Hoof On the Roof
Mary Pat Kleven and Charlie Knuth are “Hoof on the Roof” – an old-time string band that plays dance music from the Upper Midwest. Our music has strong Scandinavian, Irish, Scottish, German and French – Canadian influences. We also perform programs focusing on the music that Charles Ingalls (“Pa” from the Little House on the Prairie Books) would have played on his fiddle while living in the Upper Midwest in the late nineteenth century as well as the history of the music and dance of Mormon pioneers.
We also play with a larger group, the Scandinavian-American Old Time Dance Music Ensemble based out of Madison, Wisconsin, playing the music of second and third generation Scandinavian immigrants to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
Charlie plays and records with his daughter, Audrey Knuth Jaber. Their CD – “Generations” is available HERE.
Much of our music comes from a time in the late 1800’s until the automobile and radio changed rural culture. On a winter night, farm families would move the furniture, roll up the rug and invite their neighbors over for food and “round dancing.” The local fiddlers would tuck themselves in a corner and play dances all night. For more information on Hoof on the Roof, email marypat@roadfarming.com
Upcoming Gigs
Saturday, April 5th, Baraboo, Wisconsin. String Gathering. Waltz Workshop at 1:00 p.m. and The Real Pa’s Fiddle at 4:30 p.m. Free Registration!
Wednesday, July 9th, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Laurapalooza Authors and Artists Reception.
Thursday, July 10th, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mary Pat will be presenting on The Real Pa’s Fiddle at Laurapalooza
Saturday, August 16th, 9a-noon, New Prague Farmers Market, New Prague, Minnesota.
Wednesday, September 3rd, 9a-noon, Baraboo Farmers Market, Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Friday, October 17th, Barn Dance with the Scandinavian American Old Time Dance Music Ensemble; headliner Beth Hoven Rotto, The Farm, Middleton, Wisconsin
