Photo courtesy of Live On Stage, Inc. The Mifflin-Juniata Concert Association and Live On Stage, Inc. will present the Waddington Brothers at Mifflin County High School on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

LEWISTOWN — A band of four brothers from rural North Dakota, the Waddington Brothers, have been playing music that is real to them for almost two decades.

Taking listeners on a journey through the heart of the American West, Seth, Ethan, Jacob and Job Waddington skillfully blend cowboy and bluegrass music, creating a style that is timelessly classic yet refreshingly new and unique.

With their rich, stirring vocal harmonies and instrumental versatility that ranges from hard-driving bluegrass to more mellow acoustic tones, this quarter has developed a sound that is truly as strong as it is special.

And their gift for captivating an audience comes naturally to these men. Whether they’re singing about cowboys or cabins, hunting or horseback riding, ranches or Indian reservations, the Waddington Brothers share heartfelt songs that evoke feelings of warmth, appreciation and a genuine connection to the way life was lived by American pioneers.

Their rich, stirring harmonies and instrumental versatility bring familiar favorites like “Old Home Town,” “Less Traveled Road” and “Red River Valley” to life in a way that is entertaining and engaging for audiences of all ages.

The ensemble has a unique musical style that mixes traditional bluegrass music with classic Western music made famous by artists such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers.

The quartet won the 2023 International Bluegrass Band Championship, which is the premier bluegrass competition for acoustic ensembles. The contest is hosted each year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America at its annual convention in Nashville.

This group of siblings shares their music as a well-polished craft: one they’ve cultivated by playing and singing together their entire lives. While they’ve been performing together since 2004, the band officially came together in 2019.

Their musical inspiration is drawn from many pools of influences. Their sound might be described as a mixture of traditional bluegrass, gospel music and Western strains reminiscent of The Sons of the Pioneers.

Even more accurately, though, critics describe it as something brand new — something powerfully different — a breath of fresh air to their audiences, that could only be created by four brothers with such an authentic synergy and blend.

Presented by the Mifflin-Juniata Concert Association and Live On Stage, Inc., the Waddington Brothers will perform at iconic bluegrass and Western with jaw-dropping authenticity at Mifflin County High School, 501 Sixth St., Lewistown, on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The band has performed alongside bluegrass greats the Kruger Brothers, Ron Block and Bobby Hicks. The siblings have also performed at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo., on public radio programs and at the inaugural ball for the North Dakota governor.

Seth Waddington plays guitar for the band, while sibling Jacob plays mandolin, Ethan is on banjo and Job has mastered upright bass. All four brothers sing and their harmonies have proven to be a marvelous blend of bluegrass and Western traditions.

As the brothers stress the importance of family, and how much it has meant to them in their musical and personal lives. At a 2024 performance in Bismarck, N.D., the first song they sang, “The Arena,” even had a family tie with it.

“I can remember Uncle Mark singing that when I was a boy,” recalled Seth, sharing a family story with reporters that night, “and always loving it. So it’s a real honor to be able to have a song like that.”

The group of brothers has a sound that is rooted in traditional bluegrass. In fact, their roots go so deep that even the instruments they play are older than them. Their instruments might be a hundred years old, but this young group hopes to bring listeners back to a place when music proves more than just entertainment.

Single tickets for this performance will be available at the door on the night of the performance for $30.

For more information, call (717) 994-4535 or visit www.mjconcerts.org.