A Hawk & A Hacksaw

A Hawk & A Hacksaw Live at The Cornish Bank!

A Hawk and A Hacksaw was founded in 2002 in Saumur, France, by Jeremy Barnes, former drummer of Neutral Milk Hotel, who, after burning out on the drums, turned to the accordion and developed a passion for folk music from Romania, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, and Turkey. The band’s name, inspired by Don Quixote, reflects their journey of exploration and the pursuit of beauty. In 2004, Barnes moved back to New Mexico, where he met violinist Heather Trost. Their shared love of Béla Bartók sparked a musical and personal partnership.

The duo toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Turkey, Australia, and Japan, releasing numerous recordings during a time when CDs were still a vital part of the music industry. In 2005, they helped fellow New Mexican Zach Condon launch Beirut, playing on his debut album. Barnes also traveled to Romania to record with the brass band Fanfare Ciocărlia. After moving to Hungary in 2006, they collaborated with local folk musicians before returning to New Mexico in 2008 to continue touring and working with artists from Europe and the U.S.

In 2010, they performed in Bucharest, and from 2011 to 2012, they toured cinemas with a new soundtrack for Sergei Parajanov’s Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. Around this time, they founded the Living Music Duplication label, collaborating with artists like Turkish Roma clarinetist Cüneyt Sepetçi, Marin Sandu, Thor Harris, and John Convertino. In 2015, they worked with the BBC Concert Orchestra and curated the Transmissions festival in Italy.

Recently, Barnes and Trost have focused on other projects. Trost released three solo albums, while Barnes taught drums and engineered records. They’ve composed music for film and taken a break from touring but are excited to return to the stage this autumn.