Two Karen Hill Tribe Women women sing a series of Thaa (Lullabies). The Karen hill tribe are the largest ethnic minority group in Thailand. They originated from Tibet, moving south to Myanmar and northern Thailand. Today, the Karen hill tribe live in areas alongside the Thai-Myanmar border such as; Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and some in central Thailand. Recorded by A Tree With Roots Music in Khun Tae Village, Doi Kaeo, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Accompanied by the tae-nah (tenaku harp), “Tahkoti Takohgo” is a song about “looking after and protecting our hometown”
A Tree With Roots Music recorded this Karen singer named Bookoo Sandoh in Khun Te Village, Doi Kaeo, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
An excerpt from the song, ‘The Creed (We Believe)’ from the Melanesian Brotherhood. To hear all the songs from the Sunday mass that we recorded that same day, visit our bandcamp page;
Preston Frank exemplifies the preservation of musical traditions. He learned zydeco and Creole music from his father, guitarist Paul Frank (who played with Canray Fontenot), and his uncle, fiddler Carlton Frank. However, the tradition extends much further back—to his great-great-grandfather Joseph Sr., who performed with legendary Cajun fiddler Dennis McGhee, and his great-grandfather Joseph Jr., an accordionist.
Preston has led family zydeco bands since the late 1970s and has performed at prestigious venues including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, and Blackpot Festival & Cook-off, among others. The tradition continues today with his son Keith Frank and The Soileau Zydeco Band, who serve as authentic living links to traditional Creole music.
The late Courtney Granger talks about how his upbringing was shaped by the history and traditions of the lineage of the Balfa Brothers (he was the great-nephew of the legendary Cajun fiddler Dewey Balfa), followed by a performance of their ‘Tit Galop Pour Mamou.’
Courtney was nominated for two Grammys with the Pine Leaf Boys and was named fiddler of the year twice by the Cajun French Music Association.
We met Courtney at the Louisiana Folk Roots yearly ‘Balfa Camp’, held in Vermillionville Historic Village, Lafayette, Louisiana.
The late Chris Stafford talks about learning Cajun French and the passing down of the rich traditions of Southern Louisiana, followed by a performance of his band Feufollet at the Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, LA.
Chris is dearly missed!
Ganesh Bahadur Pariyar and his Damai Panche Baja group, along with ATWR team David Bettencourt and Andrew Murphy, Our friend Kedar Gandhari is also pictured here, and thanks to him we were able to meet this band.
Pariyar leads with the the sanai or shehnai, a double reed instrument to accompany the Panche Baja, a celebratory music typically performed at weddings and holy ceremonies.
A Tree With Roots Music 
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