The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute restaurants may want to hang onto their used vegetable oil, at least until March 17.
That’s when the folk-rock band The Ragbirds comes to town for a show at The Verve.
When the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based “world-beat band” looks to fill up its tour van on the road, the members don’t head for the nearest gas station, but instead pull into the parking lot of the local family restaurant. That’s because The Ragbirds new diesel mini-bus runs on waste vegetable oil, which is usually thrown out with the trash after cooking your last order of French fries and onion rings. Lowering their carbon footprint by as much as 90 percent, the eco-friendly Ragbirds will be making a stop on March 17, at The Verve, at 677 Wabash Ave.
The show starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. Attendees must be at least 21 years old.
The Ragbirds blend world beat, folk, and gypsy roots rock, all tied together with strong pop sensibilities. The group has performed 200 shows in more than 25 states in 2009.
Front woman and lead songwriter, Erin Zindle, woos audiences with her instrumental versatility and soothing lyricism. The band utilizes an arsenal of instruments from around the world, including violin, mandolin, banjo, accordion, kalimba and various hand drums.
The Ragbirds have performed at numerous festivals, including Rothbury, 10,000 Lakes Music Festival, Ann Arbor Folk Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, and Wookiefoot’s Harvestfest.
They’ve shared bills with Railroad Earth, Toubab Krewe, The Duhks, Hot Buttered Rum, and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk.
The Ragbirds newest album, “Finally Almost Ready,” produced by Tim Carbone from Railroad Earth, was released in both the States and in Japan. The album was also up for Homegrown Music Network’s “Album of the Year” award in 2009. Last May the band made their Japan debut with multiple sets at the Greenroom Festival, along with a weeks worth of dates including two Tower Records in store performances.
For a number of weeks the single “Book of Matches” was No. 1 on the Top 40 Charts in Osaka, Japan.
