New Dangerfield: Black String Band Supergroup Pays Homage to Black Member of John Brown's Raiders

Their unique sound and innovative approach to music bring new life to the Black string band tradition, which has been overlooked for far too long.

New Dangerfield is the highly anticipated Black string band supergroup that brings together Afrofuturist fiddler Jake Blount with composer, songwriter, and old-time banjo player Kaia Kater, bluegrass banjo iconoclast Tray Wellington, and powerfully versatile bassist Nelson Williams. 

Today, Free Dirt Records released New Dangerfield's first single, "Dangerfield Newby." The song pays tribute to the historical figure by reworking a traditional fiddle tune called "Dangerfield," originally taught by fiddler Eddie Bond, also known as "Old Sport." New Dangerfield cleverly rearranged the song to honor Newby's revolutionary sacrifice.

Watch: "Dangerfield Newby" by New Dangerfield

The group comes from Dangerfield Newby, one of five recorded Black abolitionists among John Brown's raiders. In 1859, John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, to incite a slave rebellion.

Brown and his followers were quickly surrounded by local militia and federal troops, and after two days of fighting, Brown was captured and eventually executed. The raid was a significant event leading up to the American Civil War, as it highlighted the growing tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in the United States. Brown became a martyr for the abolitionist cause, and his raid was seen as a catalyst for the Civil War.

By reimagining a traditional instrumental melody, the band showcases their unique approach to music-making and their ability to weave together old folk traditions.

"I put together New Dangerfield originally to collaborate with other Black artists that I feel are constantly breaking barriers with their music," says Tray Wellington. "It quickly became apparent, though, that this is a project that roots music wants and needs. As we continue to make strides individually in our careers, it influences the music we make as a group. 

Having a joint goal of further stating roots music is for all people, and with each of us having different backgrounds, it makes for a magical and truly individual sound to add to the Black string band tradition. Working from a shared place of love for Black string band music and culture, we're developing new sounds and new ideas that keep these traditions fully grounded in the present while steeped in shared history."

These four exceptional artists have emerged to continue the legacy of their ancestors who created this music genre but have been neglected and omitted today. The band has begun their tour and will be performing at various festivals across different states, including MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Winnipeg Folk Festival in Manitoba, Canada, and Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville, Kentucky.

New Dangerfield is a musical project that breaks barriers and pays homage to important historical figures . Their unique sound and innovative approach to music bring new life to the Black string band tradition, which has been overlooked for far too long.