillian’s Daydream is a beautiful guitar piece that preludes the title track. Over Land and Leas is a old Scottish folk tale sung with a haunting remembrance of times gone by.

Old Man’s Town makes an appearance on this album (first debuting on Ashes To Beauty in 2011) Originally sung as more of a ballad, this new version offers more of the high energy The Hollands! share during their live performance. Haiti was written on an airplane from Australia to the US. Using words from a crossword puzzle as inspiration, this dramatic song ends up being a harking call to help those in desperate situations. Russian Lullaby is an evocative song that tells the tale of those who suffer at the hands of war.  The Great Lake Plains is a rollicking song, written in a Dolly Parton vane and pays homage to Jana’s family history and involvement in the underworld back in the 1920-30’s. Rain was written after a personal bout with cancer and is a tender cry for healing.

The Album ends with the traditional, Wayfaring Stranger, composed and performed Holland style, displaying beautiful harmonies, mouth harp, banjo, mandolin and Craig’s brawny rhythms.

All lyrics were written by Jana Holland, except Lanie Done Did and Lillian’s Daydream, written by Graciana Holland.

Recorded & Engineered by David Fuller at Sun Room Studios in Portland OR

Produced by David Fuller and The Hollands!

Art and Design by Joel Pritchard

The Hollands! are Jana Holland, Craig Holland, Graciana Holland and Banjo Holland.

This album includes the creative contributions of David Fuller, David Baumgartner, Joby Morey, Tom Cameron, Joh Behr and Dony Wynn.

Copyright The Hollands! All rights reserved Dutchy Love Records

Modern Day

When we launched on this journey of travel, faith, and merrymaking we had no idea how it would all work. We just knew we needed to do it. Over the course of the past year and a half we have begun to learn what it means to be in this ol’ world but not of it, most importantly recognizing well-meaning systems that have oppressed us, financial, religious, music industry, parenting standards, etc… It has been a year of redefining our reality, of being open to a grand plan but not being in charge of it. We learned very quickly that we are not in control of this journey and one of the greatest realities of this fact can be seen in our finances. We work to make our way, with the hopes of carrying our own load but the fact of the matter is that this has not turned out to be a “self-sustaining mission, but rather a test of faith and willingness to participate in the interconnectivity of a greater body. It’s hard to put into words but without asking, we have had many give to us along our way. In our most delicate state, strangers have walked up to us and handed us a $100 bill and there are friends who have committed to giving regularly towards our efforts without the reciprocality of a non-profit tax break. It has truly caught us off guard and we are humbled by this Divine economy.

Over the course of time, we have discussed with many who have suggested we become a non-profit. However, through our research, we’ve found it’s not as easy as some think. We longed to be in a position to honor those who give to us by offering that tax break, but it seemed impossible. And so, we left it in the good Lords hands. If it was meant to be, it was meant to be. We would continue on, doing what we do.

Then in Austin, TX, just a few weeks ago, we met Jesse Heikkila, who works with a group called Modern Day. He explained that Modern Day exists to build bridges between those who are called to go into all the world and those who are called to send them. It is their mission to equip missionaries and facilitate their needs as they are preparing to go and also as they are serving out in the field. We listened. We liked what we heard. A bridge, that is exactly what we needed. So we submitted our application, seeking spiritual covering from Kineo Church in Phoenix, AZ and have recently been accepted as Modern Day Field Workers. We are excited to see this come to fruition and invite you to visit us at Modern Day… http://modernday.org/field-workers/thehollands/

ECM and Casa Shalom

In the center of the East Central neighborhoods of La Mesa and Trumbull there is a light that shine brightly. This highly transient, low-income neighborhood is vulnerable to devious activity but with a deep commitment to the ministry of reconciliation and a persevering spirit, East Central Ministries offers an alternate reality to one of Albuquerque’s most violent and poverty-stricken areas.

ECM was developed in the spring of 1999 by John Bulten as a inter-denominational missions ministry in Albuquerque.  John spent the first two years walking the streets, talking to our neighbors and the relationships that he built during that time continues to be the foundation of the ministry today. In the summer of 2001, ECM moved into a boarded up building that was being used as a drug house. They renovated the property and opened with two community programs, “Wings of Eagles” youth leadership program and the Community Food Co-op.

Over the past years ECM has evolved in several directions and has become a vital part of the community. However, ECM primary focuses continues to be to build long-term lasting relationships with their neighbors. This is a unique approach in a “social service” organization because they actually encourage people to participate in their programs/community on a regular, long-term basis.  They are committed to long-term development and economic projects within the community as well as providing community led classes and initiatives.

We met John when we arrived for our tour. His welcoming presence and enthusiasm for his work and neighborhood was apparent. We met Morgan who runs the Urban Farm, Becky and Katina who facilitates the community youth programs, Louise, Shirley and many others who live at the Housing cooperative, Casa Shalom. We also met Bob who manages Common Goods Thrift Store and the staff at the Community run health care clinic, One Hope, which is the primer work site for medical students at the University of New Mexico.

There was a lot going on at ECU! We observed vibrant life and a people with a commitment to continue to work out relationship struggles. That openness to seeing cracks, discord and seeking reconciliation was most encouraging to us. It’s one thing to care for the community around you, to have great programs but we believe to be a people willing to nurture and seek reconciliation in the most intimate relationships brings true life to the community around us. We know that commitment is what will sustain them through the years. We are blessed to have met these “Tillers” and look forward to more times of community with our new Albuquerque friends. We also encourage you to connect with them along your way. Visit http://www.eastcentralministries.org for more info. Give them a call, they are your global/local neighbor.

New Workshop Offered for 2011

REFLECTIONS WORKSHOP

“There is nothing new under the sun.” The methodology of creating has always intrigued us. We have come to understand that everything we create comes from somewhere.

This course is designed to take the student on the exciting journey of uncovering the source of all creativity and to experience the deep connection between the Ultimate Creator and ourselves. By defining their creative source it will allow the students to experience a deeper understanding of the process of creativity. There by, being more connected to their work and developing an appreciation for other artistic expressions.

“Reflections” is a highly interactive course designed for personal and group expression. We will guide the students through a series of discussion about the methodology of creating and the exercise of creating a visual piece of art based on a word/sound source. The students will then form into groups and create a group song, story or poem based on the visual. The end result will be the opportunity to see their work move full circle. To create and to be the catalyst for further creation.

We will bring equipment for the song writing portion of the course but all art supplies need to be provided by the facility.

Questions addressed:
What is creativity? Where does creativity come from? Interpretations? Finding your voice? How music and art can speak? Becoming a catalyst for further expression?

Cost: $300
Minimum number of students: We can work with any size group.
Length of workshop: We can work with any time table.

Bio:

The Holland’s meet through music and find music to be a common denominator in their relationship. They enjoy writing together. Each offering different perspective, the end product is authentic and deeply rooted in their heritage. They are one part American dreamer, one part Aussie Charm and a splash of Gypsy love. Here them at www.thehollands.org