Minneapolis-based musicians Mother Banjo & Ben Cook-Feltz release their new holiday EP Christmas Came Early. The first formal duo project from the married songwriters, it was produced by Ben Cook-Feltz and recorded by Bob Burns of the Flamin' Oh's. The special collaboration features guest performances by their bandmates and friends, including Dan Gaarder (electric guitar), Andy Schuster (electric bass), Cole Mickelson (acoustic guitar), Eric Paulson (upright bass), Joe Olsen (drums), Sarah Morris (vocals) and Norah Rendell (Irish whistle). Ranging from rocking Americana tunes to haunting carols, the EP features lesser known holiday songs, including the African American spiritual "Go Where I Send Thee," the Mother Banjo original "Christmas Came Early" and a vibey treatment of traditional Irish tune "The Wexford Carol." TRACK LISTING: 1. Christmas Came Early © Ellen Stanley (So Low Songs/SESAC) Mother Banjo - Vocals, Banjo Ben Cook-Feltz - Vocals, Piano, Organ Dan Gaarder - Guitar Andy Schuster - Bass Joe Olsen - Drums Sarah Morris - Vocals 2. Pageantry and Poetry American Folk Tune (Public Domain) Lyrics by Katherine Wensberg Ben Cook-Feltz - Vocals, Piano Mother Banjo - Banjo Cole Mickelson - Guitar Eric Paulson - Bass Norah Rendell - Irish Whistle 3. The Wexford Carol Traditional Irish Carol (Public Domain) Mother Banjo - Vocals Ben Cook-Feltz - Vocals, Rhodes, Other Synthy Things 4. Go Where I Send Thee Traditional African American Spiritual (Public Domain) Ben Cook-Feltz - Vocals, Drums, Percussion Mother Banjo - Vocals, Hand Claps Joe Olsen - Drums, Percussion Cole Mickelson - Guitar Andy Schuster - Bass ABOUT MOTHER BANJO: Featuring Ellen Stanley on banjo and vocals, Mother Banjo is a songwriter originally from New England. Called "an outstanding poet" (Inside Bluegrass), she was a Midwest Finalist for the prestigious Mountain Stage NewSong Contest and has been featured nationally on SiriusXM Radio and CMT.com. She has showcased at South By Southwest (SXSW) and the International Folk Alliance Conference and has been touring behind her highly acclaimed albumThe Devil Hasn't Won, featuring her band's lively mix of folk, bluegrass and soulful Americana. ABOUT BEN COOK-FELTZ: Hailed as having "one of the sweetest, floweriest male folk-pop singer voices" by the Star Tribune, Iowa-raised, Minneapolis-based Ben Cook-Feltz is a singer, songwriter, drummer and self-taught pianist. Combining observational, sometimes quirky lyrics with melodies that hearken back to the classic sounds of the 60′s and 70′s, he has been entertaining audiences throughout the Midwest as a dynamic performer, whether playing solo, with his crackerjack band, or backing up some of the finest regional talent. His most recent record, She Doesn't Believe Me, was released last year and was voted as one of the top local albums of 2015 on 89.3 The Current.