Jake Armerding is an American folk musician and multi-instrumentalist from Boston, Massachusetts. He plays mostly acoustic string instruments like the mandolin, acoustic guitar, and fiddle. In 1990, Jake began playing with Northern Lights occasionally. He joined the band full-time in 1992 and was a member until 1999 when he left the band to pursue a solo career. Jake attended Wheaton College where he received a degree in English literature. In 2001, Armerding won the Best New Artist Award from Boston's folk-radio station, WUMB.[1]
In addition to his solo efforts, Jake makes up half of a duo, The Fretful Porcupine, along with saxophonist Kevin Gosa.[2] Armerding is also a member of Barnstar!, a "bluegrass [band] for people who hate bluegrass."[3][4] He is on the faculty of the Traditional Music Project housed at the Real School of Music in Burlington, Massachusetts.[5]
Jake recently played violin and mandolin as part of an ensemble recording music for the audiobook version of Josh Ritter's first novel, Bright's Passage.
Notable Performances
Jake has made multiple appearances at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.[1]
Discography
- 1994 - Wrong Highway Blues
- 1996 - Living in the City
Solo
- 1999 - Caged Bird
- 2003 - Jake Armerding (released by Compass Records)
- 2007 - Walking on the World
- 2009 - Songs in Stained Glass
- 2009 - Her
- 2013 - Cosmos in the Chaos
- 2015 - Your Voice Like Brake Lights: A Collection
The Fretful Porcupine
- 2010 - Cellar Sessions EP
Barnstar!
- 2011 - C'mon!
- 2015 - Sit Down! Get Up! Get Out!
Rosin
- 2017 - Rosin
Contributions
- 2005 - Mark Stepakoff - There Goes the Neighborhood (fiddle)
- 2006 - Scott Alarik - All That Is True: Folk Songs Old and New
- 2009 - Taylor Armerding - Head That Way (fiddle and voice)