Buzzworthy Black string band New Dangerfield releases their second single, "Put No Walls Around Your Garden," co-written by band member Kaia Kater and songwriter Billy Keane. This follows their debut single, "Dangerfield Newby," a rollicking, reimagined fiddle instrumental that showcased the band’s energetic musical prowess.
"Put No Walls Around Your Garden" stands as a testament to Kater's poetic lyricism and the diverse influences and styles of the group, which includes notable musicians Jake Blount, Tray Wellington, and Nelson Williams. The song weaves a timeless folk sound with modern Americana touches and old-time underpinnings, delivering a powerful commentary on wealth inequality, resource hoarding, and contemporary economic realities such as inflation, food insecurity, and profiteering. Drawing from the rich tradition of working-class Black string band anthems, the song challenges listeners to envision a more equitable future.
Kater shares the inspiration behind the song: "I wrote 'Put No Walls Around Your Garden' with Billy Keane, a wonderful songwriter from the Berkshires, during a 2023 retreat at The House of Songs in the Ozark Mountains. We used the allegory of a farmer and their seasonal crop yield as a commentary on resource hoarding and climate change. I brought the song to the band and we arranged it for a string band context, while also inserting a bridge/breakdown meant to illustrate the urgency of the message. Playing and singing the twin banjo and vocal melody makes this song so fitting for string band music in a new context, and I find it’s a bit of an earworm!"
New Dangerfield on Tour:
Sunday, July 28
Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI
Monday, July 29 @ 7:00PM
New Dangerfield Supporting Mighty Poplar
Prescott Park Arts Festival, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Saturday, August 3 — Monday, August 5
Canmore Folk Festival
Canmore, Alberta
Wednesday, August 7 @ 8:00PM
The Dream Cafe
The Dream Cafe, Penticton, BC
Thursday, August 8
The Flying Steamshovel
The Flying Steamshovel, Rossland, BC
Saturday, August 10 — August 11
Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival
Waterfront Park, Medical Lake, Washington
Thursday, August 15 — Sunday, August 18
Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival
Hunter Park, Manchester, VT
Friday, September 20
Bourbon & Beyond
Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, KY
Sunday, September 22
Freshgrass – Mass MoCA
Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA
About New Dangerfield:
New Dangerfield is a trailblazing Black string band bringing together the talents of Jake Blount, Kaia Kater, Tray Wellington, and Nelson Williams. Known for their dynamic performances and deep-rooted musicality, they continue to redefine and elevate the tradition of string band music.
