"Many songwriters have been heralded as modern day Woody Guthries or keepers of the American rural spirit, but that mantle might be better entrusted to musicians like Dana Robinson who embody both the heart and the soul of folk music." 

- Dirty Linen

"...rural America explored with elegant simplicity. Their music and cleanly poetic songwriting bring to mind the great folksingers of our times." 

- Asheville Citizen-Times

Press Snippet

Dana and Susan Robinson make music that is a perfect blend of old and new, bringing roots and tradition to contemporary songwriting.

50 Word Description

In a Dana and Susan Robinson concert you'll hear two rich, intimate voices, intricate and powerful guitar and banjo playing with a handful of fiddle and mandolin thrown in. Dana writes songs and tells stories about America, the land and its people. They bring to their performances an understanding of America's musical heritage and convey its significance to our culture. 

Full Biography

Dana and Susan Robinson sing dust-on-the-boots vignettes of rural America. Dana delivers his lyrics with such poetic clarity as to take the audience along riding shotgun down the highway. Their stories reflect a deep affection for the landscape and a sense of place within it.  Dana and Susan are consummate multi-instrumentalists (guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin) integrating styles from the Appalachian, Celtic, and African traditions to create a fresh and contemporary sound that is uniquely their own.

Born in Oregon in 1961, Dana was raised on a steady diet of the Beatles, Dylan, Clapton and Stones. At seventeen Dana took to hitchhiking between the western states, playing in cafés and restaurants, never staying in one place for very long. This restlessness culminated in the mid-80’s with a trip to Europe to ride the trains and busk on the streets. Upon returning to America, Dana settled in Vermont where he built a cabin in the woods, and discovered both the east coast singer-songwriter scene and Appalachian mountain music.  In 1994 Dana recorded his debut CD Elemental Lullabye, made an appearance at Carnegie Hall, and launched into a national touring career.

Dana and Susan met in 2002 when Sue attended a concert that Dana was giving in California. An environmental grant writer at the time, Sue had no idea what she was in for when Dana persuaded her to join him as his traveling partner. A classically trained pianist and Scottish fiddle player, Susan changed musical courses completely, launching into the mountain claw-hammer banjo, rhythm guitar playing, and harmony singing that now defines their sound.