Biography

For eighteen years, Great Bear set the standard and pushed the boundaries of modern contra dance music. They are known all over North America for their epic dynamics, genre-transcending arrangements and deep dance grooves. Andrew VanNorstrand (guitars and fiddle), Noah VanNorstrand (fiddle, mandolin and feet) and Kim “Mama Bear” Yerton (piano) began playing for dances in the early 2000s. They recorded two albums as The Great Bear Trio before officially expanding the band to include Chris Miller (saxophone and banjo), Rebecca Bosworth-Clemens (clarinet) and Dana Billings (drums). From 2010-2015 they hosted their own dance and music festival in upstate New York called The Groove. Their label, Great Bear Records, also features releases by Andrew & Noah VanNorstrand, The Faux Paws, Wake Up Robin, Buddy System and more.