The Band History

We kept finding our band members visiting, performing or picking at the same vintage acoustic American music scenes in venues, festivals and living rooms. So over a steaming kettle on an Oolong road, we met again and it was decidedly time to share our cup full of acoustic American roots and original music. We share a deep love for this music, and a serious cup of tea now and then. So the story goes...

Traditional and Original Music

Their traditional music is gathered from the rural roots of Bluegrass, from states including Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Texas, North & South Carolina, Oregon, Washington, California & Tennessee. They collect from living, recorded and printed resources.

The band features harmony singing & a variety of traditional instrumentation. Their repertoire includes original songs and 20's and 30's gems: crooked Appalachian fiddle tunes, old-time country blues, songs of the Carter Family, old-time Gospel, and a few from a new cup. The band's two original songwriters capture the essence of home in California and lost love anywhere.

Two of us also write original songs. Laura is a prolific songwriter whose songs range from scenic country to folk, from waltzes to rhythmic pieces. Searle writes songs of love and heartbreak in the traditional manner. The Tea Sippers also choose selected songs from a newer tea-bag of songwriters.

The Band Name

Honestly, we've all been in hot water at one time or another, & we professionally profess that adding a tea bag or spoonful of choice tea leaves to the brew improves the likelihood of survival. Members of this band have replaced as much as 96% of the water in their bodies with tea.

We had to add the "West County" to our name to distinguish ourselves from all those other professional tea sipper bands in East County. They know who they are; we don't, but we know who we are and where we come from... Berkeley and Sebastopol, California. "The Tea Sippers!"