The Moon Shells—Maggie Shar, Brian Slattery, Laura Murawski, Molly Merrett, and Charlie Shaw—draw from the roots of the music in Appalachia, Louisiana, West Africa, and elsewhere to explore what it can do and try to make something new. Sometimes we’re a traditional stringband of fiddles, banjo, guitar, and bass, ready to play for square dances. Sometimes we’re an electrified dance band with drums. And sometimes we’re a little experimental, playing with sounds and song forms. As inspired by nature as by culture, we make music about contending with the past, accepting the present, and running headlong into adapting to the future.

In 2019 we released two albums—Seaside Asylum, an album of original songs and tunes, and Screech Plank, an album of more traditional fiddle tunes. Their next album of original songs, House of Air, came out in 2020. In 2021 they released two more albums—Earth, an album of original songs and tunes, and Screech Plank II, an album of tunes written by contemporary, living traditional musicians. In 2022 we released Sally Ann, a fiddle-banjo duo record. Our latest albums are Throwing Sparks and Storm Plants the Seed, released in 2024. Find all our recorded music on Bandcamp.

Our albums have gotten radio airplay throughout New England and beyond and have garnered press notice. The Hartford Courant included Seaside Asylum and Earth in its list of best regional albums for 2019 and 2021, respectively. In 2022 we were nominated for Americana Band of the Year for the New England Music Awards. We’ve played small clubs and a few festivals across New England, and have taught numerous workshops about fiddle music and what can be done with it. And we’re still growing, excited for what’s next.