Artist: Special Consensus featuring April Verch, Darol Anger and Alison Brown
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Song: “Pretty Kate and the Rabbit (La Belle Catherine/Jack Rabbit Jump)”
Album: Great Blue North
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Label: Compass Records
In Their Words: “In our 47 years as a band, Special Consensus has played countless festivals and venues north of the border and we count many Canadian pickers and singers among our dearest friends. On our new project Great Blue North we wanted to offer a tip of the hat to the immense talent in Canada by recording all Canadian songs and featuring Canadian guests on the record. We always include an instrumental on our records and really wanted to collaborate with Ontario-born fiddler April Verch. Our producer Alison Brown knew the tune ‘La Belle Catherine’ from the great QuĂ©bĂ©cois fiddler AndrĂ© Brunet and April suggested that the MĂ©tis fiddle tune ‘Jack Rabbit Jump’ would pair well with it to round out a medley. Et voilĂ , ‘Pretty Kate and the Rabbit’ was born! We asked Darol Anger to join us on twin fiddle and Alison to jump in on twin banjo and we had an absolute blast shooting the video for this track. Keep an eye out for the interplay of the fiddles and banjos on the second tune — Iâm not sure Iâve ever laughed harder! We hope you have as much fun watching this video as we did making it.” — Greg Cahill, Special Consensus
Photo Credit: Stacie Huckeba
