The Horsemen

Musical traditions, old and new, from the forgotten past to our present pleasure

A man, William 'Hexfellow' Acken with wavy brown hair wearing a light-colored shirt, sitting in front of a microphone, playing an acoustic guitar and a mandolin, with a black background.

Tradition and Fun

Tradition and fun are the primary touchpoints of what we do. Whether it’s a song about a comic wager with deadly consequences or the winning of a husband from the diabolical clutches of a fairy queen, our music brings the absurd, the beautiful, the tragic, and the hilarious together into the full tapestry of musical tradition. Even our new compositions keep to this basic pattern whether we are leading a chorus or providing ambience

Prophetic sounds and loud, arise forever
From us, and from all Ruin, unto the wise,
As melody from Memnon to the Sun.”

— Edgar Allan Poe, “The Coliseum”

ORIGINAL SONG: MARY MAGDALENA

written & recorded with “Elizabeth Is Missing”

Kai Barrette - guitar

MEET THE BAND

  • Young man with wavy hair, wearing a brown leather jacket, a faded red T-shirt, black pants, and brown shoes, sitting on a wooden step in front of a pale blue door with wood paneling.

    William Acken

    GUITAR (ET AL.), FIDDLE, PIANO, VOCALS

    William has spent years sailing the world aboard Tall Ships, collecting maritime songs and stories along the way. His musical style weaves together traditional Celtic and seafaring tunes with original compositions. With every song, he channels the rhythm of the waves and the soul of the sailor’s life. Whether through Klezmer style fiddle or neo-medieval songs on the Oud, he is always raw, rousing, and full of heart.

  • A man with a gray beard and spiked hair standing with arms crossed in a dark, lush forest with sunlight filtering through the trees.

    Dr. James Acken

    BODHRÁN, WHISTLE, GUITAR, VOCALS

    James is a lifelong student of folklore and myth with a deep love for the old songs and stories that shape our history. With years steeped in traditional music and oral storytelling, James brings a thoughtful, rooted presence to every performance—where history, myth, and rhythm come together in to raise the roof.

  • A young boy in a vintage outfit, including a fedora hat and a trench coat, standing by a window overlooking a body of water with trees in the distance.

    Charles Acken

    BANJO, ACCORDIAN, PERCUSSION, VOCALS

    Charlie is a songwriter with a deep love for tradition and a sound all his own. He plays both Celtic and Bluegrass-style banjo, weaving together two rich musical lineages with skill and heart. His original songs sit comfortably alongside the old tunes—honest, lyrical, and rooted in the rhythms of both Appalachia and the Atlantic.

The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for, treasons, stratagems and spoils.