Sarah Hawker was a winner in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest 2004. Her song "Forgiveness" won 1st place in the Country category. This song is out on a CD, The Lonesome Sisters with Riley Baugus. Sarah's song "Going Home Shoes" was included in the Fall 2004 Sing Out! magazine and compilation CD, with her music and lyrics printed inside. Sarah learned about traditional Appalachian singing from her aunt Ginny Hawker, her uncle Tracy Schwarz, and her grandfather, Ben Hawker. Ben was recorded by the Smithsonian as one of the last of an era of Primitive Baptist singers. Sarah plays guitar and sings in The Lonesome Sisters. She lives in the New York City area.

Debra Clifford has been playing in bluegrass, country & swing bands for years, and active in the Upstate and Ithaca contra dance & Old Time scene. She also performs with Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz. Debra has played with Rounder artist Mac Benford & John Hoffmann, and has recorded a CD with the Joe Thrift old time string band jimmyjohnnnyjoe. She plays guitar, mandolin, banjo and sings in The Lonesome Sisters. She lives in Woodstock, NY.

The Lonesome Sisters second CD was recorded and co-produced with Riley Baugus, old time fiddle, banjo, and guitar player from the Red Hots, and singing performer on the soundtrack and Cold Mountain movie tour. This CD also features June Drucker playing acoustic bass, adding her beautiful, sensitive trademark bass sound.

Their first CD, The Lonesome Sisters, features the traditional lonesome acoustic sounds and harmonies of Sarah Hawker and Debra Clifford, with help by Chad Crumm on fiddle, and Rose Sinclair on Clawhammer banjo. With sparse instrumentation and strong, distinctive harmonies, they let the songs speak for themselves. From the Stanley Brothers, to the acappella sounds of gospel and unaccompanied Appalachian ballads, to their own traditonally based country original pieces, the Lonesome Sisters honor all those who came before them.

Since they began in 2003, The Lonesome Sisters have performed at The Black Creek Fiddlers Reunion, The Great Blue Heron Festival, The Turtle Hill Folk Festival, Grassroots Festivals in NY & NC, played with Jesse Winchester, The Levon Helm Band, as well as the Kaufman Center, Merkin Hall in NYC with Hazel Dickens, Laurie Lewis, Dudley Connell, Marshall Wilborn, Tony Trischka, and Barry Mitterhoff. At Merlefest 2004 they performed and won best country song in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest for Sarah's song, "Forgiveness." There were 894 entries. They have recorded two CD's on their own record label, Tin Halo Music. They are represented by Maria Camillo Booking. To view their current touring schedule, click here.

The Lonesome Sisters

The Lonesome Sisters w/ Riley Baugus