Conversations with Kenny Walker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenny Walker

Hi Kenny, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Everything began when my friend, Abbi Best, brought up the idea of starting a gigging group back in June of 2023. I was on board, so we wasted no time getting logistics figured out. We went to our local Starbucks and sifted through every possible detail we could need. About a month went by and our availabilities weren’t lining up, so getting gigs didn’t happen. Eventually Abbi moved to Indiana for college, and what was going to be a grand group, never came to fruition, until August, when I found a post on Facebook advertising for BarnFest in Rose City. I asked some friends if they were down to perform for this free gig, and they were on board. Our group started out with I, Kenny Walker, the Ringstrom siblings Avery & Sam, and Maggie Fisher. We performed for BarnFest, and it was at that event we officially announced ourselves as Fellowship of the String. From then on we played at local establishments such as Carolina’s Low Country Kitchen in East Grand Rapids, and Johnny’s Pizza King in Cutlerville. We went on a lengthy hiatus between January and August of 2024, due to busy work and school schedules. We finally regained some footing by performing at birthday parties, and returning to BarnFest. Currently I, Kenny Walker, and Maggie Fisher are still playing for FOTS, but we’ve gained some new players: Dylan Gresley on Bass, both acoustic & electric, Braedyn MacKeller on Viola, and William Gavin on Cello. Our current lineup consists of a wedding in mid-October, a birthday in January, and we are currently booking for the holiday season. It’s been a crazy year of trial and error but I believe FOTS is finally in a good spot to continue moving forward.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges we’ve had to face is the difficulty of getting five people to be free at the same time. We all live crazy, busy lives that don’t blend together well when we need to find time for rehearsals. It’s easy to take a day off of work for a gig, but once we try to sit down and find rehearsal time where we’re all available, it gets messy. Another pretty cliché issue that we’ve run into as musicians, is just getting booked. Most of the gigs we’ve taken so far have been for family, family friends, coworkers, etc. People that we’re close to really. Finding gigs is hard, but I think that one of the things stopping us, is that people aren’t finding us. I feel that there’s a two way finding that has to happen for a gig to get booked, and right now there’s only one way for us. The hope is that social media and advertisements will get us more traction so we can get noticed more easily.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
All but one of us are currently college students. We live busy lives with school, work, music, and of course making time for friends, family and hobbies. All but one of us are studying Music Education, and so we plan to teach music after college. Our reputations have been built on music and so that’s kind of our thing. It’s great being able to have a talented group of musicians together and play just because we love it so much. We’re very proud of the group in general. FOTS is more than just a string quintet or a band, it’s an incredibly fun and talented group of social, and likeable people. Everyone that’s been a part of the group brings an exciting energy to each rehearsal and we always share plenty of laughs while working hard. What sets FOTS apart from other groups is that we will literally play anything, for anything. If you want punk music at your birthday, we’ll do it. If you want us to play Chappell Roan’s Hot To Go at your wedding, we’ll do it. FOTS knows no bounds when it comes to genre or venue. We also take a very interpretive approach to the music we play. If a piece of music is supposed to feel a certain emotion, we move and play with that emotion. We don’t bound ourselves with strict articulation or bowings, etc. aside from classical music. A lot of groups bring a classical approach to their music, even outside of classical pieces, but we play our music with a lot of character that you don’t typically see or hear.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to us, is that we just get to play, and that we get to play for people. When we get a gig booked, we’re not excited because we’re getting paid, we’re excited because we get to play and we get to play for people. The claps, the smiles, the tears, that’s why we play. We play to make people feel things and that’s what matters most to us. Bringing music to people’s porches, living rooms, event centers, etc. Making people feel our music and hearing their excitement, that’s what gets us going. The money is just a bonus. Don’t get me wrong, we love money, but we love music a lot more.

Contact Info:

• Website: Coming Soon…
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fots_mi/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzeiOtzxbgjNN8e82kA_peQ