Ken Steffenson 2816 Coolidge Street NE Saint Anthony Village MN 55418 (612) 788-2059 annebenson@msn.com Work Samples Audio: Siege of Ennis Nos Braves Habitants O'Carolan's Ramble to Cashel To hear the work samples, Windows Media Player is required. If you do not have it installed, you can download it for free here: Download Windows Media Player

Amaryllis Irish, Scottish, American music Amaryllis combines the abundant energy, versatility and good humor of multi-instrumentalists Anne Benson (hammered dulcimer, flute, accordion, vocals) and Ken Steffenson (guitar, fiddle, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, vocals) to provide music for almost any occasion. With a wide repertoire of tunes and songs drawn from folk music and dance traditions on both sides of the Atlantic, Amaryllis is equally at home on a concert stage, an informal workshop, or as musical ambiance for a special event. While their first love has been interpretation of traditional music with Celtic roots, they also perform new music and original tunes in the spirit of these living traditions. Anne and Ken also draw on other area musicians to tailor music for special events. Available: Anytime with advance notice; no mileage restrictions Space: Can adapt to most spaces; can provide sound system if needed Fee: $300 to $450, negotiable

Additional Information:
Irish, Scottish, and American Music

Amaryllis specializes in playing music from the British Isles and North America.

Over the past few decades, there has emerged in the U.S. a lively folk dance community based on cultures that contain reels, jigs, polkas and hornpipes. At the events of this dance community, musicians gather to accompany festive dancing. The emphasis at these dances is less on any particular tradition than it is on the sharing and enjoyment of the experience. As a result, musicians from diverse backgrounds are often able to play together, learning from each other in the process. Amaryllis got its start through these events, and as a result their repertoire and technique show the influence of Irish, Scottish, English, French Canadian, Welsh, Breton, and American "Old-Time" traditions. In the course of nearly 20 years of playing together, they have crafted a rich acoustic sound.

Anne Benson (hammered dulcimer, flute, and vocals) and Ken Steffenson (fiddle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjo, and vocals) first met in the early 1980's in a band, The Woven Ring that accompanied English Country Dancing. Shortly after this experience, they became one half of "Thistledown," a contra dance band that played monthly at Tapestry Folkdance Center in the Twin Cities.

Anne and Ken formed Amaryllis in 1993 to explore a broader range of music and expand their performance beyond dance accompaniment. While their first love has always been the traditional music of the British Isles, they keep an ear open for good tunes, and have added French Canadian, Appalachian, and Scandinavian tunes to their repertoire. They have also written a number of tunes in traditional styles. While many of Amaryllis' fans still come from the folk dance community, they continue to find new audiences. Amaryllis has been very well received at festivals and community events, as well as weddings, receptions, schools, and churches. Their music sounds especially good in small, intimate concerts, where the warmth of their instruments comes across without amplification. After almost two decades of playing together, Anne and Ken still love this music, and this joy is evident in the energy and beauty of their performances.