Video Premiere: “Old Hen Cackled” by Red Yarn — Traditional Kids Music

Americana Highways brings you this video premiere of “Old Hen Cackled” just in time for National Teacher Appreciation Week.  The song is also part of the album Red Yarn’s Old Barn, which was co-produced by Red Yarn (Andy Furgeson), Dean Jones & Adam Selzer; and recorded primarily at No Parking Studios in Rosendale, NY & Type Foundry Studio in Portland, OR. “Old Hen Cackled” is Andy Furgeson (Red Yarn) guitars and vocals, Dean Jones on percussion, electronics, and vocals; and Jessie Eller-Isaacs on vocals.

The video was produced by Red Yarn & Brave Alice Productions, directed, shot & edited by Kristen Mico and stars Henrietta the Hen as herself & Andy Furgeson as Red Yarn.

It’s always good to stand up for what’s right, and that’s what this video is all about.  The “Old Hen Cackled” when there was something important to stand for, as should we all. In addition, if you have children in your life and are seeking palatable kids’ music for all ages, the music and grooves on Red Yarn’s album in general, and this song in particular, are rich and layered with a hypnotic rhythm.

“Old Hen Cackled” is a traditional folk song that I adapted in the summer of 2017 after the racist rallies in Charlottesville, VA & the president’s appalling response. I decided that the old hen needed to be an activist, cackling all the way from the farm to the White House. For the music video, I enlisted a badass Portland filmmaker, Kristen Mico, who runs her own film production company (Brave Alice Productions) focusing on social justice, education & activism. We drew inspiration from the life of Dorothy Height, an unsung heroine of the Civil Rights Movement, as we created a story about Henrietta the Hen facing injustice on Red Yarn’s farm and leading the other critters to stand up for themselves. For the culminating scene, we organized an activism event for Portland families in which children created protest signs & chants, wrote postcards to elected officials, learned from local community leaders, and marched for their beliefs. — Andy Furgeson, aka Red Yarn

Red Yarn’s Old Barn is available on CD, LP & digitally at www.redyarn.bandcamp.com. For more stories & songs from Red Yarn’s Old Barn, visit www.redyarnproductions.com.

Puppetry is by Faerin Millington, Kelly Campbell, Summer Olsson, Matthew Stowers, Candace Lazarus, Ryan Bruce, Robert Randall & Andy Furgeson. Art, props, costumes & sets are by Faerin Millington, Ryan Bruce & Candace Lazarus. Chickie puppets are by Faerin Millington, Kelly Campbell, Summer Olsson, Candace Lazarus & Andy Furgeson, with creative consultation by Candace Lazarus, Jahmal Landers, Aaron Nigel-Smith & Ashli Christoval.