Praise for Oliver the Crow

“Brilliant… Their respect for both traditional and contemporary iterations of folk, bluegrass, and even chamber genres is obvious.” — For Folk’s Sake
“Sophisticated and unique... they prove themselves exceptional composers absorbed in their craft.” — No Depression
“The future looks bright for this folk duo.” — PopMatters
“There’s no denying the sheer inventiveness of this duo.” — Folk Radio UK
“A welcome combination of classical technique and ‘deep folk’ sensibility.” — Exclaim
“Oliver the Crow deliver a minimal yet expansive brand of orchestral folk… Powerful art at work.” — Atwood Magazine

Extended bio

Oliver the Crow—cellist Kaitlyn Raitz and fiddler Ben Plotnick—are back with their long-awaited sophomore album, and fair warning: Collaboration with their friend, producer and musical polymath Anthony Da Costa created something bigger, bolder, and notably louder. Hailed by NPR as an “inspired collaboration”, the Nashville-based duo made waves with their self-titled debut: a genre-bending collection created in a solar-powered cabin over three chilly, fire-lit days. It featured only cello, fiddle, and voice, yet producers ‘Speakerface’ managed to evoke entire sonic worlds—earning praise from across the folk and roots landscape.

Now, after five years filled with life-altering events—marriage, buying a home, acquiring a small but energetic dog, existential spirals, and profound loss—Raitz (2025 Americana Honors & Awards Instrumentalist of the Year nominee) and Plotnick (JUNO Award-winner and 4x nominee) return with a new collection that expands the sonic palette far beyond their debut. Surrounding the duo’s foundation of cello and violin, expect drums, guitars, piano, textures you can't quite name—and a whole lot of heart.

Their sophomore album, A Feather in a Hurricane, is a fully through-composed work, designed to be experienced in one uninterrupted arc, with only a single break between side A and side B. More akin to a long-form piece than a traditional collection of songs, the album reveals its full emotional and musical weight when taken in from start to finish. Themes reappear, shift, and evolve across the album, weaving a cohesive narrative that rewards deep, immersive listening. It’s a bold structural choice that underscores Oliver the Crow’s commitment to crafting music that’s both artful and unapologetically ambitious.

Individually, the duo's musical roots run deep: Kaitlyn has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Station Inn, on stage with country superstar Eric Church and GRAMMY nominated cello ensemble UCCELLO, and Ben is one of North America’s most in-demand fiddle players, touring, performing and recording with countless artists, such as JUNO winners The Fretless. Together, their collaboration continues to evolve—refusing to settle, refusing to follow rules, and always chasing something that sounds like honesty.

SHORT BIO

Oliver the Crow—cellist Kaitlyn Raitz and fiddler Ben Plotnick—return with their long-awaited second album, A Feather in a Hurricane: a bold, through-composed work co-produced with musical polymath Anthony Da Costa. Hailed by NPR as an “inspired collaboration,” the Nashville-based duo first made waves with a genre-bending debut recorded in a solar-powered cabin using only cello, fiddle, and voice. Now, after five transformative years, Raitz (2025 Americana Instrumentalist of the Year nominee) and Plotnick (JUNO Award-winner) expand their sonic world with drums, guitars, piano, and immersive textures. The result is an ambitious, emotionally resonant album that blurs genre lines while staying true to the duo’s roots—and their relentless pursuit of honest, boundary-pushing music.