Homebrew — 3 April 2019 on Rocket Shop Radio Hour

Becca and Andy Cartmell of Homebrew joined host Tom Proctor on ‘Rocket Shop‘, Big Heavy World’s weekly local Vermont music radio hour on 105.9FM The Radiator. Catch up with them at facebook.com/homebrewduo

On Wednesday, April 3, Homebrew joined us for a night of “Jazzy Celtic” on Rocket Shop. Homebrew consists of Becca and Andy Cartmell, a married couple from Florida that moved to Vermont about two years ago. The two met in the early 2000s and share any musician’s dream love story. Andy was at an open mic night, and Becca was next door playing a celtic set. Becca walked over to check out the open mic night scene, and bumped into Andy on her way. Andy expressed interest in learning celtic music to Becca (when really he just wanted her phone number), and the two started practicing together, combining celtic music with Andy’s expertise, jazz. Since then, the two have had their work cut out for them, constantly thumbing through 400 year-old celtic tunes, searching for ones that fit well over jazz progressions.

Music has been an important part of both Andy and Becca’s lives since they were small children. Becca began playing piano when she was very young, and picked up the flute in high school because she always wanted to be a part of the marching band. In college, she was dared to audition as a music major, and was immediately accepted. She picked up the fiddle after her grandmother found an old one under her stairs. Becca began attending a bi-weekly Irish music session in Tallahassee, where she would play the same five songs over and over again. This required a lot of patience, but in the long run, it really helped her to improve. Andy began playing the trumpet in the third grade, and picked up the piano shorty after. In middle school, he started learning guitar, and hasn’t put it down since.

Homebrew has a very wide musical repertoire. They are not limited to the instruments they brought on Rocket Shop (guitar, flute, tin whistle, and violin), using mandolin, harmonica, melodica, bass, and an octaviser in their music as well. One of Homebrew’s trademarks is their use of the looping pedal as well. Becca describes their live show as “eclectic.”

To hear more of Homebrew, check them out at Idletime Brewing on April 12th!

Text by Marisa Iannitto

Photo by James Lockridge.