The Ragbirds

TEDx Grand Rapids – 5/10/12

grandcircus — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:45:59 +0000

Ideas Worth Spreading – Sustainable Touring

TEDxGrandRapids is about ideas worth spreading, and people worth meeting. Inspired by TED, TEDxGrandRapids invites twelve speakers from around the world to share their best, world-changing ideas. Seven hundred equally fascinating audience members from a diverse cross-section of disciplines, interests and experiences will fill the seats at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.

In 2012, TEDxGrandRapids explores the theme, “What now?” The open-ended question is an invitation to participants to reflect on the ideas that matter most in our world, right now.

It’s an honor to be invited to speak and perform at TEDx Grand Rapids. We are very excited to have the opportunity to not only perform our music to close out the conference, but also present a glimpse into the life and practices on the road as a eco-friendly nationally touring band criss-crossing the nation in our waste vegetable oil powered tour van.

The confirmed list of speakers for this years conference are below, but for additional information please visit the TEDx website.

Andrew Dent, Ph.D. - Material Scientist
Bill Sabram - Game Designer
Carla Atwood Hartman - Preservationist
Dance in the Annex - Performers
Ebony Davis - Local Poet
Edwin David Martinez - Coffee Entrepreneur
Edye Evans Hyde - Performer
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. - Medical Pioneer
Kristin M. Tolle, Ph.D. - Research Director
Lesley Carmichael, Ph.D. - Technological Linguist
Linda Chorney - Singer-Songwriter
Linda Ragsdale - Peace Master
LZ Granderson - Sports Columnist
Michael Dowd - Evidential Mystic
Nathan Waterhouse - Human-centered Designer
The Ragbirds - Performers
Vikram Gandhi - Documentary Filmmaker

Video: Silence is Everywhere – 3/23/12 – The Ark

grandcircus — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:19:49 +0000

April News from The Nest

grandcircus — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:12:17 +0000

The Cover of The Current!

Extra extra, read all about it! Here is your monthly “News from the Nest” for the month of April. We’re excited to announce that we are this month’s Current cover story! Between shows we did a photo shoot with our beloved tour van “Cecilia” and interview on sustainable and green touring. We feel strongly about lowering our impact as we criss cross the nation.

CLICK HERE to read the entire April edition of “News from the Nest.”

This month’s stories:

* Cover of Current Magazine

* SXSW 2012 Recap

* The Next Cecilia

* Travelin’ Machine Winter Tour Video

Thank You Real Detroit Readers!

grandcircus — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:58:02 +0000

How exciting! We were just named by Detroit’s Real Detroit Weekly as their “Real Best Folk Artist/Group.” As voted on by the Real Detroit readers it’s an honor to receive such nice recognition from the D!

Here’s more from Real Detroit…

Best Folk Artist/Group – Ragbirds

Although “folk” is the easiest way to describe the music of this Ann Arbor group, its sound branches out way beyond the basic Americana sound that usually defines the genre. The Ragbirds also embrace world music, incorporating African and American instruments, and draw you into the whole package with some great rock and pop hooks. Having just kicked out their fourth studio release, Travelin’ Machine, the Ragbirds have a string of national tour dates and a promising 2012 ahead of them.

What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas!

grandcircus — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:23:27 +0000

New Mexico!

grandcircus — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:14:06 +0000

We’ve had an amazing time in New Mexico, a nice mid-tour vacation in Taos where we were able to take in so many amazing spots, meet so many amazing people, and celebrate Erin’s birthday!

The Ragbirds Grace the Cover of iSpy Magazine!

grandcircus — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:32:05 +0000

A Well-Oiled (Literally) Travelin’ Machine

Written by: Mary Simkins

Originally from Ypsilanti, the now Ann Arbor-based Ragbirds have been gaining national momentum (and touring their tail feathers off!) during the past year, but the effortless fusion of world cultures and styles in their music has been pleasing fans since 2005.

Currently touring the U.S., the five-piece band employs a great variety of instruments to create a truly unique sound. With a newly-released fourth album and a growing fanbase (or flock), this small town band is making it big, while still remembering to appreciate the little things.

When Erin Zindle (the band’s lead singer, writer and multiinnstrumentalist) answers my phone call, the band is stopped somewhere between Birmingam, Alabama and Oxford, Mississippi. Why are they stopped, you ask? Oh, just empyting out grease traps from a local restaurant. With a tour bus that runs on recycled waste vegetable oil, stops like this one are a regular occurrence on the road. While Randy (the tour manager) sees a guy about a greasetrap, Erin is kind enough to answer a few questions.

Your new album, “Traveling Machine,” definitely has an eclectic energy. Is it important to you to feature many different styles in your albums?

“Travelin’ Machine” is definitely in keeping with our style of eclectic fusion, influenced by rhythms from all over the world. The title of the album, as well as the music, was inspired by all of the traveling we do as a band. Having been able to experience so many different people’s worldviews has allows us to see the big picture… to see all of these really diverse people as kind of a mosaic of God.

READ MORE

Winter Tour ’12 In Pictures – Part II

grandcircus — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:28:27 +0000

Some pics from the road! We spent some time in Kansas with shows in Wichita, Lawrence, and Hesston. Stay tuned for more pics from the road.

SXSW – The Race

grandcircus — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:26:14 +0000

Winter Tour ’12 In Pictures – Part I

grandcircus — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:18:02 +0000