The Foreign Landers

“One listen to the lilting vocals, truthful narrative, and welcoming musicality and you will understand,”  writes The Aquarian. “Beautiful would almost be an understatement.” That sense of invitation sits at the  heart of The Foreign Landers’ music. Their songs pay close attention to ordinary moments, shaped by  

the belief that grace often shows up in these places. Rooted in bluegrass and Celtic tradition, the band  blends acoustic drive with reflective songwriting and close harmony singing shaped by lives lived across  borders. 

Rooted in bluegrass and Celtic tradition, the band creates their own sound with reflective songwriting and  enchanting singing shaped by lives lived across borders. Led by vocalist and banjoist Tabitha Agnew  Benedict of Northern Ireland and mandolinist David Benedict of South Carolina, The Foreign Landers  have built a reputation for music that feels deeply personal. Their work grows out of shared experience,  shaped by distance, home, and the steady work of learning how to live faithfully in changing seasons.  With the release of their sophomore album Made to Wonder on January 23, 2026, the band offers their  most compelling and cohesive statement to date. 

Following their debut album Travelers Rest, which chronicled the challenges of immigration and building  a shared life in the United States, Made to Wonder turns toward the next chapter. Written during the  transition into parenthood, the album reflects on time, impermanence, and the fragile beauty of everyday  life. These songs dwell in moments that might otherwise slip by unnoticed: a quiet morning, laughter  around a campfire, the weight of a sleeping child. They also name the ache that comes from knowing how  quickly such moments pass. 

But running beneath the album is a steady current of faith. Rather than offering declarations or easy  answers, the songs hold prayers, questions, and moments of trust shaped by belief in grace freely given  and hope that endures beyond circumstances. Wonder, as the title suggests, is not treated as something to  be chased, but as something received. The songs invite listeners to slow down, pay attention, and rest in  gratitude. 

Now joined by longtime bandmates Julian Pinelli on fiddle and Nate Sabat on bass, The Foreign  Landers step fully into their identity as a quartet on Made to Wonder. The expanded lineup deepens the  band’s transatlantic sound, weaving bluegrass foundations with Celtic color and modern acoustic textures.  Guest contributions from Kris Drever of Lau, Brian Finnegan of Flook, Tristan Clarridge of Crooked  Still, and Nick Cooke of the Kate Rusby Band add subtle layers while keeping the focus firmly on the  songs themselves. 

Individually, the members of The Foreign Landers bring decades of experience in the international  acoustic music world. Both Tabitha and David are recipients of IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of  the Year awards, and each has performed and recorded with award winning artists on both sides of the  Atlantic. Together, their playing favors clarity, sensitivity, and deep listening over excess. Sierra Hull  says, “Hearing The Foreign Landers for the first time immediately landed a huge smile on my face. The  playing, singing, and arrangements are all so wonderful.” 

With thoughtful songwriting, interwoven harmonies, and a sound shaped by faith, family, and tradition,  The Foreign Landers continue to carve out a distinct place within contemporary acoustic music. As  Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz notes, “They tastefully honor the past while simultaneously making the  music all their own.”