Mike + Ruthy of The Mammals
The Mammals lush 2020 album Nonet featured nine musicians and was “nothing short of sublime” according to Americana UK, bringing “the defiant spirit needed to heal a damaged world” as reported by No Depression Magazine. The band’s core and founders Mike Merenda & Ruth Ungar write songs to heal hearts and rouse minds. They have recorded and performed together for two decades, as the duo Mike + Ruthy and with The Mammals. They make their home in the lush Hudson River Valley of New York where they and friends host a thriving community folk festival called The Hoot at The Ashokan Center. They’ll be joined by their children Will & Opal for this virtual festival set, singing “Worry Is Natural” and “Bees are Buzzin'” two new compositions written by kids at a recent home school collective. You can find the full Ashokan Songlab “Vol 1: Resilience” EP, released on Earth Day, at https://ashokansonglab.bandcamp.com.