We’re Just Happy to be Here!!
Hoot ‘n An
nie is a vocal centric string band based in Madison, Wisconsin. We love to play songs that are fun to sing in harmony backed by fiddle, banjo, ukulele bass, harmonica, cello and guitar.
“Hoot ‘n Annie” comes from the Scottish word ‘Hootenanny” meaning “celebration” and / or “party”, most closely associated with Hogmanay. With the Scots being one of the biggest groups of settlers in the Appalachian region of North America (bringing with them their whisky-making tradition and methods, leading to the area’s “moonshining” tradition) it is not surprising that hootenanny became an Appalachian colloquialism.
Hootenanny also became used in early 20th-century America as a placeholder name to refer to things whose names were forgotten or unknown. In this usage it was synonymous with thingamajig or whatchamacallit, as in: “Hand me that hootenanny.” Hootenanny was also an old country word for “party”. Nowadays the word most commonly refers to a folk music party.
So, that’s us. We’re a folk party thingamajig.
Photo Credits: The photographs featured on this website were taken by a variety of very talented individuals including Lisa Wells, Tom Early, Andrea Bilger, Mary Alexi, and others.
The Hoot’n Annie owl logo, so far as we can tell, is an adaptation of a Maori tribal tattoo. The Owl is said to come to those who need to let go of some part of their life that is no longer needed. As a guide, the owl teaches us to see and hear past shadows, beyond fear and darkness, though to the other side that promises light, happiness and knowledge. There is an African proverb that says “The owl is the wisest of all birds because the more it sees, the less it talks.”
It seems the more we see, the more we sing.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” – Plato