Flower and McLaren

Robin Flower and Libby McLaren have a remarkable musical partnership as composers, songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, singers, recording artists, concert performers, contra dance musicians, workshop leaders, and as writers and performers of children’s shows. Their high energy performances include driving, soulful playing on fiddle, piano, accordion, guitar, mandolin. Add in their richly textured, 22 year vocal blend and you have a duo of extraordinary creativity, heart, power, and joy.

Robin and Libby have just released their 5th CD, Twenty Years · Twenty Rivers. Added to their previous recordings, this recording continues their extraordinary journey together as musicians, composers and singers. (“It is a musical marriage made in heaven.” -Ronnie Gilbert.) With their trademark tight arrangements and joix de vivre, these two women obviously and thoroughly love what they do. Listeners do, too.

Robin and Libby have crisscrossed the United States and Canada, as well as New Zealand, performing at folk venues, universities, and festivals. They have appeared on radio and TV programs, with a highlight being a shared show with Pete Seeger who afterwards wrote them a note saying, “It was a real pleasure to hear you sing. You keep singing!”

Both musicians had successful musical careers when they met; Robin as a band leader (The Robin Flower Band, recording with Flying Fish Records) and Libby, a member in many bands in New York City, including a long stint with The Roches. While Robin was recording her acclaimed album, Babies with Glasses, she was looking for a vocal arranger. Famed photographer, Irene Young, recommended Libby McLaren, who had recently returned to her native Bay Area. Robin and Libby immediately found they had something musical to say together and have been saying some very musical things ever since.

After a trip to Ireland, Robin and Libby returned and immediately wrote a CD’s worth of instrumental music and with the release of Steelhead in the Riffles, the style Celtic Americana was born. Steelhead garnered excellent reviews, including one from the Irish Music Magazine’s Tom Clancy “...they certainly caught the best of the music and filtered it through a deep musical sensibility to create a gem of an album.” And from SING OUT! “...a gorgeous collection of original tunes.” Steelhead received an abundance of radio play, thrilling many DJs. “We love Steelhead in the Riffles and have been playing it on all our programs.” Roz Larman, Folk Scene, syndicated. And from Paul Stamler, KDHK radio in St. Louis, “Very fine playing on this CD.”

Robin and Libby are in the planning stages of their next CD.

To contact us, write to robinandlibby@flowerandmclaren.com

celtic divider



Robin Flower and Libby McLaren have a remarkable musical partnership as composers, songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, singers, recording artists, concert performers, contra dance musicians, workshop leaders, and as writers and performers of children’s shows. Their high energy performances include driving, soulful playing on fiddle, piano, accordion, guitar, mandolin. Add in their richly textured, 22 year vocal blend and you have a duo of extraordinary creativity, heart, power, and joy. Robin and Libby have just released their 5th CD, Twenty Years · Twenty Rivers. Added to their previous recordings, this recording continues their extraordinary journey together as musicians, composers and singers. (“It is a musical marriage made in heaven.” -Ronnie Gilbert.) With their trademark tight arrangements and joix de vivre, these two women obviously and thoroughly love what they do. Listeners do, too. Robin and Libby have crisscrossed the United States and Canada, as well as New Zealand, performing at folk venues, universities, and festivals. They have appeared on radio and TV programs, with a highlight being a shared show with Pete Seeger who afterwards wrote them a note saying, “It was a real pleasure to hear you sing. You keep singing!” Both musicians had successful musical careers when they met; Robin as a band leader (The Robin Flower Band, recording with Flying Fish Records) and Libby, a member in many bands in New York City, including a long stint with The Roches. While Robin was recording her acclaimed album, Babies with Glasses, she was looking for a vocal arranger. Famed photographer, Irene Young, recommended Libby McLaren, who had recently returned to her native Bay Area. Robin and Libby immediately found they had something musical to say together and have been saying some very musical things ever since. After a trip to Ireland, Robin and Libby returned and immediately wrote a CD’s worth of instrumental music and with the release of Steelhead in the Riffles, the style Celtic Americana was born. Steelhead garnered excellent reviews, including one from the Irish Music Magazine’s Tom Clancy “...they certainly caught the best of the music and filtered it through a deep musical sensibility to create a gem of an album.” And from SING OUT! “...a gorgeous collection of original tunes.” Steelhead received an abundance of radio play, thrilling many DJs. “We love Steelhead in the Riffles and have been playing it on all our programs.” Roz Larman, Folk Scene, syndicated. And from Paul Stamler, KDHK radio in St. Louis, “Very fine playing on this CD.” Robin and Libby are in the planning stages of their next CD. To contact us, write to robinandlibby@flowerandmclaren.com