“We chose a mix of classic tunes by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli and some modern pieces that we jazzed up in gypsy style,” says Lincoln Nebraska’s The Wildwoods about their latest track, “Cherry Pickin’.” While that bygone style is often difficult to conquer, this trio presents a polished sound that awakens with a fervently emotive passion reminiscent of Sarah Jorosz and Nickel Creek.
The Wildwoods are led by husband-and-wife Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin) alongside bassist Andrew Vaggalis. Their story is a symphony of exploration and connection, a journey that has taken them from the Midwest to international stages, carving out a unique place in the folk landscape. Their presence has graced stages alongside artists such as Mighty Poplar, Sierra Ferrell, Aiofe O’ Donovan, Melissa Carper, Jamie Wyatt and Joe Nichols at concerts and festivals like Summerfest, FreshGrass and the Oyster Ridge Music Festival.
The Wildwoods have become a force in the folk scene, boasting accolades like being finalists at the FreshGrass Music Festival Band competition and Gems on VHS “Gems in the Rough” competition in 2023. Their songwriting prowess is underscored by semi-final placements in the International Songwriting competition, with tracks like “Untitled” and “Way of Train.” Recognized consistently at the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards, they were crowned “Best Band” by the Lincoln Journal Star’s Lincoln Choice Awards in 2022.
Their sonic journey unfolds through albums like the debut “Sweet Nostalgia” (2017), followed by “Birdie & Goose” (2017), “Across A Midwest Sky” (2019), and their latest masterpiece, “Foxfield Saint John” (2023).
Glide is premiering the rousin’ “Cherry Pickin'” (below), which is time-stamped to a time when music seemed to play the part of a musical grand finale—full of bliss and brilliant opportunities.
“The story of “Cherry Pickin'” is one of those quintessential college tales where youthful procrastination meets the dizzying power of young love—a force so strong it can make everything else seem trivial. Back in the spring of 2021, Chloe, Andy, and I were wrapping up our final semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We came up with a plan that sounded perfect: we’d form the university’s very first gypsy-jazz chamber group. Not only would this fulfill our performance credit, but it would also let us make music and perform together without the usual audition stress for bigger ensembles,” says Noah.
