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Farnum Family

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Farnum Family

Genres: Bluegrass, Folk, Gospel, Irish, Old-Time and Western
Specialty: Banjo, Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Upright Bass, Piano and Penny Whistle

From Galena, Missouri, is a six-piece family band that plays a lively blend of bluegrass, folk, gospel, Irish, novelty and old-time western music. They love to perform tunes that will have you tapping your foot and singing right along, or take you down memory lane. And a few songs may make you laugh out loud!

Norm and Trish − on banjo, guitar, piano and penny whistle − have performed in the Branson area and around the country for many years. Now performing as a full family band with their four oldest children − Daniel, Benjamin, Hannah and Nathaniel, on upright bass, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, fiddle, bodhran, washboard and singing, plus their two youngest, Maggie and Matthew, fiddle and singing − they present a masterful blend of music, with a splash of humor.

Norm is the bandleader, but he also picks the five-string banjo and rhythm guitar, sings lead and harmony vocals, and has over 35 years of stage experience. His credits include five seasons at Silver Dollar City, three at the Roy Clark Theatre and seven aboard the Lake Queen Paddle Wheeler.

Trish is the pianist for the group and is featured on lead and harmony vocals. She also plays penny whistle. She grew up playing music in church, for recitals, school concerts and 4-H programs. In 1987, she first performed in Branson for the Vaudeville Show at Shepherd of the Hills. She later joined Norm as a duet on his Lake Queen cruises.

Since forming their band in 2004, they have played venues in 15 states, besides Missouri. They have appeared at the Silver Dollar City Bluegrass Festival in Branson every year since 2006. They have made three appearances at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. The family won a scholarship enabling them to appear at the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in Midlothian in 2009 and 2011.