Get Out Tonight: Uncle Earl in Two Places

Seattlest loves Uncle Earl for being one of the most visible old-timey troupes of women in the country. We love their masterful instrument-juggling, clog-dancing ways. We love their most recent release Waterloo, Tennessee (produced by John Paul Jones, of all people), and consider it one of the best records in its genre this year.

If you're unfamiliar, the quintet, based loosely in Lyons, Colo., started out with some exquisite renditions of old-timey standards like "Red Rocking Chair." Waterloo, however, opened up a whole new can of worms when the g'Earls, as they call themselves, tried their hand at writing brand-new old-timey tunes. Banjo player Abigail Washburn (who's toured recently with banjo master Bela Fleck) writes sad and lonely, heart-wrenching tunes about longing and self-identity, while fiddler Raya Gellert's tunes are more hoe-downy. KC Groves tends more toward Dolly Parton-ish sentimentality, while Kristin Andreassen's compositions run the gamut.

Together, the group is absolutely dripping with talent, bringing old time back to the fore of the national Americana scene and showing how masterfully women can rock a genre that has historically been so dominated by men. Tonight, they'll be making an appearance at the Kenmore free outdoor concerts before heading over to the Tractor for a late night show with the Biscuit Burners.

Uncle Earl // Kenmore outdoor concert series (free 6:30 PM) // Tractor Tavern ($12, 9 PM)