The Hollow Trees
The Hollow Trees play what they call “folk music for Families.” It’s high energy acoustic Americana music played with passion, skill, and humor. They combine the musical styles of bluegrass music, country music, folk music, blues and jazz and put their stamp on many traditional folk songs as well as original compositions.
The Hollow Trees’ universe revolves around the Hollow Tree and its resident, Nelson. The Hollow Tree grows in the middle of a magic meadow, hidden inside an enchanted forest which is located on the outskirts of the town of Nelsonville. Many of the Trees’ original songs tell stories about Nelson and his friends and fellow residents of Nelsonville, and Nelson himself is known to make appearances at Hollow Trees’ shows.
The Hollow Trees were formed in 2004 in Los Angeles by singer and guitar player Gregory Hollow Tree with upright bass player Laura Hollow Tree. After the release of their first CD, “The Hollow Trees” and many shows, they expanded their lineup to include singer and jug player Traci Hollow Tree and a revolving cast of other musicians on instruments such as Drum, Mandolin, Fiddle, and Banjo.
The Hollow Trees’ second CD, “Welcome to Nelsonville,” was released in January 2008 to rave reviews.[1] It incorporates the new members with some great old songs as well as original songs which explore the Hollow Trees’ world with characters like Ray The Music Shop Owner and Ted The Talking Tree.
In April 2009, six 1 minute animated episodes about Nelson and The Hollow Trees started airing on KPBS (TV) in San Diego during the children television programming.
In 2010 The Hollow Trees released their third CD entitled "Wacky's Tackle."[2] This CD features original songs about Nelsonville such as "Wacky's Tackle," "Barefoot Beach," covers of folk standards such as "The Boll Weevil," and "The More we are Together," and more obscure covers such as Little Jimmy Dickens' "I'm Little but I'm Loud."
The Hollow Trees’ show is geared toward children from the ages of 1-7, but the good humor and high level of musicianship makes it fun for all ages. The band regularly performs at the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest, the Theatricum Botanicum's family concert series, Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, and other venues in the Los Angeles area.
The characters in The Hollow Trees' universe include Nelson, a mythical animal who lives in the Hollow Tree, Piccolo Possum, Duck the drummer, Magpie who sings and plays guitar, and Skunk, who plays banjo.
The band has released some of their material through their Bandcamp page.