Chris Miller • Andrew VanNorstrand • Noah VanNorstrand

These guys have had returning to Alaska on their wish list for a long time. We are so glad to bring them back to their Alaska friends and fans, and to introduce them to soon-to-be new fans, in their wild genre-busting iteration, the Faux Paws! Musically impossible to describe, they don’t even fit into today’s often hyphenated music scene. No fan, industry expert, nor member of the band can seem to sum up their sound in any kind of marketable way. They are a singularly unique outfit in the acoustic music community, always on the fringes, always memorable, and with an increasing number of die-hard fans who feel like they’ve uncovered a secret.

Is it bluegrass? Not usually. Old-time? Occasionally. Is it Celtic? Can’t quite say that. Is it Folk? Americana? Jazz? Singer-songwriter? None of the above, but members of the Paws have deep ties to all of these traditions and blend their elements effortlessly to serve whatever musical idea is being presented.

This band takes risks. They’re dynamic, exciting, sincere, irreverent, infectious, and surprising. They move deftly between moods, influences and instruments but always maintaining a “groove” that pulses through the music like a heartbeat—virtuosity on the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and saxophone, sure, but also vulnerability, personal lyrics, tight three-part brother harmonies, playful interplay, intricately arranged details, and soaring improvisations. According to FolkAlley.com, their self-titled 2021 release was named one of the 10 Best Trad albums of the year from around the world.

But spending too many words talking about this stuff detracts from the fact that it’s the original songs—and heart—that keep folks coming back for more. In the band’s 12th year they returned to the studio and emerged with an EP showcasing a huge amount of music in a five-track sampler. The live energy is on full display, with very little added. The Backburner EP was released in April 2023 and reached Billboard’s Top 10 Bluegrass Albums Chart.

Without stopping to catch their breath, the band returned to the studio in 2024, and their second full-length record, No Bad Ideas, was released in May 2025. It is described by Roots Music Underground in their review as “a conversation on musical chemistry, brotherly telepathy, and the freedom of playing without a label” and in many reviews as “their best album yet!”

www.thefauxpawsmusic.com

The Faux Paws will be playing Friday and Sunday evening concert sets on the second weekend, judging the Banjo Contest, and teaching workshops, but in addition they are making a special exception for us and will be playing our Thursday Barn Dance during Folk Week. It will be a night with something for everyone, called dances and partner dances, and opportunities to just listen if you wish. You won’t want to miss any of the Faux Paws’ performances in Anchorage!