Video 1: Eloise & Co.: “Bottle This Stuff” Tune by Rachel Bell
Becky Tracy: fiddle, octave fiddle, vocals
Rachel Bell: accordion, piano, vocals
Video by Dylan Ladds: https://doosterfilm.com/
Filmed at Scott Farm Orchard. Enormous thanks to Scott Farm and the Stone Trust for sharing this magical place with us!
Video 2: Eloise & Co.: “We’re Not Broken” Tune by Rachel Bell
Becky Tracy, fiddle
Rachel Bell, accordion
Bethany Waickman, guitar
Video, audio recording, and mixing by Dylan Ladds
Filmed at Jared Flynn’s Moon Bridge on the grounds of Green Mountain Orchards, Putney, VT, on September 24, 2022.
This project is supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Community Foundation. Rachel shares, “Thanks to the Artist Development Grant for making it possible!”
Accordionist Rachel Bell is a versatile musician, sought after for concerts, contra dances, French BalFolk dances, English country dances, workshops, and festivals. Her playing spans an enormous range of emotion, from nuanced and sensitive to exhilarating and powerful, pushing the boundaries of what is expected from an accordion. “Bottle This” is their latest video.
Her group, Eloise & Co., features the combined creative force of two of the country’s most sought-after acoustic traditional musicians, Becky Tracy and Rachel Bell on accordion, piano, and vocals with Becky Tracy on fiddle, octave fiddle, and vocals.These two, sometimes playing as a duo and other times joined by one of several powerhouse backup players including Owen Morrison, Bethany Waickman, Rachel Aucoin, and Andrew VanNorstrand, crank out dance and concert music with unbridled energy and soaring beauty.
Rachel’s work is infused with a contagious enthusiasm for her instrument and a deep respect for the musical traditions she carries. She loves to create authentic connections with audiences everywhere—from packed, energized dance halls to small, intimate house concert settings. She is passionate about sharing with others the delight she finds in this music.
Excerpts from her website: Rachel draws her inspiration from Celtic, French, English, New England, and Quebecois traditions. She cranks out new material while deeply respecting and cherishing the melodies that have been around for hundreds of years. She thrives on ensemble projects—especially with her bands Eloise & Co., Peregrine Road, Alchemy, and Old World Charm School—and feels most alive when she’s exploring creative intersections and breathing life into tunes crafted with others. One of Rachel’s most fulfilling projects is a collaboration with choreographer Susan Kevra. Together, they are writing new dance and tune compositions for the English country dance repertoire, and they plan to publish a book and recording of these compositions.
Rachel and Becky sometimes playing as a duo and other times joined by one of several powerhouse backup players including Owen Morrison, Bethany Waickman, Rachel Aucoin, and Andrew VanNorstrand, crank out dance and concert music with unbridled energy and soaring beauty.
Originally thrown together at a gig where Becky led the contra dance portion of the evening and Rachel led the French dance part of the evening, they have continued to fuse these two elements into their concerts and dances, as well as adding songs and original compositions to the mix. Their first recording, “More, Please” was released in July of 2018, and as it name suggests, they are already dreaming of the next recording. Follow Eloise & Co. on Facebook.
Upcoming 2023 Gigs:
Sep 29 Fri.:Alchemy @ Adirondack Dance Weekend @ 6:00pm
Silver Bay, NY, United States
Oct. 5 Thu. Bal folk musicians’ workshop and dance w/Susan Kevra @ 6:30pm
Minneapolis, MN, United States
Oct. 6 Fri. English Country Dance Weekend w/Alchemy & Susan Kevra @ 7:00pm
Minneapolis, MN, United States
Oct. 13 Fri. Eloise & Co.: Harvest Moon Contra Dance Weekend @ 7:00pm
Santa Barbara, CA, United States
Oct. 19 Thu. Alchemy Yarmouth, ME concert @ 7:00pm
Walnut Hill, ME, United States
Oct. 20 Fri.. Alchemy Ellsworth, ME concert @ 1:00pm
Ellsworth, ME, United States
Oct. 21 Sat. Belfast Alchemy Concert @ 4:00pm
Belfast, ME, United States
Oct. 22 Sun. Alchemy Camden, ME concert @ 4:00pm
Camden, ME, United States
Tickets RSVP
Parlor Room bal folk tune workshop series: Learn a set of hanter dros @ 5:00pm
Northampton, MA, United States
Parlor Room Workshop: Piano Accordion-Learn a tune from Rachel’s book @ 7:00pm
Northampton, MA, United States
Oct. 26 Thu. Eloise & Co.: Double duo Boston house concert w/ Casey Murray & Molly Tucker @ 7:00pm
Cambridge, MA, United States
Oct. 27 Fri. Eloise & Co.: Double duo Peaks Island concert with Casey Murray & Molly Tucker @ 7:00pm
Peaks Island, ME, United States
Oct. 29 Sun. Eloise & Co.: Brattleboro Bal Folk @ 6:30pm
Guilford, VT, United States
For further information: Rachel@rachelbellmusic.com
