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
Wabasha Farmers Market, Wednesday, September 4, 3-6 pm, 2nd and Alleghany, Wabasha, Minnesota.
Baraboo Farmer’s Market, Wednesday, September 11, 9 a.m. – noon Courthouse Square, Baraboo, Wisconsin.
West Concord Dance, Saturday, October 19th, 7 p.m. West Concord Historical Society, 600 W 1st Street, West Concord, MN.
We’ll be playing with the Scandinavian American Old Time Dance Music Ensemble at the DeForest Farmer’s Market, September 10th, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m., Monroe Street Festival, Madison, Wisconsin, noon – 1 and the Bowery Dance at the University of Wisconsin Allen Centennial Gardens, September 28th at 6:30 p.m. All these events are free and open to the public.
