By Samantha Watson
Marketing, Ignition Music Garage

The Crane Wives are a home grown indie-folk outfit from Grand Rapids, Mich., that defies musical stereotypes. They utilize three-part vocal harmonies, eclectic instrumentation, and a passion for songcraft to create organic music that is both accessible and innovative. Each live show features contagious energy as well as original music that ranges from whisper quiet ballads to danceable grooves.

The band formed in late August of 2010, and finished the recording of their self-produced debut album Safe Ship, Harbored in April of 2011. The record was released on May 12 at Founder’s Brewing Company in GR.

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Their new full length album, also self-produced at Sound Post Studios, was released Sept. 22, 2012, at the Intersection in Grand Rapids.

“If you don’t have a soul child, you’re gonna have one by the time we’re done.” Jess Strantz, the founder and main vocalist of Von Strantz, declares between songs to the audience and band surrounding her. She exchanges glances with Kelsey Horton, violinist and multi-instrumentalist and then winks at the crowd. Von Strantz writes music, as Jess will say, “created for real depth and real community . . . what’s important is that we be humans and love each other.”

The sound of Von Strantz is described simply as folk n’ roll, akin to the tradition of Over the Rhine and the sacredness of The Vespers; the instrumentals stir the soul much like Mumford and Sons.

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Utilizing a variety of instruments such as the mandolin, violin, bass, and cello, Von Strantz unites harmonies strung together by commanding and soulful lyrics. With story-sharing as their passion, Von Strantz invites their audience into the emotion of each piece. Von Strantz is storytellers, an ebb and flow of two different musicians, exploring the dark and emerging with hope.

Von Strantz released their first self-titled EP in early 2013, and has also released Narratives Chapter I: Troubled Souls March of 2014 and Narratives Chapter II: The Line August of 2014. The band has traveled extensively, booking more than 270 shows, including Electric Forest, Hard Rock Cafe, Schuba’s, Paper City Music Fest, Audiofeed, Starry Night 2013 and 2014, Steel Bridge Music Fest 2013 and 2014, and has shared the stage with some of their favorite artists, My Brightest Diamond, Over The Rhine and A Silent Film. Von Strantz will be released their latest EP, Narratives Chapter III: Eighteen Eighteen, on Jan. 13, 2015.

The Crane Wives and Von Strantz will be at the Ignition Music Garage in Goshen on Saturday, March 14. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Reserved seating is $20; general admission is $15.