WhistlePig to perform at Meridian Park Barter event Nov 13

WhistlePig with Elena DeLisle-Perry, Steve Perry, and Brian Peterka

Local band featured at City Hall Barter on November 13th, 6-8pm on 3rd floor

By Cynthia Knox

Elena Delisle-Perry is one third of WhistlePig, a trio of musicians playing old-time and jugband music at the upcoming Meridian Park Neighborhood Barter. WhistlePig sings three part harmony accompanied by guitar, banjo, and harmonica. Elena plays guitar and the band's two other members are local Brian Peterka on harmonica and guitar, and new member Adam Price on banjo.

Elena is well versed in many types of music. She started writing poetry and songs in high school, accompanying herself on guitar, as a way of dealing with her mother's death. Her influences were disparate then: The Grateful Dead, Louis Armstrong, and the Talking Heads. In college she studied jazz, and, after attending a summer festival in Central California where she met Kenny Hall, Eric and Suzy Thompson and others, relentlessly began pursuing Old Time, Bluegrass, Jugband music and more. Jugband music began in the 1920's with blues musicians that couldn't afford traditional instruments. Old-Time Music came from the mountains and features a repetitive fiddle and banjo tune suitable for square dancing. Bluegrass music features mandolin or fiddle and tight harmony singing. Elena loves it all!

Paul Anastasio and Elena DeLisle play
at Summer 2012 barter event at city hall

In addition to performing in WhistlePig, Elena is a mom of two children.  Elena is dedicated to children having music to enrich their lives.  She runs "Shoreline Music Together" for kids aged 0-5 at the Spartan Rec Center, leads the after school music program at Cascade K-8 in the Meridian Park Neighborhood, teaches preschool music at St. Mark's Cathedral, teaches with the “Rising Stars” singing camp and performs at children's birthday parties. She also teaches private lessons to kids of all ages on guitar and piano.

When asked why she would bring WhistlePig to the neighborhood barter event, she said “I love being part of an active community and love the idea of bartering – I think it's the wave of the future!”. At the November 13th Barter event WhistlePig will perform songs from The Memphis Jugband, Kenny Hall, the Holy Modal Rounders and more. The event takes place in Shoreline City Hall on the 3rd floor from 6-8pm. For more information about WhistlePig contact Elena or see her website. For more information about the barter contact Naomi.