Herb & Hanson have been working hard to substantiate themselves as a premiere act in the growing climate of acoustic roots music over the past four years. Recognition is growing from New York City to North Carolina and beyond through their non-stop touring and performing.

In 2000, Herb Manila (mandolin and guitar) and Michael Hanson (guitar) began performing at various open mics and smaller music venues. With a short list of original compositions, they leaned heavily on their various influences, ranging from The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, to Robert Johnson and Bill Monroe. In early 2001, they released their first record, self titled, showcasing ear opening examples of what this duo is capable of. Over time, their song writing and musicianship grew by leaps and bounds, creating a unique style that blends traditional stylings with their contemporary voices. Over the next few years, a small cult crowd turned into a loyal local following in the Washington DC area.

In 2005 the Duo decided to hit the road full time, constantly expanding their touring radius in the Mid Atlantic region. They released their second studio record, The Whiskey Fund, the following year. Showcasing their strong development, this album is undefinable in terms of genre. Rags, blues, bluegrass, ballads, folk rock...All can be found on this exhilarating record. Met with praise from fans and critics alike, The Whiskey Fund has continued to be played on acoustic music programs across the east cost.

In early 2011 they released their most exciting record yet, Awakeness. Full of all new original songs, their third studio effort clearly shows that Herb & Hanson are hitting their peak as song writers and story tellers.

They continue to take that talent on the road with relentless touring all along the east coast and beyond.

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Michael Hanson

Hanson plays guitar and sings a bunch of songs for Herb & Hanson. His interest in acoustic roots music began with the The Grateful Dead. That influence quickly lead him down the path of greats like Vassar Clements, Bill Monroe, John Hartford and Larry Keel. In his spare time, Hanson tries to write books, rides bikes all over Manhattan, and drinks too much coffee and beer.

Herb Manila

Herb plays the guitar, mandolin and also sings a bunch of songs for H&H. He started playing guitar at the age of 12, mandolin at 26, banjo at 28, ukulele at 30 and there are undoubtedly more to come. His musical tastes are all over the place. From Greensky Bluegrass to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole to Guns n Roses. When Herb isn't rocking out all over the east coast, he focuses his energies on organic produce, boycotts, and the finer (and not so finer...) beers in life.


Over Under Down Yonder

Herb & Hanson also play in the Northern Virginia area in a group called Over Under Down Yonder (OUDY). Well met in the affluent open-mic scene of the greater D.C. area, the four six-string players of Over Under Down Yonder exchanged three of four guitars for a banjo, mandolin, and upright bass to sing their favorite bluegrass tunes. Thus, they down-sized from a band total of 24 strings to 23. But the loss of one string is easily overlooked and forgotten when T-Peg (bass), Rollin' Ralph (banjo), Hobo Hanson (guitar), and Boxcar Herb (mandolin) start picking, hell-bent on getting down to the business of acoustic Americana merrymaking. Blending traditional tunes with contemporary love-loss, Over Under Down Yonder croon, whoop, harmonize, bleed, and stomp their way through train tunes, horse hymns, corn liquor lullabies, moonshine melodies, and Shenandoah shanties. Playing this country’s oldest music, the boys of OUDY take this oral tradition all the way down — down town