Willy and Brian Claflin present roots music with a family vocal blend like an 18th Century Everly Brothers. Respectively, a storyteller and songwriter in their day jobs, they chose to focus on traditional folk songs (mostly narrative ballads) for their first recording as duo—In Yonder’s Wood. The family act covers material ranging from Appalachia & the American West to Medieval Great Britain (think Gillian Welch meets Steeleye Span).

In Yonder’s Wood is split into two sets, or sides—as on the vinyl records of yore. Side 1 steps out in the British Isles several hundred years ago with drinking songs, mummer's tunes, mysterious tales of murder and magic, and your occasional run-of-the-mill friendly neighborhood vengeful castle-burning. Side 2 crosses the pond to the New World, looking over its shoulder to the Olde Countrye with an Irish fiddler's Louisiana romance and a New England sea chantey, and then exploring sin and redemption in the lives of outlaws, bootleggers and buffalo skinners.

Although they live on opposite coasts (Willy in San Francisco and Brian in North Carolina), the father-and-son team performs together whenever possible. The highlight of 2009 was playing for am enthusiastic crowd of 2,000 at the National Storytelling festival in Jonesborough, TN.

Their singing has garnered praise from a range of eclectic sources. After a CD release party performance, Richard Taylor, President of the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston, called their singing "a live performance not to be missed." Grammy-winning songwriter Jamie O’Hara, formerly of the O’Kanes, calls the Claflin duo "A real treasure." Respected musicologist/composer/NPR radio host Peter Schickele (better known as alter ego, P.D.Q. Bach) calls In Yonder’s Wood "a day brightener... delivered with brio and sensitivity..."

Willy Claflin has been singing, collecting traditional ballads and writing his own songs and stories for over four decades. He is also a published children's author, award-winning storyteller, and headliner on the storytelling festival circuit. He has numerous recordings in print for both children and adults, as well as two albums of original songs released in the 1980's (featuring a teenaged Brian on harmonies).

Brian is also a published children's author, has written and produced music for commercials and television shows, and is a published songwriter ("Going Back to Georgia" co-written with Nanci Griffith and Adam Duritz). His vocal skills have earned the attention of the Boston press, noting his "supple voice" (Boston Globe), and his ability to "sound like Bluegrass star Ralph Stanley" (Boston Herald) with his Appalachian-styled vocalizations.

Willy and Brian Claflin are available for folk festivals, coffeehouse performances, house-concert series clubs, educational residencies, and workshops.