Mesmerizing folk duo Ordinary Elephant has spent nearly a decade on an endless tour, earning widespread acclaim and winning fans including legends like Tom Paxton and Mary Gauthier. Married couple Crystal and Pete Damore first captured the spotlight in 2017 when they took home the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year, propelled by their breakthrough album Before I Go. Two years later, their follow-up, Honest, garnered even more praise, with the Associated Press calling it “one of the best Americana albums of the year.” Their latest release, a stripped-down, self-titled collection, is the purest expression of their sound yet. The album showcases the breathtaking power of the couple’s harmonies and intricate guitar work. Rooted in timeless, character-driven storytelling, the songs are elevated by the delicate interplay of banjo, guitar, and octave mandolin. Though born from a time of deep uncertainty, the record radiates a sense of profound self-assurance. It’s the work of a duo whose personal and professional lives reflect the endless potential of honest, organic collaboration. Press play on Ordinary Elephant and you’ll hear more than just a husband and wife—you’ll hear a sincere and unwavering commitment to music, patience, gratitude, and the simple, transformative beauty of the present moment.
Two southern Vermont natives, Colin McCaffrey and Lizzy Mandell, have been musical collaborators for more than 15 years. Colin is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, award-winning songwriter, recording engineer, and producer. Over the past two decades, he has engineered, produced, or performed on more than 200 Vermont albums, many considered among the state’s finest. The two met at a songwriter’s workshop Colin hosted at the Center for Arts and Learning in Montpelier. Captivated by Lizzy’s voice and songwriting, Colin produced her debut solo album, Made for Flying (2012), which won Best Album and Best Songwriter of the Year. Now, 13 years later, Lizzy and Colin have released To the Moon, a new collection of 13 original songs, eight of them co-written.
