Gypsy Twang

Gypsy Twang was established in May of 2009. Husband and wife Steve and Sarah Huhn had both done a few other things musically, but had always wanted to form a band together. We rounded up a couple of friends to play a gig with us, and the next thing we knew we were booking more dates and thinking up a name for the band ("Gypsy Twang" is a nod to both Bob Childers and Country & Western music).

Our unique brand of music includes original, traditional, singer/songwriter, and vintage country tunes.  As we've progressed, we have found ourselves leaning more and more towards original tunes penned by John and Sarah as well as dipping in to our traditional country and Red Dirt roots.  Steve's dad was a boogie-woogie piano player, and often invited friends to their home for jam sessions.  His taste ran to jazz and standards, so that's the music Steve grew up with.  Sarah's dad, on the other hand, wasn't a musician himself.  But he loved music, and passed along his love of Country and Western music to her from an early age.  John is one of the best songwriters on the Red Dirt scene, and has a heart for traditional country as well.  Frenchie plays all over the place, and we consider ourselves lucky to be part of his band family!

Today, we perform Sarah's and John's original songs, tunes written by fellow Okies, country keepsakes, alt-country, Americana, traditional and folk songs.  Current band members include Sarah Barker Huhn on lead vocals and guitar, Steve Huhn on upright bass, John Williams on vocals, guitar, harmonica and Kurt “Frenchie” Nielsen on mandolin and tenor guitar.  

Come out and Hang with the Twang sometime soon.  We'd love to see your smiling face!

Sarah Barker Huhn is an Oklahoma-born musician who makes her home in Tulsa.  She fronts the band Gypsy Twang, which includes her husband Steve Huhn on upright bass, legendary Red Dirt harmonica player, musician and songwriter John Williams, and Kurt “Frenchie” Nielsen on mandolin and tenor guitar.  John and Sarah both sing, play and write Okie songs with Gypsy soul, drawing upon their respective family backgrounds and small town roots.  

A bit of a late bloomer, she bought her first guitar at the age of forty, started writing songs right away and found a home in the Oklahoma music community.  These days you’re just as likely to find her with a camera in her hands, capturing photos of musicians and events around the state.  

Sarah has been attending the Woody Guthrie festival since its second year, and thinks of the annual festival as a family reunion.  She is both honored and humbled to be counted among the Women of Woodyfest, and committed to carrying on Woody’s tradition of songs for the common man.

John Williams is perhaps best known in Red Dirt circles for his scorching blues harmonica skills.  He taught himself to play aboard a Navy destroyer ship many moons ago and is a sought-after session harp player as well as playing live with several bands through the years up to the present.

John is also one of the most talented songwriters on the current scene in Oklahoma.  Look for deeply personal, thoughtful, and intelligent lyrics delivered with a conversational tone in a way even a child could understand.  Listen for well-placed, melodious bridges and clever turns of phrase.  John writes songs about his Oklahoma roots, his family, and his general point of view regarding the state of the world. 

Williams has played shoulder to shoulder with a number of Red Dirt pioneers, honing his craft along the way.  A multi-instrumentalist, he plays harmonica, guitar, mandolin, upright bass and jaw harp! He played locally and traveled the country with fiddle player Wes Gasaway, whose dad was one of Bob Wills Texas Playboys.  He was also in a legendary Okie band called Double Not Spyz.  Tom Skinner was their bass player!

These days, you’ll find John playing occasional solo gigs, as well as sitting in with anyone lucky enough to have him on harp and doing studio work. 

Steve Huhn plays a 1939 Kay upright bass in Gypsy Twang.  Steve's bass playing is the heartbeat of Gypsy Twang. Well-versed in music theory, he never bats an eye when we decide to change keys, has a savvy ear for arrangements and can 'Nashville chart' a song like nobody's business!  Steve is as rock steady as the soulful beat he keeps on the bass.  He is our foundation, and without him there would be no band. 

You can also find Steve keeping the beat on the upright bass in SpringStreet, a popular Bluegrass band.  You can find them on Facebook, as well as www.springstreetbluegrass.com.  Steve also plays bass for our brother band, Cowboy Jones.  Look them up on Facebook, and try to catch them playing.  If you've been to a Cowboy Jones show, you know they're a lot of fun!  In fact, all the guys in Gypsy Twang are also in Cowboy Jones.