Galena, in southern Missouri, holds a special place in our hearts. Though neither of us, Maddy and Ella Zuellig of Needle and Thread, grew up in Missouri, Galena is where we fell in love with old-time music and discovered what it truly meant to us. Much of that discovery is thanks to Kim Lansford, who welcomed us into the Ozark tradition with open arms and boundless generosity. Kim was more than a mentor; she was a dear friend and a guiding star in our musical journey, someone we will always look up to.

When Kim passed, she left us her beloved 1934 Gibson L-00, the guitar you’ll hear throughout this album. We play it with deep respect for the traditions she embodied and the stories she shared. Kim taught us to play and sing from the heart, and to cherish the community that blossoms around this music.

The house featured on the album cover is where Kim lived for many years. It was a gathering place for musicians, friends, and neighbors, a hub filled with the sound of tunes, laughter, and the comfort of ham and bean soup. If you lived anywhere nearby, you knew you’d be welcomed in for a meal and a song. With this album, we hope to honor not only Kim’s remarkable contributions to old-time music and to our own lives, but also the warmth and inclusivity she infused into every gathering.

Kim’s kindness, wisdom, and love of music have left a lasting imprint on us. This album is a tribute to her legacy, a way to carry forward the traditions she so passionately shared. While this is only a snapshot in time, it is one that holds many memories not just of Kim, but of the entire old-time community that has shaped us since we were wee young fiddlers. We hope, wherever Kim may be, she is resting peacefully with her beloved Jim as she listens and smiles her ever-humble grin.

There are many people to thank for bringing this project to life. Our deepest gratitude goes first to our dad, who introduced us to old-time music, encouraged us through every high and low, and always believed in the music we could create. He was the starting line of this journey, surrounding us with instruments and letting music find us in its own time. Thank you also to our lovely mom, our number one supporter on and off stage, who never stopped believing in us and always inspired us to be ourselves.

Another big thanks to Clara Delfina. The one who taught us to sing harmonies and make jokes at the same time. The one that inspired a deep passion for old-time music, and how special it was that we were sisters who wanted to sing together. She graciously let us record Mayday, the 9th track on this album. Thank you, Clara. 

A big thanks to Joe Bass, our recorder and producer of this album, for giving us the reins to do what felt right and creating such a masterful time capsule of our music. A big thanks to Aviva Pilgrim for creating the amazing block print on the front of the album.  And thank you for listening to and cherishing these songs.  

Finally, we thank everyone who has played music with us over the years, too many to name, but most notable are Nathan Lee McAlister, David Scrivner Hawkin and Emily Boldman, the Fort Collins old-time community, anyone who attended CROMA, Howard Raines and Trisha Spencer, Erynn Marshall, and of course, Kim Lansford.

Thank you Kim.