After 28 years of playing together, and nearly 2,000 performances, Dave Fox has decided to step away from performing due to health issues.
Fox & Branch’s last performance was at the Matheson Memorial Library in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Fox and Branch are both deeply grateful to have been able to perform together for so long, and to have had such an appreciative audience over so many years.
Will Branch will continue to perform concerts for families in the tradition of the duo. He can be contacted at rbranchwilliam@gmail.com or at 414 617 2138.
The booking form on this site will continue to be operational, as well.
Dave Fox and Will Branch started playing music together in 1997. They would visit each other’s homes and at first Will was learning guitar arrangements from Dave. That grew into Will accompanying Dave on the many fiddle tunes that Dave knew. This musical relationship developed into a duo that had a wide repertoire of fiddle tunes, blues songs and other American roots material, performed on guitars, fiddle, washboard and banjo.
Around the year 2000, Fox & Branch began performing for children and families, mainly at public libraries in the region. Over the years they recorded a number of albums for families and expanded their touring region to include most of the Midwest as well as Boston, New York City, and southern Louisiana. They performed at major festivals like The Winnipeg Folk Festival and crowd-sourced a tour of Ireland and the UK.
Fox & Branch won many awards over the years, including 5 Parent’s Choice Recommended Awards for their recordings for families. They were proud to be named one of the “50 Reasons to Love Milwaukee” in 2015 by Milwaukee magazine.
In 2007, Fox & Branch began a tradition of playing free concerts once a month at Anodyne Coffee in Milwaukee. The first monthly concerts were at the Bay View location, but eventually moved to the larger Walker’s Point location. These concerts became a favorite gig for Dave and Will, as they watched generations of children grow up attending multiple concerts.
Fox & Branch are masters of family-centric, audience-participation shows.
Amidst the pop-rock focus of most modern kids music, I appreciate those artists like Fox & Branch who've maintained their interest in the folk tradition. They're one of the best practitioners in the field right now...
Although their albums are great, Fox & Branch's drawing card is their interactive, informative, and entertaining live show, so make sure to catch them in concert if possible!
Yes, Fox & Branch can work a (romper) room, and are masters of family-centric, audience-participation shows. But the kids won't be the only ones smiling.
Fox and Branch have shared their talents with kids at each of our four sessions of Day camp and every time it was a huge hit. Their concerts are so dynamic and engaging, and the kids absolutely loved it! Will and Dave never disappointed; their music and presentation is very accessible for the kids, and their positive energy, humor and talents were gifts to our participants and Day Camp program.
I don't know how you managed to engage such a diverse group of kids and elders, but it was obvious that they were having the time of their lives...It felt like the Pied Piper had come to Milwaukee!
Fox and Branch are bringing folk music to a new generation. And while we know that kids can be fussy-they LOVE Fox and Branch!
All of you who still hold fond memories of the Jerry Garcia / David Grisman CD Not For Kids Only, pay attention. Did You Hear That? (2007) is that album's sequel. What I mean is that the spirit of that first CD is continued here - genial renditions of folk classics, smartly rendered.
The skilled musicianship is evident in the performances on the guitar, fiddle, washboard, and banjo; the fun sings through loud and clear.
Fox and Branch are the best kind of musicians - making everything they play their own...
Fox and Branch gave 4 different performances in Manistique, each program perfectly tailored to the students attending. I particularly noticed certain students who normally would not like ‘this kind of thing’ having a GREAT time. Dave and Will are excellent at engaging kids, wonderful musicians, and they are very organized and on time – great to work with!!
