Two masters take the Freight stage, electric guitars in hand, for an exciting collaboration guaranteed to take old-time straight over the edge! Master of free improvisation, Henry Kaiser joins flatpicking maestro Eric Thompson for an evening of eclectic old-time roots music with an eccentric, innovative twist. Lots of blues, mountain music stretching from Appalachia to Puerto Rico (maybe even a detour to Greece), and other selections from Eric's repertoire meet Henry's avant garde sensibilities, chaperoned by Damon Smith on string bass, John Hanes on drums, and Danielle DeGruttolla on electric cello.

One of the most versatile figures in the Bay Area traditional music scene, Eric has spent the past four decades exploring bluegrass, old-time, Irish ceili, Cajun, blues, and jibaro music, all with equal inventive zeal: the Blue Flame Stringband, the California Cajun Orchestra, Aux Cajunals, the Bluegrass Intentions, and Thompson's String Ticklers are some of his most popular ensembles.

Widely recognized as one of the most innovative guitarists around, Henry has developed a unique style from an uncommonly varied range of influences, including traditional blues, East Asian, Classical North Indian and Hawaiian music, free jazz, and 20th century classical. He's also an amazingly diverse collaborator who's worked with folks from David Lindley to Michael Stipe, Ryuichi Sakamoto to Freddie Roulette -- and just about everyone else in between.