About us

Originally hailing from Boston, MA, Corner House takes their name from the place where the four young band members found musical family in one another - their shared home in Brighton, as students at Berklee College of Music. Emerging from varied genre backgrounds, the quartet’s unique strength is their desire to learn from one another, not only in musical skill and style, but in life experience; such that every challenge overcome by one band member becomes part of the group’s shared musical and personal DNA. On their debut full length album How Beautiful It’s Been the band reveals the sublime result of that growth mindset, with a singular sound that incorporates old time, Scottish, progressive bluegrass and folk.

Originally made up of songwriter and guitarist Ethan Hawkins, Scottish fiddle player Louise Bichan, and bluegrass mandolinist Ethan Setiawan, Corner House are students of a wide variety of musical traditions. In the autumn of 2017, the group debuted at FreshGrass Festival in North Adams, MA, before recording a self-titled EP and touring Scotland the following year. Returning from overseas, the three found the illustrious cellist, Casey Murray, living just down the street and invited her to join the fold, unveiling the new line-up on a second EP, Smart Folks, released in 2019.  For their debut full length record, which focuses more on lyric based arrangements, they enlisted harp virtuoso Maeve Gilchrist, a past mentor to all four band members, to produce. “We all really admired her musicality, arranging and writing, and Ethan and Maeve bonded over poetry, and songwriting”, explains Bichan. 

In many ways, Corner House is the band we all wish we could be a part of. Mutually inspired, learning from one another, and open to any and all ideas, the group is a beautiful representation of their generation; not only tolerating, but embracing diversity in every aspect of their music making. If we listen closely enough, we may be able to learn just as much from them as they have from one another. 

Praise for How Beautiful It’s Been

“Corner House is a rare collective of musicians whose strength lies in their lyrics and the emotions evoked by their music—they have the power to effect change. Their brilliant use of instruments and lyrics beg the listener to dig deeper to search for answers. They paint across a wide palette while honoring music from the past.”
— M Music & Musicians magazine
“…fun-filled and vibrant. There’s also a beautiful groove going on throughout this piece that makes it highly addictive and danceable. The album will involve a unique blend of indie rock and pop with bluegrass, Celtic, old time sounds…we can’t wait to hear it.”
— Folk Radio UK
“Corner House has a sweetness running in all their music, with shiny bright lyrical brilliance as well.”
— Americana Highways

  • “Corner House’s music is thoughtful and inspired...points straight in the direction of where roots music is headed, and it’s a great and bright destination. Ferocious fiddle, with a couple of the most talented and exciting young string players in the US right now. Any corners you get to turn with them are going to be unexpected fun.”

    Darol Anger

  • “Corner House’s music is thoughtful and inspired...points straight in the direction of where roots music is headed, and it’s a great and bright destination.”

    Bruce Molsky

  • "Swaying through joyous and mournful moments"

    Brittany Haas

  • “These fine musicians and lovely people think about each note they make and it comes together in something bigger. Simply beautiful music.”

    Maeve Gilchrist

  • “Deep grooves, beautiful songs, exceptionally rendered fiddle tunes, and playing of the very highest level. Big fan!!"

    Joe K. Walsh

  • “Corner House have created a gem of a second EP…an intricately arranged, wonderfully listenable mix of songs, instrumentals and styles.”

    Natalie Haas

  • “Creative and dynamic arrangements with no shortage of good ideas here."

    Stash Wyslouch

  • "Caribou Party weaves together lush instrumental textures, thoughtful arrangements, and intimate lyrics, culminating in an exciting collection of tunes and songs that will keep you listening to the twists and turns, while drawing you into the space of four friends making music amidst a global pandemic.”

    Allison de Groot

  • “Virtuosic instrumental prowess and natural musicality that puts shivers down one’s spine”

    Gabe Hirshfeld