Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear
Soulful, rhythmic folk anchored by a rare mother-son vocal chemistry. Warm acoustic guitars and storytelling that feels like a long-overdue conversation.
Soulful, rhythmic folk anchored by a rare mother-son vocal chemistry. Warm acoustic guitars and storytelling that feels like a long-overdue conversation.
This is music that feels like a sturdy wooden table: reliable, organic, and built to last. At its heart is the unmistakable connection between Madisen Ward and his mother, Ruth, whose voices and guitars interlock with a precision that only decades of shared life can produce. It is folk music, but it breathes with the rhythmic urgency of blues and the emotional resonance of classic soul.
What truly sets them apart is the percussive nature of their playing. They don't just strum; they drive the songs forward with a tactile, woody energy that makes a full drum kit feel unnecessary. Madisen’s voice is a remarkable instrument, capable of a deep, resonant baritone that can suddenly break into a soulful grit, while Ruth’s harmonies provide a grounding, maternal warmth.
Start with 'Skeleton Crew' to hear the raw, breakout energy that first caught the world's attention. It captures the duo in their most essential form, proving that a couple of guitars and a lifetime of shared history are more than enough to fill a room.
Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear are an American mother-and-son folk duo from Independence, Missouri, consisting of singer-songwriter and guitarist Madisen Ward and his mother Ruth Ward, who plays guitar and sings with him. The band released their debut album, Skeleton Crew, in May 2015 on Glassnote Records. It was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by Jim Abbiss. The album reached number 50 on the UK Albums Chart in June 2015. In 2015, the duo appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, Later... with Jools Holland, BBC Breakfast News, CBS News Sunday Morning, and Today. That same year, they performed in the US, Canada and Europe, including Bonnaroo Music Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Americana Music Festival & Conference. They also supported The Tallest Man on Earth, Sufjan Stevens, Pixies, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Old Crow Medicine Show. That same year, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear appeared on NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert. The band's second full-length, Started with a Family, was released in September 2019, produced by Nathan Chapman, engineered by Jeff Balding and Lowell Reynolds, mixed by Nathan Chapman, and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound. It was recorded at Blackbird Studio, Nashville, in Studio C. On tour, their backing band consists of Brent Kastler (bass), Tom Hudson (drums), and Larissa Maestro (cello). The duo released The Radio Winners EP in July 2018.
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