j a k e   a r m e r d i n g

The Boston Globe calls Jake Armerding "the most gifted and promising songwriter to emerge from the Boston folk scene in years.”  His original song "Catchy Paul & Dreamy John" was a finalist in the 2013 Newsong Contest, and his roots music duo with saxophonist Kevin Gosa, The Fretful Porcupine, was recently featured on NPR's "Here & Now".

His music career began when he thieved a cassette tape of Paul Simon's Graceland out of his parents' Volvo station wagon and began a series of furtive listening sessions with a cheap pair of Sonys.  These sounds, mixing with classical violin lessons and the grooves of his father's bluegrass band, began shaping the instincts of a composer and recording artist who would come to totally disregard conventions of genre:  if an instrument captured the feeling he was after, it was used, regardless of which instrument it was (or even if it was an instrument).  

To date, he has released eight full-length albums, composed music for string quartet and full choir, created a music distribution project in the style of a farm share CSA, and produced records in the singer/songwriter, Americana, classical, Christian and barn music genres.

A few thousand performances later, after ten years on the Boston music scene, he relocated to Minneapolis, where he now resides with his wife and daughter.  He is currently held responsible for The Aeromatics, The Fretful Porcupine, one-fifth of Barnstar! and The Sheffield Sessions.