Faraway Fishtank

Fishtank Ensemble’s lead singer Ursula Knudson likes to play music at the edge of the world, whether that’s breaking out her violin in the rural pockets of Maine or twangin’ on her hand saw at the tip of the heel of the boot of Italy.

“I had this epiphany,” Knudson tells EW of playing in faraway and obscure places. “How much I love doing that more than playing in big cities.” She adds, “We’ve brought music to every nook and cranny, which I think is important to do.”

The edge of the world is not only a place that Knudson is seeking; it’s the name of Fishtank Ensemble’s upcoming album, to be released in 2013. “We’re working on a new album as we speak,” she says. The gypsy jazz band was expecting to have the follow-up to Women in Sin complete by the time they returned to Eugene March 19, but it felt rushed. “We decided we wanted to have the best album possible.”

On Edge of the World, there will be Greek and Turkish music — a geographical genre the band had yet to explore — as well as more original tunes. That is what Ensemble does best: melding the international with the homegrown, propelling both into a colorful, layered, frenetic and, most importantly, really fun world of music and dance. Listen for new sounds, like the plucking of the qanun (an Arabic stringed instrument shaped like a trapezoid) and the beat of the doumbek (a Turkish drum). And that’s in addition to the usual violins, hand saw, upright bass, banjolele and flamenco and gypsy jazz guitar.

Finding and arranging music, often found deeply nested in European folk traditions, is a journey and battle, Knudson explains. “That’s why we don’t come out with albums often,” she says. If it’s anything like their last album, it will be worth the wait.

Fishtank Ensemble plays with Mood Area 52 7 pm Tuesday, March 19, at WOW Hall; $12; and 8:30 pm Wednesday, March 20, at Axe & Fiddle;$7.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!