About the Farnum Family

The Farnum Family, from Galena, Missouri, consists of six children with dad & mom all performing American and European-originated folk music from the early 1800's thru mid-1900's and beyond. With influence gleaned from bluegrass, folk, gospel, Irish, old-time standards, and cowboy & western, their diverse blend of music is styled in an acoustic string-band fashion – with 5-string banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and upright bass, supported by piano, penny whistle and occasional Bodhran, washboard and harmonica. Their homespun and entertaining presentations – whether for theater concert, church congregation, school assembly, RV Park or Special Family Occasion – is suitable for all ages.

Band Members include…

Dad (aka Norm) - Bandleader / 5-string banjo & rhythm guitar, lead & harmony vocals, w/nearly 40 years stage experience. Credits include 5 seasons at Silver Dollar City, 3 at The Roy Clark Theatre and 7 aboard the Lake Queen paddle wheeler (accompanied by his wife, Trish). 2nd Place winner at 2012 Grand Lakes Festival.

Mom (aka Trish) - Piano, penny-whistle, lead & harmony vocals. She grew up playing music in church, for recitals, school concerts and 4-H programs. In 1987 on ragtime piano for Vaudeville Show at Shepherd of the Hills, w/Norm on Lake Queen cruises. Married in 1988, and performed as a duet until...

July 2003, two oldest sons, Daniel & Benjamin, began music lessons. Soon they were singing w/Dad & Mom, and part of the family band. Younger sister, Hannah, followed on the fiddle...

Daniel, at 20, does a great job on the upright bass & lead vocals. A fan of Josh Groban, Tim O'Brien, Marty Robbins, the Bar-J Wranglers & Sons of the Pioneers, his rich baritone voice is featured on many of the songs. Daniel is also our "Regency Dance" caller & instructor, always available for the occasional English Country Dance, Virginia Reel, Patty Cake Polka & many more.

Benjamin, at 17, plays mandolin, guitar & harmonica... and no one knows if he can sing! His skills are exceptional playing bluegrass, Irish or Texas Swing. He took 2nd Place at the 2012 Grand Lakes Festival.

Hannah, 15 years old, handles a good percentage of the instrumental leads for the family band, w/a confident style playing bluegrass, gospel, Irish or Texas swing. She also sings some sweet gospel & bluegrass songs. Hannah takes fiddle lessons from World Champion fiddle player Ricky Boen, with the Sons of the Pioneers. In her own right, she is also an award-winning fiddler placing 4th at the 2011 & 2012 Branson Fiddle Fests, 2nd at the 2012 Grand Lakes American Heritage Music Festival in Grove, Oklahoma, and 3rd in the Walnut Valley National Old Time Fiddle Championship in Winfield, Kansas!

Nathaniel, now 13-years old, joined the group in August of 2006 singing an occasional specialty number, and is learning to play the lap-slide resophonic guitar. He often adds Ozark percussion on spoons, washboard and the Irish Bodhran. His spirited rendition of Joshua with his siblings is a real foot stomper!

Maggie, at 8-years old, is learning to play the fiddle, and often makes her stage appearances with 7-year old Matthew, both singing on gospel & novelty tunes. With her big sister, Hannah, the two are featured on some sweet fiddle duets.

An award-winning family band, since forming in 2004 they have played venues in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and many times in their home state of Missouri. Besides their many church dates, they enjoy performing fairs, festivals, historic theatres, RV Parks, assemblies and other family oriented venues and special occasions. They average over 100 live performances per year and hope to eventually go into "full-time" music!

They were first invited to play at Silver Dollar City's (Branson, Missouri) Bluegrass & BBQ Festival and Southern Gospel Picnic in 2006, and have been invited back every year since for similar festival events. They have also enjoyed 3 concert appearances at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. By a special recommendation, the entire Farnum Family was awarded a scholarship to attend the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Midlothian, Texas in October of 2009 and again in 2011. The whole family traveled to the Rio Grande Valley in 2012 for a 5-week music tour for the Winter Texans and some other venues, and plans to return again in 2013. This year marked a second trip to Cody, Wyoming to perform for the July 4th Stampede Parade celebration.

A favorite scripture reference which embodies their music performances and ministry is Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Please contact the Farnum Family via GigMasters to book your special event!