The Spring Chickens

The Spring Chickens are a volcanic old time stringband duo based in Vermont. They play hard-driving traditional Appalachian tunes and songs that’ll make you want to hop up and dance!

Jenny Monfore’s go-get-em fiddling and banjo style come from years of rambling around the US playing at regional gatherings and jamming with local musicians. Chris Hollis’ rhythm guitar lays down a solid foundation for the Chickens’ dynamic groove. Their music is a great fit for weddings, dances, small festivals and events. Have a listen to their bandcamp album!

The Spring Chickens have played for dances around the country including Seattle, Portland, Washington DC, Atlanta and Asheville. They’ve ventured to great old time gatherings across the US including Clifftop, Mt. Airy, Fiddle Tunes, the Portland Old Time Gathering, Weiser, the Alaska Folk Fest, Black Pot Camp, and many smaller regional festivals over the years.

Jenny also teaches private in-person old time fiddle and clawhammer banjo lessons in Montpelier.

If you are interested in booking the Spring Chickens for an event or scheduling a lesson, please get in touch!

Upcoming Shows

May 9: Pointe Noir Cajun Band (Chris) + Jenny calling a square dance @ Hardwick American Legion Hardwick, VT. 7:30-11 pm

May 10: Woodbelly Pizza grand re-opening. Montpelier, VT. 5-7 pm

May 11: Mother’s Day tunes @ Silloway Maple Sugarhouse. Randolph, VT. 12-3 pm

May 17: Walker Farm plant sale (Dummerston, VT). 12-2 pm

May 30-June 1: Pointe Noir Cajun Band (Chris) + Jenny teaches workshops @ Old Time Workshop Weekend (Cabot, VT)

June 7: Private wedding. Greensboro, VT

June 12: Woodbelly Pizza. Montpelier, VT. 5:30-7:30 pm

June 14: Private birthday party. Guildhall, VT

June 15: Midcoast Maine community square dance party (Jenny + friends). Montville, Maine. 4-6 pm

June 21: Crossmolina Farm pizza night. Corinth, VT. 6-8 pm

June 22: Flying Dog Farm burger night. Tunbridge, VT. 4-7 pm

July 18-20: Old Time on the Onion festival (Jenny teaches a workshop). Cabot, VT

July 23: Two Heroes Brewery. South Hero, VT. 6-8 pm

July 24: Pointe Noir Cajun Band (Chris) @ Waterbury bandstand. Waterbury, VT. 6-8:30 pm

July 25: Pointe Noir Cajun Band (Chris) @ Camp Meade. Middlesex, VT

July 26-Aug 1: CLIFFTOP!! Jenny’s going! West Virginia

Aug 7: Skinny Pancake. Montpelier, VT. 6-8 pm

Aug 15: Square dance (Jenny + Ithaca folks) @ Stone Bend Farm. Ithaca, New York. 7 pm

Aug 22: Lunchtime concert in the park @ Burlington City Arts. Burlington, VT. 12:30-1:30 pm

Aug 22: Chicken dinner @ Maple Wind Farm. Richmond, VT. 5-7 pm

Aug 23: Benefit dinner @ Salvation Farms (Jenny + Tyson from Boston). Wolcott, VT. 6-7:30 pm

Aug 23: Pointe Noir Cajun Band (Chris) @ Barnard Street Dance. Barnard, VT

Aug 29: Private wedding. Grand Isle, VT

Sept 15: Monday night square dance (Jenny + midwestern friends) @ Eagles Club. Minneapolis, MN. 7-10 pm

Sept 27: Shelburne Orchards. Shelburne, VT. 3-5 pm

Oct 4: Champlain Orchards. Shoreham, VT. 1-4 pm

Oct 13-25: Jenny east coast dance tour with Larry Unger!! Sign up for Jenny’s old time newsletter (bottom of our main homepage) for updates or follow on Instagram.

Nov 18: Square dance with Larry Unger. Sommerville, Massachusetts. 7-10 pm

Nov 28: Queen City Contra dance. Shelburne, VT. 7-10 pm

"Jenny & Chris, aka the Spring Chickens, are first and foremost, amazingly talented musicians. We booked the Spring Chickens to add some live music to our fall of 2024 wedding celebration and we couldn’t be more pleased with that decision. They were prompt, professional, and flexible throughout our planning process and the folk tunes they played throughout the evening were a major highlight for us and our guests. We wouldn’t hesitate to book them again for a party or celebration to help create the perfect Vermont folk music vibes!”

-James & Cassandra