Bio

OLD PAINT DUO is Miriam Sonstenes and Jeff Dill, who have been making acoustic music steeped in American roots traditions for over a decade. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and using the guitar and fiddle as their base and leaping off point, these two serve up old country songs, Texas fiddle tunes, old time square dance music and original songs with grace and style.

With their full length debut album released in 2019, Old Paint Duo has been receiving enthusiastic reviews from audiences and critics alike. 

“The duo of Jeff Dill and Miriam Sonstenes have created a tasty gem of an album. Their voices blend seamlessly with harmonies that seem attainable only by siblings or spouses” (Mike Sadava, Penguin Eggs). 

The album features original songwriting, covers of classic country duets from The Louvin Brothers, and Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner, as well as original and traditional old time fiddle tunes. The album was recorded and produced by Tad Ruszel, in Victoria, BC.

Old Paint’s musical travels have taken them to Ireland, North Carolina, Louisiana, and across Canada on VIA Rail’s Artists on Board Program. The duo has opened for John Reischman and The Jaybirds, and recently completed their second Home Routes house concert tour. Miriam also gigs regularly with the award winning roots trio The Sweet Lowdown, as well as Victoria’s progressive acoustic outfit The Unfaithful Servants. Jeff has been a member of Riverside Bluegrass Band, and played with various Victoria bands including The Yiddish Columbia State Orchestra. Both have taught at camps in and around BC, including Vancouver Island Music Workshop,  Nimblefingers Bluegrass & Old Time Workshop, and Mountain Fever Bluegrass Camp.

With a tight vocal blend on classic duets of love and longing, heartfelt songwriting and compelling fiddle tunes old and new, Old Paint Duo delivers a warm and inviting sound, borne of a deep love of traditional music and contemporary story telling.