The Snarlin’ Yarns played at KWCR inside the Shepherd Union Building on Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m. for the second “In the Fishbowl” event.
The band filled the hallways with an eclectic mix of bluegrass, punk, country and poetic tunes. The crowd gathered outside the station to dance and have a good time. Some wore oceanic costumes and swimming gear, pretending to swim outside the station.
“They are Snarlin’! I think they have a very folksy alternative vibe to it. It’s pretty cool,” Yvonne Camus, station manager for KWCR, said.
The Snarlin’ Yarns are Mara Brown (fiddle, vocals), Jason Barrett-Fox (banjo, vocals), William Pollett (guitar, vocals), Tommy Dolph (guitar, ukelele, vocals) and Ryan Ridge (bass, vocals), who was not present at this mini-concert.
“It had been a long time since I really played in a group … so it was really a phenomenal experience, the kind that we would probably practice three to five hours at a time,” Brown said. “Our first album is called ‘Break Your Heart.’ It really was that feeling. I think we all collectively had that feeling together, which was really inspiring … we were doing something we felt was really special and magic together, that synergy that we had.”
The band is composed of several Weber State University professors, so they work together not only as colleagues but as band members.
“I think we’re inspired by each other, and that also is not competitive, but it’s exciting and it’s aspirational,” Dolph said. “When somebody makes a new song, then you want to go back and make one, too.”
Their last album, “It Never Ends,” came out in 2023.
“It was a party and a pandemic all in one. We were practicing in 30-degree weather here in Utah to go down to Mississippi and record,” William Pollett, a WSU English professor, said.
The Snarlin’ Yarns have upcoming performances at Red Butte Garden for eight fall and winter shows. They will also play at Funk ‘n Dive Bar, Happy Magpie Book & Quill and The Local Artisan Collective — all in downtown Ogden.
“Come and see one of our live shows. It’s a different experience every time. And be on the lookout because late this spring or early summer, we’re going to be both hopefully touring around a little bit nationally, but also going to put out our new record, which will be called The Remedy,” Dolph said.
The Yarns’ albums can be found at Lavender Vinyl, Graywhale Entertainment, Ranch Records, The Heavy Metal Shop and on their website.
“It’s awesome to have four songwriters trading back and forth. It really feeds the soul … It makes us do our best. We’re always trying to keep adding and adding and keep doing more. It’s great,” Barrett-Fox said.
Keep up to date with the Snarlin’ Yarns through Instagram @thesnarlinyarns. The next “In the Fishbowl” event is scheduled for Oct. 11.
