Once in a while, you run across a band that defies categorization. The Ragbirds are one such band. Hailing from Michigan, the band has been touring the clubs and becoming a staple on the festival circuit for several years, opening for such luminaries as Widespread Panic, The Dead, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dave Matthews and many others.

Led by the delightfully animated Erin Zindle, who not only sings with a sweet, earthy voice, but constantly switches from fiddle to mandolin to banjo to accordion to percussion, all while dancing merrily and singing all the lead vocals, The Ragbirds are beginning to make some serious waves on the music scene. With the release of their third album, “Finally Almost Ready,” the band is expanding their tour schedule and will be coming to play in our area twice this Saturday, first in Eclectic during the afternoon and then at Eighth and Rail in Opelika Saturday night.

The band describes their music as “infectious global groove.” With elements of folk rock, bluegrass and world music pervading their music, The Ragbirds are versatile, exciting and diverse. The album is very entertaining, with a style and grace threading through the songwriting that underscores the diversity of the music while creating common ground within the body of the album that bonds it together.

Produced by Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone, who’s been very busy as of late producing David Gans, Boris Garcia, and his own side project, The Contribution, lends his fine-tuned ear and does a wonderful job making this a very pleasing listen from start to finish.

Take my advice and see The Ragbirds in Eclectic or at Eighth and Rail Saturday. Pick up “Finally Almost Ready” when you see them, and I’ll wager you’ll have a new favorite band before the day is out!
For more on the band, visit theragbirds.com.

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