and, of course, holidays with the family. Uncle Bonsai's acoustic folk-pop songs are almost one-act plays or short stories, resisting strict pop, folk, or singer-songwriter categories. Their songs focus on the passing of time, the passing of genes, and the passing of pets - the truth of everything seemingly buried somewhere under the family tree.
Live Uncle Bonsai Audio Samples |
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"Problems" |
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"I Would Come Back" |
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"Men and Women" |
“No other folk group has a vocal blend comparable to Uncle Bonsai. Uncle Bonsai writes and performs songs that combine folk-oriented melodies with lyrics whose intricate rhymes, ironic knowingness and satirical thrust suggest vintage theater songs filtered through the influence of the Beatles.” - The New York Times
"Pitch-perfect in their delivery of often complex harmonic arrangements. And if there were an Ella Fitzgerald Award for Exquisite Elocution in Song, they would surely get it. The trio officially bills itself as a "folk" outfit, but has none of the naiveté that label might suggest. These are nicely edgy, sour-sweet songs, written for grown-ups." - The Seattle Times
“Uncle Bonsai, a folk-pop trio from Seattle, performs funny original songs whose exquisite musical detail and subtle needling wit attain a level of craft not often seen in pop” - The New York Times
“The group has achieved an almost cult status...their music ranges from irreverent to ironic, from satirical to sad. And despite the folk tag, their music defies categorization as it incorporates elements of jazz, pop, broadway, reggae, and classical.” - Associated Press
“...hilarious and very entertaining, through perfectly meshed voices and acoustic guitar. Every piece is a gem; each has the same kind of quirky sardonic edge that Loudon Wainwright III and the Roches work has.” - Toronto Star
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| Uncle Bonsai: Promo #1 Click on photo for high-res version. (Right+Click Large Photo to Save) |
Uncle Bonsai: Promo #2 Click on photo for high-res version. (Right+Click Large Photo to Save) |
Uncle Bonsai: Promo #3 Click on photo for high-res version. (Right+Click Large Photo to Save) |
concerts/news
May 16th - 7:30pmGood Shepherd Center - SeattleThings just got very exciting. On May 16, 2025, Uncle Bonsai returns to Seattle with new songs and a new member. Will you hear some of your favorites? Yep! Will there by a "Doug" song, to mark the occasion? Sure, why not!! Will we hear songs from the new "Seven Modern Wonders" series? Definitely. Andrew, Patrice, and the wonderful Kat Bula, come to this beautiful venue for their first public Seattle performance. It's the Seattle debut with Kat AND, since it's Andrew's birthday the next day, we're pretty sure there'll be cake! Don't wait . . . tickets are on sale now! Tickets on sale here! |
May 17th - 7:30pmNew Prospect Theatre - BellinghamVery exciting that the group not only gets to return to Bellingham, for the first time in almost ten years, but they get to play at this beautiful theater. Lots of new songs, some familiar favorites, and even some from the "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs" song cycle. Who knows . . . maybe you'll hear that new "Doug" song! Maybe there's a song or two from the "Seven Modern Wonders!" It's going to be a great night AND it's Andrew's birthday . . . more cake? Tickets on sale here! |
