This married duo share a love of bright vocal harmonies, eerie traditional songs, and heartfelt originals. They will host an afternoon banjo workshop in addition to their evening concert.

Elizabeth is a world-renowned ballad singer and scholar from rural Virginia, and Brian is a songwriter, producer, and ethnomusicologist who has studied folk music all over the world. Together they enjoy performing, teaching, and singing in their car and kitchen. They also direct Philly Folk Choir.

Aside from their work as a duo, Brian and Elizabeth also comprise half of the “freak folk” band Doran. That band’s first album received critical acclaim from Pitchfork, NPR, The Guardian, Bandcamp, Record Crates United, and Raven Sings the Blues.

Elizabeth LaPrelle

Elizabeth has been performing Appalachian ballads and old-time songs since she was eleven. SFMS concert-goers may recognize her as part of the Americana/Folk duo “Anna and Elizabeth”, whom we hosted a few years ago.

Raised in Rural Retreat, Virginia, Elizabeth attended old time fiddlers’ conventions and sang harmonies with her family, who taught her traditional singing styles and encouraged her to sing their own favorite American folk music. Elizabeth’s magnificent voice, her respect for the songs, and her authentic mountain sound and style brought her to the attention of first Ginny Hawker and then Sheila Kay Adams.

Elizabeth received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary with a major in Southern Appalachian Traditional Performance, and now tours the US regularly both performing and teaching.

Brian Dolphin

Brian is an ethnomusicologist who has studied and performed folk and original music all over the world, in villages and large venues alike. He leads an active life as a songwriter, performer, producer, and songleader, uniting diverse communities through the “Dolphin & You” Patreon and Community Sing, Ukrainian Village Voices, and Philly Folk Choir. He also stewards the World Around Songs songbook company, in partnership with Jalopy Records.

For several years, Brian has been channeling most of his creative output through the “Dolphin & You” Patreon, where every month, he releases his own music and that of other singer-songwriters whose songs might otherwise go unrecorded and unheard. He also shares traditional and original arrangements of different folk songs and distributes the harmony part-recordings through the site.